Suspenders

Suspenders or braces are fabric or leather straps worn over the shoulders to hold up trousers. Straps may be elasticated, either entirely or only at attachment ends and most straps are of woven cloth forming an X or Y shape at the back. Braces are typically attached to trousers with buttons using leather tabs at the ends or, incorrectly according to traditional protocol, clips. In British English the term suspenders or suspender belt refers to a garter belt, used to hold up stockings.

Suspenders role in Fashion

While suspenders have been in and out of fashion over the last century (alternating with belts in general preference), they are becoming popular again in 2008 in America and Britain following the resurgence of styles seen in period dramas such as the 2008 re-make of Brideshead Revisited.

Current wearers include "elegant dressers such as the British theater producer Marc Sinden and the actor Martin Shaw as his TV alter-ego Judge John Deed" and also Daniel Craig - particularly as James Bond, 007. Many business people, newscasters (such as Larry King in the US) and professionals such as lawyers also wear braces. John Barrowman playing Captain Jack Harkness in the hit TV show Torchwood often wears braces.

Suspenders (nearly always referred to by the British term "braces") are also a typical part of skinhead, and to a lesser extent, punk fashion. In skinhead and punk fashion braces are typically between 3/4" and 1" in width. To some skinheads the color and placement (either up around the shoulders or down around the waist) of braces may have political significance.

Materials used for making suspenders have also changed over time, with newer additions such as rayon, a hard-wearing synthetic fibre, now offered as well as the standard boxcloth (a fuzzy woollen cloth). Silk, though traditional, is not long-lasting.