Every Man’s Guide to Wearing Suspenders with Style

Are you team belt, or team no-belt? The belt may seem like an indispensable part of your day-to-day wardrobe, but it’s actually a pretty new introduction to the style world. What did men do before the belt? There have been many other methods of ensuring a good fit and a clean line, but none so iconic as suspenders. Today they make for a suave way to stand out from the crowd and make a statement without saying a thing. So we rounded up the Oliver Wicks pros to give you some tips, tricks, and style pointers for wearing suspenders like a boss.

What are Suspenders?

Before we look at how to wear suspenders, let’s refresh ourselves on what they are. Sometimes called suit bracers, or just bracers, they’re a long, usually fabric or leather, band that goes over each shoulder, attaching at the front and back of your pants. In the days before good tailoring was easily accessible, and when belts were still rare for pants, they helped keep them up. 

Now you have easy access to tailoring, we suggest ensuring you have the perfect fit for your slacks instead, but they still make a suave and sophisticated statement. Suspenders attach either through a clip to the pants, or a button installed especially for them in the right spot. They look especially great on higher-waisted pants but are a trendy and eye-catching addition to any outfit.

Types of Suspenders

So, if all suspenders are not created equally, let’s look at some key types of suspenders for men.

Buttons vs Clips

The first thing to notice is the different closure types. We often get asked how to wear clip-on suspenders. Clip-ons are very accessible and can be added to any pair of pants easily. It’s rare to find leather suspenders in clip-on, however. You just clip them onto your pants and go, but because of this, they can damage the fabric of your suit pants over time. They are also prone to popping off if not high quality.

Button suspenders are the classier option, and if you want to know how to wear suspenders properly, start with opting for button styles. These are the suspenders appropriate for black tie functions, business, and high-end formalwear. They do require your pants to have buttonholes created especially for the bracers. It’s an easy edition for a tailor, however. No matter what setup the back has, make sure the front of your suspenders run in one smooth line from your shoulders to your pants.

X, Y, Z… or rather H… of Suspender Styles

These pieces of terminology refer to how the suspender crosses at the back. X suspenders cross over each other. If they don’t cross at all, it’s an H. Y suspenders meet at the back, and have a single line down to the back of your pants. Your suspenders will always be two clean lines at the front. 

What you choose is a matter of personal taste. Y suspenders are seen as modern and cater to a very clean silhouette. If you have any kind of discrepancy in shoulder height or asymmetry, this can also deemphasize that. H gives you a vintage look that’s fantastic with high-rise pants. X is a practical shape sometimes associated more with workmen than parties, so if you’re wondering how to wear suspenders casually, you can try that look. Skip it wearing a tux.

Picking the Right Width of Suspender

Yes, width matters too! If it’s an inch or thinner, forget holding up pants in them. These are purely fashion braces, and if you’re wondering how to wear suspenders down, there’s your answer. Most formal wear suspenders are between 1 inch and 1.5 inches. By the time you hit two inches, we’re back into casual territory, and they look rather industrial. 

How to Wear Suspenders - A Style Guide for Men

Now it’s time to get to the fun stuff. Let’s look at how you wear suspenders with conviction in any look.

How to Put on Your Suspenders

So, how do you physically put on your suspenders? They’re not something you’re going to slip into after you’re done dressing. Rather attach the back to your pants before you put them on. Get into your pants and shirt, then bring the suspenders to the front over your shoulders. Button them in. 

If necessary, smooth them down so they run in a straight line from shoulder to pants. Most high-quality suspenders have an adjustable buckle to help you get them comfortable, but not too tight. Leather suspenders typically have a section that looks more like a belt and are changed similarly. 

How to wear suspenders with clips, instead? Do the same, except you, will clip it in instead. Try not to tug or pull on the suspenders, instead practice a smooth movement, so that you don’t damage your pants.

How to Wear Suspenders (for Big Guys)

It can sometimes seem like the fashion world doesn’t care about bigger men. Luckily, you can always leverage classic men’s fashion- suspenders included- to help you present yourself in a suave and charming way, no matter your size. 

Suspenders are excellent for larger men because they take away a bunch of fit issues. When you’re a little heavier in the belly than the hips, it’s difficult to make a belt work for you. You either end up awkwardly bisected and feeling like your pants might tumble, or suspend your pants at hip height and emphasize your belly. 

Suspenders make this all go away and impose sartorial elegance at the same time. It’s a win-win! So don’t shy away from this look if you’re heavy in the middle. While the rise you choose in your pants is up to you, it’s worth remembering that suspenders were most popular in an era when high-rise pants and looser leg cuts were the norms, as opposed to today’s modern hip-huggers with slim-fit legs. 

