Suspenders (braces) and your back?

27725 Views 47 Replies 26 Participants Last post by Sir Royston, Jan 6, 2009

Bruce Wayne

Discussion Starter · Dec 8, 2008

I'm considering starting to wear braces with my RTW dress pants (I know you should have your pants custom made for this and all, but I'm just a 20 year old college student.). Anyway, I was wondering if braces are possibly harmful at all to your back and/or shoulders in the long run. Which are more "healthy," braces or belts?

21 - 40 of 48 Posts

Miket61

· #21 · Dec 9, 2008

Cary Grant said:
How could they hurt your back? Unless your pants weigh 500lbs?

Insert "package" joke here... ic12337:

Not the nicest way to put it, perhaps, but it sums up the issue...

Carrying a backback, or a heavy shoulder bag, can hurt one's shoulders. Part of it is the weight, part of it is the way the muscles are used to carry it.

Braces hang from the shoulders. There's hardly any weight to support.

And if you decide to make a "package" joke, put it where it belongs - on the "Any Lovers of the Organ?" thread...

Jovan

· #22 · Dec 9, 2008

$100 is a little much for a student to be paying when he's unsure of braces to begin with, no?

There are some decent quality ones here, if you're interested.

Gradstudent78

· #23 · Dec 9, 2008

Do braces make you feel hotter when the temperature is warm?

Simon Myerson

· #24 · Dec 9, 2008

Sorry to say this, but I wore braces for a long time - until I found them so uncomfortable that I stopped. They made me feel constricted around my shoulders and they made my shirt ruck up which was uncomfortable (and yes - they were Thurstons). Adjusting them did not help. I actually went to my tailor and ensured that I was wearing them correctly - which I was.

Eventually, I thought 'why bother?'. Nowadays I wear self topped trousers, which work admirably, or a belt, which works well if the trousers fit properly. I certainly accept that braces provide a good look (although no better than the self top in my view), but they aren't so great as to be worth the hassle. Moreover, if you are relatively slim and sporty I think that a belt draws attention to the waist and provides a flattering look.

Brickbats now please...

Cardcaptor Charlie

· #25 · Dec 9, 2008

I've worn a belt for about 10 or so years, then rarely wore them for about 2 or 3 and now I am fully switching to braces as they are more comfortable to wear.

Bruce Wayne

Discussion Starter · #26 · Dec 9, 2008

Miket61 said:
Not the nicest way to put it, perhaps, but it sums up the issue...

Carrying a backback, or a heavy shoulder bag, can hurt one's shoulders. Part of it is the weight, part of it is the way the muscles are used to carry it.

Braces hang from the shoulders. There's hardly any weight to support.

And if you decide to make a "package" joke, put it where it belongs - on the "Any Lovers of the Organ?" thread...

That was a large part of my question answered. Though his approach was a bit lude, I must say that in a roundabout way he did help answer my question.

Preu Pummel

· #27 · Dec 9, 2008

Gradstudent78 said:
Do braces make you feel hotter when the temperature is warm?

Nope. The looser waist allows gasses to escape easier.

Oh goodness. I crossed some disturbing line, there.

Jovan

· #28 · Dec 9, 2008

Simon Myerson said:
Sorry to say this, but I wore braces for a long time - until I found them so uncomfortable that I stopped. They made me feel constricted around my shoulders and they made my shirt ruck up which was uncomfortable (and yes - they were Thurstons). Adjusting them did not help. I actually went to my tailor and ensured that I was wearing them correctly - which I was.

Eventually, I thought 'why bother?'. Nowadays I wear self topped trousers, which work admirably, or a belt, which works well if the trousers fit properly. I certainly accept that braces provide a good look (although no better than the self top in my view), but they aren't so great as to be worth the hassle. Moreover, if you are relatively slim and sporty I think that a belt draws attention to the waist and provides a flattering look.

Brickbats now please...

