Every once in awhile I see a middle age guy wearing suspenders. I think to myself, “What’s with that?”
I don’t own a pair and have no desire to wear them.
OK, I’ve seen guys wearing suspenders with formal suits, and I guess in that case it’s a fashion thing. But what about wearing them with a T-shirt and jeans? I saw a couple of guys doing that the other day.
My father, in his latter years, used to wear suspenders all the time. I thought it was because he was getting old and didn’t want to be bothered with a belt.
It seems like many of those guys on that reality TV show, “Swamp People,” wear suspenders, too. Same with a lot of farmers. Maybe it’s a cultural or socio-economic thing.
My brother-in-law, who’s just a couple of years older than me, explained this weekend why he covets his suspenders.
“They’re comfortable and they keep my pants up,” he said. It’s as simple as that.
But why not use a belt? My brother-in-law explained as he’s gotten older his butt has gotten smaller and flatter (loss of muscle tone and mass) and his gut has just gotten bigger. A regular belt just doesn’t work and he finds his pants slipping down.
Besides, he added, if you do cinch the belt tight enough to hold your pants up, it hurts your stomach.
There’s one exception, though, he explained.
They got these new elastic belts that expand to accommodate your features, he said, showing me the one he was wearing with his shorts. It was working just fine, as far as I could see.
Hmm. What’s everyone else think about this? Do you wear suspenders? Why or why not?
I wouldn’t wear suspenders without rolled up cuffs on my jeans, high-top shoes or boots, a flannel shirt, a John Deere cap and a straw in my mouth. It’s a style thing. Shucks.
My Grandad has always worn braces (suspenders to you US guys) and my dad often wears them as he has reached middle age, so I became curious. Secretly “borrowed” a pair to try with a pair of loose pants, and I am hooked. They are just so comfortable, although I have not yet had the courage to wear them out in public.
I am sure that it is not my imagination that whenever I am doing manual labour I get on much better and quicker when I am wearing braces to keep my pants in position! Anyone know why?
From my own experience I would say your brother law is right. As my own gut has gotten bigger ( I am over 250 pds now) I found my pants slipping down. I was constantly pulling up my pants and if I clinch up a belt enough to keep them in place, the belt would end up in my crotch and by the end of the day I have wicked indigestion, real uncomfortable.
I first started wearing suspenders at home and finally I said the hell with it and started wearing them to work, I haven’t used a belt since. I got a few looks and a few compliments, I wear business casual so there is no ties and I have found the suspenders can be a nice fashion accessory.
So for me it’s a matter of basic geometry and comfort!