For many years, feedback from my better half has included phrases like’’pull your bloody trousers up” or “they are hanging down to your knees”. ‘Why don’t you wear braces?” She has often added.
To be fair judging by the fact that I am constantly pulling my jeans up, no matter how tight my belt, it does suggest an issue.
I’ve fought against the very idea for some time. They look stupid don’t they? and yet here we are. Today I took delivery of a pair of Braces and I’m wearing them now. It took a while to fix and adjust but my trousers are indeed fitting much better and an “I told you so” look is being aimed in my direction.
So now it’s jumper weather, I can wear them without detection. Quite how it works in the summer months I do not know.
So has anyone taken the plunge to cover middle aged spread with a set of braces? Any tips for a newbie? (I haven’t quite worked out the toilet arrangements for example.)
I always wondered why old blokes pulled their trousers up so high. It’s coz you lose your arse … I have found.
Braces are a good option and probably better at any time of life given belts are inherently restrictive.
I haven’t tried braces. Let us know how they go.
I have used them in the last few years when I have to be a bit formal because they do help with keeping your shirt tucked in at the front. Drawback is that sometimes you feel a “ping” and you know that one fastener bit has come off – and now you have a dangly elastic bit flapping around somewhere, destroying the already-thin illusion that you are a man in full control.
Another worry is that they tend to set off security detectors at airports, so you have to take them off and risk walking around like you’re in a Brian Rix farce until you can put them on again.
Other concerns regarding braces are touched on in the OP. They can make you look like a bit of prat in three major ways:
1. the Andrew Neil-type way – the wearer wanting to cosplay clearly absent gravitas and power, or
2. the Colin Hunt/Timmy Mallett way. A bit of a character. Here comes trouble! Yikes.
3. the shirtless brace wearer. By far the worst. Repulsive. Are you listening, Mungo Jerry?
Another option is those garters that you wrap around the top of your legs and connect them up to the bottom of your shirt. They just seem wrong on many levels – makes me think of dodgy Tory MPs, stuffing oranges up their bottoms.
I prefer braces to a belt, yes they do occasionally ‘ping’ but I feel more secure with braces. I always keep them hidden, during the summer a waistcoat hides them if I’m not wearing a jacket.
I believe the orange was laced in the mouth though not up the bottom,
“Another worry is that they tend to set off security detectors at airports, so you have to take them off and risk walking around like you’re in a Brian Rix farce until you can put them on again.” Same with belts, I’ve found. I bought a belt with a plastic buckle once, hoping to avoid such goings-on – they didn’t even hold my trousers up.
These look handy – they clip to the belt loops. Only drawback is that you need two loops at the back. Fortunately my R M Williams jeans have just that – might give these a go.
The link won’t load – look for Ausukler Men’s Suspenders with 4 Swivel Hooks on Amazon. They do them with one clip at the back too.
They call them suspenders over here 🙂
Never tried them, I have trouble enough with belts
A pal here wears them constantly with jeans, everything.
He was advised to by a chiropractor or osteopath to help his troubled back.
Says it works a treat. Not a twinge or a grumble from his back since he started wearing them. Think it’s a posture thing.
I really am talking about my father here; this is not proxy talk.
My father was still active well into his 90s, but the bum-disappearing thing was an issue. No belt could be tightened enough. The whole family knew what was meant by a cry of ‘Bloody Hell!’ from the kitchen. That wasn’t so bad, but it would also happen when he had one foot on Platform 5 at Crewe and the other on the London train. The saggy Y fronts were one thing, but the incontinence pants took it to another level.
I wouldn’t care, he was an engineer, but would he go for the practical solution? Oh no. Braces were for old people. But Father, there is no-one older than you.
I’m a belt guy, but I did have braces in the 80s when I was a yuppie. Red or blue paisley were my favourites. Went nicely with my red Golf GTi Sadly I’m not joking.
Where do you want stand on braces?
I thought you wore them over your shoulder 😃
Too late for my teeth.
Mine too. “Interestingly”, Offspring the Younger (20) has been referred to the orthodontist to have braces on his bottom teeth.
He had a brace on the top row, then Covid came along, and it stayed on for about 18 months after it should have come off. By then, being 16 and able to make his own decisions, he refused to have the bottom brace. Silly sod. And now he’s got problems.
I didn’t realise this was a thing I needed to think about. I’m only 58. I can see the advantages but
I’m not sure I could wear them. Part of it is the ‘what it says about me’ things BC has listed. Part of it is a fear of a day long wedgie. Part of it is the fear of a Harry Green nipple/waistband meeting.