If you want to make a unique look that feels comfortable on your body, you can consider trying out some modern medium- or high-rise pants, and even a medium-fit leg, to bring together a retro-inspired look that’s classy but gives you extra breathing room. It moves away from the awkwardness of low-rise pants on a body that might not suit them. 

Remember, absolutely any man, of any body type, can be suave and elegant. It’s just about finding the right fit and looking for you!

Suspender Dos and Don'ts

So what shouldn’t you do with suspenders? They’re easy to wear, but there are two ‘rules’.

Don’t be Too Matchy-Matchy

It’s best not to get too matched with your accessories. You certainly want to make them look smooth through using the same color spectrum or complimenting colors, but going all one color can be awkward when you’re trying to look like a stylish man, not a boy at prom or a wedding party member. So while we don't suggest black suspenders with brown shoes, don’t get to all-in-one, either. Coordinate color temperature and spectrums, don’t copy colors through your look.

Don’t Clash Fabrics

Wearing leather suspenders with canvas shoes, or wearing textile suspenders to a formal event, looks a little gauche. Rather keep the same tone and weight through your wardrobe.

How to Wear Suspenders Stylishly

Now you know more about wearing suspenders, let’s dive into some fashionable ideas. As a general rule of thumb, your suspenders get wider (but not too wide, remember), use heavier materials, and get more muted and coordinated with your outfit the more formal the event.

For pure fashion purposes, they can go skinnier, lighter-weight materials, and bolder, brighter shades, and you can even contrast with other aspects of your outfit if you like. Suspenders and striped suits go together hand-in-hand, but don’t overdo it with too many clashing patterns if you like this look. 

How To Wear Suspenders Hanging Down

Maybe don’t? Ok, we won’t be too snobby. Wearing suspenders hanging down gives a ‘workman off the job’ vibe that you can play with if you feel like it, but keep it strictly for times when there’s no dress code. And if you’re trying to look stately as you age, skip it altogether. But the vibe check goes for everyone. No dates, no trips to the theater, no formal events. Just fun, young, fashion-forward playtime.

How To Wear Suspenders With Jeans

Strictly speaking, jeans are belt territory. But fun with fashion is a thing. So you can pair your jeans up with suspenders for fun reasons. We don't suggest doing it to try to ‘formalize’ your jeans. It’s certainly not a way to make jeans acceptable for a funeral or wedding! 

Instead, see it as a way to add some cowboy vibes to your jeans and create great looks. Either go with the thin, fashion-only suspenders, or take your one shining chance to use them over 2-inch wide, ‘industrial’ and practical suspenders in an environment that will let them shine. Don’t shy away from color, and have a great time.

How To Wear Suspenders With a Vest

While it sometimes seems counterintuitive, your suspenders should go on the outside of your vest. Only put them on the inside if you must hide them but need them for fit- say you’re a larger gent who prefers their support to a belt but has a set wedding party look to conform to. 

Other than that, on the outside, they go and have fun! Matching and contrasting looks both work, so play around. Remember that wider straps, leather, and coordinated looks will always look more formal with colorful, fun, and informal fabrics looking more casual.

How To Wear Suspenders With a Suit

Wearing suspenders with a suit is an instant upgrade to any look. It’s perfect for cocktails, weddings, and semi-formal events. Keep them towards the 1.5-inch size, and make sure they are button-ons, as clips can look a little gauche.

If it’s for business, not fun, then you are going to have to think of the height of the Wall Street era for inspiration. Striped suits, or a higher rise to the pants, work very well here. Again, buttoned only of course!

Generally speaking, you’re best served with a 2-piece suit, or a 3-piece if you want to wear them with a vest. The jacket of a double-breasted suit isn’t meant to hang open unless it’s unavoidable, so you will waste the statement your suspenders make. You can use them strictly for fit purposes, of course.

How to Wear Suspenders as Business-Casual

If not done right, suspenders could make you look a little too overdressed for business-casual or to wear with a blazer. So balance your look with something else fun and understated if you want to tone it down. 

Don’t pair these with, say, unlinked french cuffs or other ‘formal to casual’ changes, let them be the only reinvented formal piece. Err towards the thinner suspenders, and let them be playful and fashionable in fabric and color.

How To Wear Suspenders With a Tuxedo

Remember that a black tie is more of a uniform than a chance to be stylish. Suspenders of 1.5” width, or possibly 1.25” if you’re a man with narrow shoulders or short stature. Keep them black for black- and white-tie, or the color of your tux and matched with your bow tie for formal events below that strict standard.

How To Wear a Cummerbund With Suspenders

We often get this question concerning tuxedos, because people think of the cummerbund as a type of belt. It isn’t, so don’t worry. It’s also the one garment that goes on the outside of your suspenders. Black suspenders are never wrong. If your cummerbund is another color, you can match the suspenders to it and the bow tie.

