Can You Still Wear Suspenders in Business

Can You Still Wear Suspenders in Business

   Introduction 

Fashion in the business world changes every day

 these days. 

It used to be part and parcel of business attire,

 which changed drastically. Therefore, the

 question of whether or not suspenders remain

 applicable or in fashion in the professional

 world has thus engendered much interest with

 those willing to retain that classy polished look

 intact.

 Suspenders at one point were a part of business

 attire, particularly during their revival in the

 circles of finance, law, and politics.

 Are they relevant today? Now, let's enter into the

 world of suspenders in the modern business

 wardrobe.

### Historical Context of Suspenders

Suspenders-known in British English as braces-

have been with us since the early 19th century.

 Conventionally worn to hold up trousers before

 the general adoption of belts, suspenders were

 an indispensable part of formal men's attire.

 Principally, they were worn by businessmen and

 professionals who wanted to appear sober and

 smart. 

During the mid-20th century, however, when

 belts gained favor, suspenders started losing

 their appeal and usually became associated with

 an older generation of people or specialized

 professions.

However, suspenders never really went away. 

In fact, back in the 1980s, they sort of had a

 Renaissance of sorts among fashionistas and

 even filtered their way into popular culture with

 icons such as Gordon Gekko in *Wall Street*.

 Ever since then, suspenders have been aligned

 with images of power, tradition, and even with

 rebellion against casual workplace trends.
 
### Modern Business Dress Code

Today's business world encompasses attire that

 ranges from very casual to highly professional,

 again depending on the industry, company

 culture, and also where in the country or world

 one is located. 

The skilled fields-law, finance, high corporate

 levels-do indeed still require formal attire; even

 these industries have loosened their strictures

 regarding attire.

 Gone are the suits and ties-with the invention of

 "business casual" and an overall casualizing of

 the work environment, it's acceptable to see

 open-collar shirts with chinos.

Given these shifts, whether suspenders are still

 appropriate in business is not so easily

 answered. 

If you are among those working in casual offices,

 more so those that are tech-oriented, then the

 suspenders will definitely be out of place in

 settings that are dominated by hoodies and

 jeans. 

They can, on the other hand, be stylish and

 functional accoutrements to a more formal

 business ensemble.

Why You Should Wear Suspenders

1. **Practicality and Comfort**: Suspenders are

 quite practical substitutes for belts, especially

 for people who may find the use of belts

 uncomfortable or just too tight. Unlike belts,

 they more effectively distribute the weight of

 your trousers and can lead to better posture,

 reducing strain on the waistline.

2. **Classic Style**: There's just something about

 suspenders, reminiscent of a bygone era that can

 really create that special effect with your

 business wear, from sophisticated to classically

 stylish. 

Teaming them up with a well-fitted suit or even

 with a dress shirt and trousers develops this

 razor-sharp, crisp look that is sure to set you

 apart from the generally laid-back business

 environment today.

3. **Professionalism and Confidence**: Wearing

 suspenders can make the wearer confident and

 depict him as a professional person. 

Just like a well-fitted suit or shiny shoes, the

 suspenders depict a sense of style and attention

 to detail that speaks volumes about one's

 competence. 

This, in turn, is particularly helpful for fields that

 require a lot of first impressions and

 presentations, which include law and finance.

4. **Uniqueness**: It's an element of 

personalizing an otherwise uniformed look, in a

 workplace where the three-piece suit is turning

 into a thing of the past and an office

 environment deals with a casual setup. While

 everybody else is in that 'uniform' business

 casual, the suspenders will make you look a little

 different and yet professional.

However, as with any fashion choice, it’s

 important to consider your company culture

 and dress code before introducing suspenders

 into your regular business wardrobe. 

When chosen and styled correctly, suspenders

 remain a timeless accessory that proves dressing

 well never goes out of style.

When Not to Wear Suspenders

The fact is that, despite the pros in some business

 settings, not every situation will call for

 suspenders. 

Following are a few instances when they may be

 out of place:

Casual Workplace: If your workplace is really

 casual concerning attire, the pair of suspenders

 will always appear out of place or even too

 formal.

 In such situations, you should opt for casual

 clothes that better fit the overall company

 culture.

Suits that don't fit too well: Suspenders work

 good when worn with fitted pants.

 When your Suit or your pants are not fitting that

 good, suspenders have the tendency to highlight

 the wrong spots and end up making you look

 awful.

Too Much Accessorizing: Suspenders are bold

 enough on their own, so do not over-accessorize.

 Too much of any of the different parts of

 business attire-fashiony cufflinks, pocket

 squares, and suspenders-can make it seem like

 you tend to overdo things. Balance that out and

 keep your outfit simple.

### Choosing the Right Suspenders

If you decide that you want to incorporate

 suspenders into your business wear, you'll want 

to choose the right style.

 Here are some tips:

* **Width**: Medium-width suspenders, ranging

 from 1.25 to 1.5 inches, are classic and do quite 

well in the business environment. 

Extremely thin suspenders can be more casual or

 current, while very wide suspenders may be too

 retro.

- **Fabric:** Leather suspenders will be ideal for

 the more formal arena of business, while fabric

 ones can easily be used in the less stern ones.

 Neutral colors of black, navy, or brown show up

 a most straightforward, timeless, professional

 look.

- **Attachment style**: Suspenders can be

 attached onto trousers with either clips or

 buttons. Button-on suspenders are considered

 more traditional and usually more professional,

 especially when one is in a formal suit. 

The Clip-on suspenders are more convenient to

 wear but might look a bit less polished.

### Conclusion: Can You Still Wear Suspenders in

 Business?

The straightforward answer is 'yes,' you can still

 wear suspenders in business, providing they fall

 within the context of the work environment.

 Suspenders add a bit of class and style while

 adding functionality to your business attire.

 If worn with confidence and taken care of, they

 will raise your status and make you stand out in

 a positive manner, especially in more formal

 settings.

But like any fashion choice, do consider your

 company culture and dress code before

 incorporating suspenders into your everyday

 business wear. When chosen and styled

 correctly, suspenders are still the ultimate

 accessory in proving one thing: dressing well

 never goes out of style.