I do like a belt. I have grown to appreciate that a lot of belts are shit though – especially the leather ones which are 50% glue.
I have recently had gifted a couple of handmade belts from a chap in Todmorden, Yorkshire (he made them – my wife gifted them). They are made from a thick proper leather (not bonded) which makes them both supple and comfortable. An occasional wipe with Saphir Creme Universelle balm maintains the leather and makes me believe they will outlast me.
I got the simple ones – https://www.chadwickbelts.co.uk/product/plain-simple-1-25/ – highly recommended. He does very smart ones a s well but they are not cheap.
Shop bought leather belts seem to last a year or two before they crack or worse. I have grown tired of them looking a bit knackered around the buckle, or worse, coming unstuck.
I also have a couple of cloth belts that are endlessly adjustable. These are pretty good especially if I am out walking.
Never buy a belt from a chain store – they are invariably crap. If the ‘leather’ doesn’t prove to be up to the task, the buckle accoutrements will likely just be cheap white metal, subject to inevitable fatigue and, once snapped, utterly disposable.
Here are two recommendations for really fine, top quality leather belts which sport proper brass or steel fixtures and are hand-made in the UK:
Jess Grey Leather – https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/JessGreyLeather
Bristol based Jess turns up most weeks at the street market in Corn Street, and if there’s nothing on display that hits the spot for you she will make up a hand-made leather belt while you wait. She’s delightful, her workmanship is superb, and the belt you end up with with last for decades or more. Mine is in a ruby red leather and is for ‘best’, as it is outstandingly smart.
PS Jess does guitar straps too!
Devon based Hip & Waisted – https://www.hipandwaisted.com/
I bumped into these folk at Chagford Show on Dartmoor a few years ago, and bought a lovely tan leather belt for everyday use. Every bit as good as the belt from Jess above, if a little more expensive.
Braces make me shudder – it’s mostly the Brillo connotation you mentioned above.
I have a splendid black leather belt I had made in Nashville. It has a cowboy buckle, silver tip and silver rondelles all the way round. Unfortunately it looks a bit much these days so sadly it stays in the wardrobe though I do occasionally get it out and admire it.
My old favourite is a hide belt I bought in Paroikia on Paros in 1978. Still giving great service every day. I’m proud to say that I am only three holes wider around than I was back then.
Have a look at Chadwick Belts @twang. Superb quality.
On the list. Ta!
I have a couple of wonderful belts by Rohan. They have a kind of ratcheted arrangement which means they will never let you down.
https://www.rohan.co.uk/mens-travel-and-outdoor-accessories-journey-belt-black
Interested in the longevity on these. They seem to be the type of bonded leather I have decided to avoid but, without a set of holes and a prong (correct term – I had to look it up), the main area of wear should get a lot less wear.
The other challenge with these types of belts is the lack of effective monitoring of expansion.
My daily jeans belt is a black webbing one with a nylon pressure buckle which works very well. If suited up I have a black leather one which I’ve had for decades and as Leeds says, it’s become unstitched in places and is close to falling apart so maybe a new one is going on the Christmas list.
Stitch it back up @Twang! Lazy git.
I have a webbing belt I wear to smugly stroll through airport scanners without setting them off!
I bought two Rohan belts about 6 years ago (black and brown) and so far have had to replace one. The other one is still going strong. The only point of wear and tear is the ratchet system and as long as you don’t put it under too much, er, strain you should be OK.
I try not to stand on my braces. It makes it impossible to pull my trousers up.
Been using braces for a while now, in combination with a loosely-fastened belt, as my age-related bum cheek retraction and belly expansion have taken hold.
Fairly undetectable in the cooler months when tucked-in shirts/t-shirts are worn under jackets, hoodies etc. In the heat of summer an untucked t-shirt or casual shirt can be worn over the braces to good effect.
But leads to VBL (as opposed to VPL)
I’d never heard of arse wastage (to give it the technical name) but luckily mine is still firm and pert enough to place a tray of drinks on (sort of). You can do exercises to stop muscle wastage, you know, it’s not inevitable,
Perhaps it’s because I’ve been a 34″ wasit since I was 16 means I haven’t noticed belts wearing out, perhaps I’ve just been lucky. My belt that I got from M&S twenty five years ago has recently faded so the replacement from John Lewis will no doubt outlast me.
