Men’s Fashion Guide 2010: Suspenders

It’s not very common for men’s fashion to give you a wide range of accessory options. Once you have your necktie, shoes and bag, you were basically done with embellishing your outfit. This new year brings a newcomer with some history to it. Suspenders have come and go through the seasons, but it’s snapping back onto the style scene as a must-have for the dapper gent. Does that describe you? Strap up.

Hanging History
Suspenders are far from new. First devised in the 19th century, they were common items until the war made men more accustomed to belts. Fuller cut and higher worn pants in the 40’s made suspenders – braces to the gentlemen across the pond – but the popularity has waned since then. They’ve been relegated to bankers and period movies until now.

Note that suspenders are always and unfailingly used as an alternative to the usual belt; you wear only one or the other. Wearing a suspender and a belt at the same time is akin to leaving the house with a necktie and a bow tie on. You have to pick just one, in short, and stick to it.

This isn’t entirely a matter of choice, as suspenders are made to be worn with a particular variety of pants.

Truly Traditional
A long and storied tradition of style is associated with suspenders, and you can get it into your outfit with a traditionally wide specimen. There are multiple ways to keep it true to that gentlemanly heritage, but all of them create that blast-from-the-past effect.

Office neckties are recommended to have a bold stripe, but the same pattern will work on suspenders too. It’ll work well with a similarly bold power tie, which should then be done over a pastel colored shirt to really make those shades pop. Wear cuff links and a chunky metal watch: if you’re channeling Gordon Gekko, you may as well go all the way.

Ivy Leaguers will appreciate a slightly trimmer silhouette and much quieter style on their suspenders. A subtler print over a darker ground should create a younger, more energetic feel for your outfit. It’ll go well with something similarly young and cheeky. Find quirky bow ties, linen pants or Chuck Taylors to go with the braces. If you have a Preppy look prepared, try slapping the suspenders right over them.

Suspenders for the Modern Man
Chances are good that you want a newer way to do suspenders, and the past two decades have given you numerous options. It’s a good thing that, despite the tides of men’s style, there are those who have kept the suspender flame alive and flickering.

A more contemporary but no less gentlemanly option calls for attention to detail. Turn of the century suspenders are typically dark and solid affairs, but their metal hardware and leather tipping keep them interesting. Dark jeans, a shirt with rolled up sleeves and a tie slightly undone should be perfect complements to the look. You could also throw in a driving cap, tweed trousers, cosmetic glasses and bartending skills into the equation.

The punk crowd has also done much to keep suspenders alive in modern men’s fashion. They’re largely responsible for the popularity of the slim suspenders – best done when the piece is barely an inch thick and brightly colored – today. Despite the throwback to traditional style, it’s a very casual move: fitted jeans, rock star-quality tees and a tat or two are practically required to pull it off.

Belts of just about every material and color have already been explored and reused these past few seasons. If you feel viagra overnight shipping that your belt could use a bit of a rest, you can swap them out for suspenders. It’s not every day that you have to look to the past in order to look modern.

Author Levitra Bio: Pohl likes to educate men on mens fashion. To date he has written dozen of tutorials teaching men to dress Tadacip better. He is also the founder of online retail shop for: Ties, cufflinks, handkerchiefs, and much more.

Category: Beauty/Fashion
Keywords: mens fashion tips, ties for men, designer ties, handkerchiefs and ties, neck ties

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