The moment I started looking up this topic a familiar voice rang in the back of my head. It was the voice of my wife and she said, "Suspenders mean angst". I would go into the details of that inside joke here but that's not what this is about. This is mostly about what suspenders are defined as, what to choose instead of suspenders, and the angst derived from both researching this and the opinions found therein.
So some of you being more fashion educated or dapper may know that in the picture above what is holding up that gentleman's pants are not suspenders. They are braces. I know what you're thinking... 'Oh great, like I need another physical representation of how English is the Xenomorph of languages'. Okay well maybe you weren't thinking it in those words exactly but maybe something akin (and if you don't know what a Xenomorph is, educate yourself with some fine and also terrible cinema).
The differences between suspenders and braces, as my research tells me, are typified by how they attach, the materials they are made of and possibly the amount of angst one has over the opinions of others about suspenders and braces... though that last one might just be me. Opinions on the differences seem to be indifference or a zealous insistence that one is for children, debutantes, and costume frippery and the other is acceptable for the civilized among us who have now decided to elevate themselves beyond mere belts.
Suspenders are the more common of these two trouser sustaining accoutrements. Suspenders attach with metal clips to the waistband of your trousers and the bands usually are made of a synthetic fiber or fiber blend. Elastic is common. Most suspenders are cheaper than their accessory cousins because of this construction and can be found readily in most box stores that sell men's attire. As a personal observation suspenders also seem to be far more of an accessory than braces.
Modern braces are made of leather, silk, satin, or high quality cotton and if they have metal parts these parts are higher quality metal as well. They attach by durable button-loops and because of this most are designed in the shape of a Y with minimal elasticity. The last thing I'll say about braces I'm taking from ye olde past; in the 1920's braces were becoming something of a fashion, but for most they were an undergarment. That's right, an undergarment, which means they were mostly unseen because it was uncouth to leave them exposed.
Today it seems like suspenders and braces are interchangeable, with one being the training wheels or cheap option and the other being a more stately, subdued and refined choice. That is, at least, the opinion I've derived from delving into this topic. Not as angsty as I initially led on but on that note let me offer a word of advise if you dive into this yourself: do NOT search for images of 'suspenders' without either your content filter on or outside the comfort of your own home. My angst came from learning this as I thought I was looking up something benign and instead ended up with more than a smattering of NSFW potential.
Thanks for stopping by and I hope to have some minor wardrobe changes to share soon.
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