Understandable. For people like you or I have a relatively flat or average stomach then side adjusters work. On the other hand, if you have a beer belly or some extra baggage, it was best described on the Fedora Lounge, "Like trying to tie a string around an egg." In their case, the braces may work better.

Jim In Sunny So Calif

· #29 · Dec 10, 2008

I started wearing braces within the past year or two and much prefer them to a belt.

About 30 years ago I fell Up stairs and broke a collar bone and braces kept sliding down on that side, but I found that by moving the buttons a couple of inches on the side with the low shoulder that problem is largely eliminated and much rather adjust the braces a couple of times a day than to adjust my belt and trousers countless times.

I have lost five pounds in the past two months and I am hoping to lose another ten. The main place I gain and lose weight is right around the middle so that is another reason that I like braces. I can lose weight without my trousers falling off.

So far, all of my braces are by Thurston and I think they are a good value, but Jovan brings up a good point for someone who is undecided about braces or finds Thurston to not meet their budget.

Jovan, have you purchased any from the site that you cite? If no one here has tried them, I may have to be the guinea pig.

I think the clip-on buttons for the reason mentioned above - hard on ones trousers.

I don't have any box cloth braces and I suspect that they might be a tad warmer. Anyone care to comment?

I forget if it was mentioned but Thurston does not charge for shipping.

Cheers, Jim.

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PJC in NoVa

· #30 · Dec 10, 2008

Jim In Sunny So Calif said:
I
So far, all of my braces are by Thurston and I think they are a good value, but Jovan brings up a good point for someone who is undecided about braces or finds Thurston to not meet their budget.

Fair point. It's possible to pick up Trafalgar, Brooks Brothers, Dooney & Bourke, or other decent braces for a song on eBay. That might be the best first resort for someone experimenting on a budget.

Boxcloth is a tad warmer. I tend to wear my braces made of that material more often in the winter. It also generates a bit more friction than barathea, and so can be a good choice for those who find their braces tend to slip during wear.

Jim In Sunny So Calif

· #31 · Dec 10, 2008

Thanks PJC. I guess I am going to have to try the boxcloth.

I just bought another pair of Alden's last week - my first pair in burgandy and I really like the color. I have only worn them on the carpet as I have some slippage in the heel. I am not sure if I should downsize or try a tongue pad.

If I could wear RTW, I would buy at least one suit from Bookster - they have some wonderful tweeds.

This place is bad on my economic health.

Peak and Pine

· #32 · Dec 10, 2008

Cary Grant said:
How could they hurt your back? Unless your pants weigh 500lbs?
Insert "package" joke here... ic12337:

Bay Area Baritone said:
Cary Grant, he's a student, asking a legitimate question.

Lay off, please.

B.A.B.

Lay off what, Bay? The comment was fine. The OP says he's 20: he can take it. Now get back to your show tunes.

Bay Area Baritone

· #33 · Dec 10, 2008

Peak and Pine said:
Lay off what, Bay? The comment was fine. The OP says he's 20: he can take it. Now get back to your show tunes.

Well, obviously, I thought the comment was not fine. How do you know the OP can take it? It all starts with one misguided post, than there's a regular witch-fest (spelled with a B) happening in a thread.

If I see something like this I don't like, I will speak up again, regardless of anyone else's opinion, including yours, of the situation.

B.A.B.

Peak and Pine

· #34 · Dec 10, 2008

Bay Area Baritone said:
Well, obviously, I thought the comment was not fine. How do you know the OP can take it? It all starts with one misguided post, than there's a regular witch-fest (spelled with a B) happening in a thread.

If I see something like this I don't like, I will speak up again, regardless of anyone else's opinion, including yours, of the situation.

B.A.B.

Lift up your shirt. Is prig tatooed on your chest?

misterdonuts

· #35 · Dec 10, 2008

Jim In Sunny So Calif said:
So far, all of my braces are by Thurston and I think they are a good value, but Jovan brings up a good point for someone who is undecided about braces or finds Thurston to not meet their budget.

