Put This On

A web series about dressing like a grownup

February 15, 2010
Q and Answer: Suspenders and Belts William writes: What are your thoughts on wearing braces/suspenders?  Personally, I love the look, but a suit without a belt makes no sense to me. Is it overkill to wear both? Particularly for relatively high-waisted pants, I love suspenders (or braces, as they’re known in the UK).  Particularly for those of us with, let us say, ill-defined waists, they can really help keep pants up and shirts down.  I also find them exceedingly comfortable. A few guidelines: Avoid clip-on suspenders, unless you’re a contractor and need help holding up a tool belt.  (In which case, you should definitely get the kind that looks like a measuring tape.) Suspenders should be under a coat or vest.  Wearing them (as Andre Benjamin is above) as an accessory should be reserved for skins and people comfortable with sartorial power moves. Don’t wear a belt and suspenders, it’ll make you look like a tool.

Q and Answer: Suspenders and Belts

William writes: What are your thoughts on wearing braces/suspenders?  Personally, I love the look, but a suit without a belt makes no sense to me. Is it overkill to wear both?

Particularly for relatively high-waisted pants, I love suspenders (or braces, as they’re known in the UK).  Particularly for those of us with, let us say, ill-defined waists, they can really help keep pants up and shirts down.  I also find them exceedingly comfortable.

A few guidelines:

  • Avoid clip-on suspenders, unless you’re a contractor and need help holding up a tool belt.  (In which case, you should definitely get the kind that looks like a measuring tape.)
  • Suspenders should be under a coat or vest.  Wearing them (as Andre Benjamin is above) as an accessory should be reserved for skins and people comfortable with sartorial power moves.
  • Don’t wear a belt and suspenders, it’ll make you look like a tool.
Posted in Q and Answer Andre 3000 Suspenders Belts Pants
December 16, 2009
Eight Days of Style Reader Lucy wrote to us to ask that we suggest eight super-basic, affordable Hanukkah gifts for her boyfriend “to replace his stained light-wash jeans and Nine Inch Nails t-shirts.”  We’ll offer one choice for each day the oil burned. Above: get him a mid-brown 1 1/4” belt from Narragansett Leathers.  They’ll make it to your specifications for $32, and finish it with a nice brass buckle.  It may not be the only belt he ever needs, but he will certainly need this belt.  (Get him one in black, too.)

Eight Days of Style

Reader Lucy wrote to us to ask that we suggest eight super-basic, affordable Hanukkah gifts for her boyfriend “to replace his stained light-wash jeans and Nine Inch Nails t-shirts.”  We’ll offer one choice for each day the oil burned.

Above: get him a mid-brown 1 1/4” belt from Narragansett Leathers.  They’ll make it to your specifications for $32, and finish it with a nice brass buckle.  It may not be the only belt he ever needs, but he will certainly need this belt.  (Get him one in black, too.)

Posted in Eight Days of Style Belts
November 11, 2009
My go-to casual belt is a rifle sling belt which I ordered from Narragansett Leathers.  (I stole the idea from The Trad.) Narrangansett make their accessories by hand in Damariscotta, Maine.  In addition to the O-ring and Rifle Sling belts picture above, they also make pelican and hoof-pick belts for the mariners and equestrians among us as well as all sorts of traditional belts.  They’re all extremely reasonably priced, too - about $35 or $40.  Cheap enough to cover your belt needs, whatever they may be.  They’ll even make you a briefcase.  I had them make one for my wife as a graduation gift, and it’s one of her most favorite possessions. They’ll ship anywhere, but they’re closed February and March (snowed in, I’m guessing), and you have to call them - 207-563-5080 is their number.  They’re exceptionally nice.

My go-to casual belt is a rifle sling belt which I ordered from Narragansett Leathers.  (I stole the idea from The Trad.)

Narrangansett make their accessories by hand in Damariscotta, Maine.  In addition to the O-ring and Rifle Sling belts picture above, they also make pelican and hoof-pick belts for the mariners and equestrians among us as well as all sorts of traditional belts.  They’re all extremely reasonably priced, too - about $35 or $40.  Cheap enough to cover your belt needs, whatever they may be.  They’ll even make you a briefcase.  I had them make one for my wife as a graduation gift, and it’s one of her most favorite possessions.

They’ll ship anywhere, but they’re closed February and March (snowed in, I’m guessing), and you have to call them - 207-563-5080 is their number.  They’re exceptionally nice.

Posted in Belts Narragansett Leathers Accessories
October 23, 2009
It’s On Ebay! A spectacular Ebay find by the immensely charming Ms. Hollister Hovey, curator of immensely charming archaica.  A 19th century brass sailor’s belt. Can you wear it?  No.  Can you acquire it, then derive immense pleasure from imagining yourself wearing it?  Absolutely.

It’s On Ebay!

A spectacular Ebay find by the immensely charming Ms. Hollister Hovey, curator of immensely charming archaica.  A 19th century brass sailor’s belt.

Can you wear it?  No.  Can you acquire it, then derive immense pleasure from imagining yourself wearing it?  Absolutely.

Posted in Vintage Accessories Belts Gatsby Nautical