I have an avid distaste for trousers with belt loops, worn without a belt. Or rather, their owners. It looks unsightly. By the same token, if I were to have braces, they would not have those scrappy looking clips, they would have button holes, for attachment to old fashioned trousers, without belt loops and those upward tongues, at the back, for the rear buttons. These, unfortunately, tend to be the sort that are dressed to ride on the higher side, with a two foot fly.
Yes, braces with (unused) belt loops is not a good look.
Oh. I consider wearing a belt as well as braces as unnecessary and I thought that wearing both was a hideous faux-pas.
After all, the phrase “belt and braces” can mean over-cautious.
No wonder I am routinely shunned by the chaps at the club.
Well, if you will wear chaps at a club ….
Don’t the chaps chafe after a while?
I think that’s why they walk around the club bow-legged, like superannuated Liam Gallaghers.
This is the type of discussion I like. When there is so much shit going in the world on to ramble with like-minded folks about such matters calms a furrowed brow.
Where do I stand on braces?
I expect my teeth would have been better had I worn them as a nipper.
I can’t help but notice that nobody has raised the issue of the ‘elasticated waist’. Are we in favour as a third alternative or does it stretch things too far?
Stretch jeans are a brilliant invention. Wrangler Greensboro.
Yes. I’m in favour of stretch jeans, though I tend to go for good quality cheap jeans, George at ASDA or Primark, rather than Levis, Wranglers etc.
Uniqlo jeans are genuinely fabulous. Relatively cheap at about £40 and last really well. They do a nice selvedge version too.
Uniqlo selvedge jeans are unbeatable.
Great aren’t they @Leedsboy ? Tiny bit of a stretch in there too, essential for the (in my case) slightly expanding middle aged chap. Terrific for turn ups as well.
The fit (as I believe the kids say) is excellent @nickl. The stretch is a subtle godsend. The long leg version with the pre turn up is spot on for me. Perfect with a boot.
I grow (literal pun intended) more appreciative of a bit of give in the waistband everyday.
M&S Comfort Fit Chinos – yes, I’m getting old, but these are some the finest trousers to be had.
But … not quite that old where I feel a need to return to childhood with the full elasticated waistband
Amazon do some amazing jeans called Blue Circle for about 15 quid. The boy went though maybe 4 pairs when he was growing like a bean pole. Not the most stylish but happily he didn’t give a stuff about that.
Rock On, Tommy!
I used to have braces on my trousers as a young lawyer, but it was London in the late 80s. I had a lovely pair (are they a pair? Not sure) in lilac with golden angels (or something similar) on them.
Now, I only ever use braces with my (extremely rare) outings in black tie. I sewed the buttons on the inside of the waistband (my braces have leather buttonhole ends) myself.
Properly adjusted, they are fine but – as I think others have pointed out – too tight/short, you end up with bottom problems.
Overalls or a onesie? Or, if you’re brimming with confidence; how a bout lycra? 😀
Ever since I found out that TDF cyclists wee themselves while racing, I give anyone in Lycra a very wide berth – whether they are on the road or not.
Well, since you mention it, I was wondering whether to explain to everyone about bib shorts, the cyclist’s friend. Lycra with inbuilt braces! They prevent the rolling of the waistband that would otherwise occur if you’re cycling around working up a sweat all day, bent forward.
I’ve been using the same two belts for a decade or so now. Both are “seatbelt” material, with a metal fastening based on an aeroplane waist-strap buckle. One is black, one is military green – essentially all my bases covered. I think they came from an online Army & Navy surplus store.
I’ve never tried braces – but I might, at some point, I have no intrinsic objection to them…
I have a little collection of belts that are alas no longer long enough for my expanded waist.
Current belt is a standard buckle type which I’ve since decided was a purchasing mistake.
On canvas belts the best buckle substitute is the double-ring fastener, which is infinitely adjustable and doesn’t slip in use. It would probably work OK with really supple leather but not with a stiff heavy-grade leather belt.
I wouldn’t countenance them. They’re forever associated in my mind to the old fat blokes I knew during my childhood in the early 70’s. Big lumbering types with nicotine stained hands and oily hair with huge bellies, dressed in a nylon suit. The trousers of which had a vast fly and a massive waistband.
Held up with braces. Dear God, I thought they looked awful.
I do not tar any here with that brush. I’m sure you cut a dash of far more sartorially sophisticated proportions. But I could never ever wear them. I’d rather my trousers fall down.