I don't have any box cloth braces and I suspect that they might be a tad warmer. Anyone care to comment?

I think there are many aspects of Thurstons that one can praise, both in terms of product as well as customer service, which all contribute to them representing higher value for money regardless of individual perspective on cost. Amongst those various aspects, one that makes a practical difference to me personally is the proportions. I have slightly slanted shoulders. Not terribly slanted, but slanted nonetheless. With other makers, such as Trafalgar, whose braces I have tried, slippage was always an issue. I have concluded, rather unscientifically, that the reason why slippage is not an issue with Thurstons is because their back piece is longer (and varies appropriately based on which size you require), giving the braces what I consider to be the correct proportions. Getting the proportions right, I would think, plays no small part in achieving a superior level of comfort. Of course, all this assumes that one has chosen the right size to begin with.

As Jovan correctly points out, one's budget is clearly a practical consideration when making a purchase decision. However, if one is trying to assess whether braces are appropriate for one's use, then I would submit that choosing the right makers is rather important.

As for the boxcloth being a tad warmer, I had the same concern initially because they certainly look warmer to one's eyes. However, I have not actually felt a noticeable difference between the boxcloth and barathea varieties. I wear both year round. But then again, summers here are not terribly hot or muggy.

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Bracemaker

· #36 · Dec 10, 2008

You go away for a week and what happens, huh? Braces hurt your back?? That is a new one on me, but life is a learning curve.

Brace problems I have heard of include:-
1. Nipple soreness due to incorrectly wearing braces with nickel fittings under a shirt and having purchased the wrong size so the fittings coincide with nipple placement, easily corrected by having said nipples moved. See visual example of our braces being incorrectly worn by Tom Cruise as von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie (due out about now)

2. Pain in underpant department due to braces being too tight and forcing crutch of said garment to crush contents. Easily rectified by reducing tension with adjusters we thoughtfully provide.

misterdonuts

· #37 · Dec 10, 2008

Bracemaker said:
You go away for a week and what happens, huh? Braces hurt your back?? That is a new one on me, but life is a learning curve.

Brace problems I have heard of include:-
1. Nipple soreness due to incorrectly wearing braces with nickel fittings under a shirt and having purchased the wrong size so the fittings coincide with nipple placement, easily corrected by having said nipples moved. See visual example of our braces being incorrectly worn by Tom Cruise as von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie (due out about now)

2. Pain in underpant department due to braces being too tight and forcing crutch of said garment to crush contents. Easily rectified by reducing tension with adjusters we thoughtfully provide.

LOL!:icon_smile_big::icon_smile_big:

Jim In Sunny So Calif

· #38 · Dec 10, 2008

Thanks for your comments Misterdonuts. I had forgotten that Thurstons come in three sizes while some other makes only come in one size.

Bracemaker, thanks for the handy hints on nipple movement. LOL

Bruce Wayne

Discussion Starter · #39 · Dec 11, 2008

Bracemaker said:
Brace problems I have heard of include:-
1. Nipple soreness due to incorrectly wearing braces with nickel fittings under a shirt and having purchased the wrong size so the fittings coincide with nipple placement, easily corrected by having said nipples moved. See visual example of our braces being incorrectly worn by Tom Cruise as von Stauffenberg in Valkyrie (due out about now)

Please forgive my lack of knowledge in this area, but how is Cruise wearing those braces incorrectly? I also fail to see how Cruise's supposedly incorrect wearing of said braces relates to your point about nipple soreness, as the adjusters (the metal things are the adjusters right? I just want to make sure I get my terms correct.) look to be positioned way above his nipple area.

Jim In Sunny So Calif

· #40 · Dec 11, 2008

I think Bracemaker means that Cruise is wearing the wrong size. Thurston braces are available in three sizes. I wear large which is the middle size and the adjusters are a few inches above the leather tabs, which I believe is correct.

As I recall Cruise is not too tall and the adjusters on his braces are closer to his shoulder which does not look good.

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