Suspenders and Other Accessories

Suspenders are a loud statement that will draw the eye, so you don’t want to go overboard with other accessories. Nothing but a belt is forbidden, however, so put your look together as you please. French cuffs and cufflinks are often delightful, because of the formality suspenders bring. 

For a black-tie or white-tie tux, you will need a single set of cufflinks and a single link shirt, of course. Tie bars polish off formal business looks, while looser accessories like sports watches, plaited bracelets, etc can tone down suspenders for a fun street look. 

Suspenders are the number one way to make a variety of men’s hats- especially retro-inspired styles- look fantastic, so don’t miss out on the chance to wear this pairing!

Do You Wear a Belt with Suspenders?

If you’re wondering how to wear suspenders with a belt, don’t. It’s not a thing you will ever do. Not only is it redundant- they both do the same job- but imagine the unpleasant bunching at your waist! So how do you know when to wear a belt vs suspenders? Let’s take a look.

First up, neither is inherently better than the other. Some men will only ever wear suspenders, some guys will never let go of their belts, and that’s just fine.

Benefits of Suspenders and Belts

So if you don’t wear suspenders with belts, you need to make a choice. What makes each a unique fashion choice?

Belts:

• Belts are easy to dress up and down
• There’s a more notable style difference to the eye
• They’re ‘foolproof’ in that you can choose black or brown leather and will rarely be wrong
• People are used to them and see them as a male default

Suspenders:

• Add a dressy, classy tone and ‘rich’ feeling to your suits
• Elongate the torso and makes you look taller by bypassing the ‘cut off’ a belt creates
• Allows for more creative and versatile looks
• Can be more comfortable for men who don’t like bulky waists or who are paunchy.
• Conversely, also stop thin men from having to cinch their belt childishly.
• Removes bulk under looks that look best smooth- think wearing a turtleneck with a suit, or a three-piece suit with a vest. This is why how to wear suspenders with a tux is such a common question, too.

As you can see, each brings something special to the table.

Factors to consider when choosing suspenders vs a belt

So, there’s a lot of personal wiggle room for men's suspenders. Here are some key factors to consider when making your decision:

• Your Look: Suspenders are dressy and attract attention. So they’re perfect for turning heads and being fashionable. They also have a very luxe feel and will get more appropriate the classier a function. By the time you get to a tuxedo, suspenders are near mandatory, as a belt is an absolute no-no.
• The Occasion: Because of this correlation with top-end style, it’s a rule of thumb to go belt for casual and suspenders (or other no-belt looks) for black tie and formal eventing, regardless of which you prefer.
• The Fit: Loser pant styles, like pleated pants, can often benefit from suspenders, as belts make the fabric bunch up unattractively. Remember, however, that good tailoring should always be your first stop! It’s ok if the style is roomier, but not if it just doesn’t fit.
• Your Comfort: If you’re going to be sitting a lot, belts can hurt, with the buckle digging into you. Suspenders can be a lot more comfortable for a desk job.

As you can see, there’s no hard and fast rule of when to pick a suspender over a belt (unless we’re talking tuxedos and black or white tie), so there’s a lot of room to have fun with your look. While belts are typically associated with casual wear like jeans and suspenders with formal office and party wear, you can do what you like- just do it with conviction!

Conclusion

Have you decided to try out some suspenders to see if they suit your style? Are you kinda worried a cheap brand will let you down- quite literally- and see you standing with your pants around your ankles? Oliver Wicks to the rescue!

We’re proud to offer you handmade suspenders with true fashion history. Albert Thurston has been making only the best quality suspenders since 1820, and we’re happy to help you get your hand on these fantastic little helpers. It’s always worth investing in a quality suspender with sturdy closures, so little accidents are never on the cards. 

Whether you fancy something clean and single-colored or want a little more style with stripes and even light-hearted polka dots, you’re sure to find your perfect style match. These delightful, high-quality suspenders also mesh well with our other accessories, including pocket squares, standard ties, and even grenadine ties, so whether you’re looking for sleek comfort under your double-breasted suit, or want to make a statement splash with your suspenders in everyone’s eyeline, why not go ahead and find your new favorite?

And there you have it! Everything you need to know to make a splash in suspenders, right at your fingertips. From creating a cleaner line free of bulky leather at your waist and gaping belt loops, right through to simply making a statement that stands out from the crowd, you now know everything you need to wear suspenders like a pro. Are you keen to try a fashionable new look?  Be sure to let the Oliver Wicks team know what you think of this charismatic and quirky addition to your wardrobe!