Suspenders vs. Belts: Everything You Need To Know

Belts and suspenders are two common wardrobe accessories that are not only helpful to have on hand, but are absolutely essential pieces needed in a man’s wardrobe. Both belts and suspenders have a similar job: making sure your pants don’t fall around your ankles; however, they’re more than just a practical accessory, and can totally make or break an outfit – especially when it comes to formal wear.

Read on for everything you need to know about suspenders and belts, including the key differences between the two, where to wear them, how to wear them, and more. 

What Are Belts?

Belts are common accessories that are worn around the waist in order to help support or hold up pants, jeans, trousers, and other bottoms, and are often made of leather or canvas. Leather belts can be a solid strip of material or can come in an intricate braided pattern, and are available in a wide variety of colors and sizes that’ll fit every occasion, style, and aesthetic. 

Canvas belts obviously fall on the casual side, and you should avoid wearing them to any smart casual, semi-formal, and of course, formal events. Canvas belts are also available in a wide variety of colors and sizes and are great for everyday casual wear. 

What Are Suspenders?

Suspenders, which are also referred to as braces, are pieces of fabric worn over the shoulders to hold up pants, such as chinos, trousers, dress pants, or even denim, and often form either an X or Y shape at the back. They also feature attachments at the end of each strap so you can clip the suspenders to the front and back of your pants, and essentially hold the pants up. Suspenders can be made from a variety of fabrics, including leather; however, they are typically made of rayon and feature an elastic webbing for stretch and comfort. 

What Are the Main Differences Between Belts and Suspenders?

Although belts and suspenders do a similar job of holding up one’s pants, there are a few key differences between the two popular accessories. One of the biggest differences between belts and suspenders is that belts are worn through the loops of one’s pants and essentially cinch the waist, while suspenders are worn over the shoulders and hold up the pants by metal attachments or clips. 

It’s important to note that if you have a huge gap in your waistband, a belt is something you should spring for because it’ll help close that gap, and suspenders won’t – they’ll just hold up your pants and the gap will still be there, and it’ll look sloppy and weird. Another key difference between belts and suspenders is the formality of each. While leather belts can be worn to smart casual, semi-formal, and some formal events, suspenders are typically considered more formal than belts and are often worn to formal events – especially if you’re wearing a tuxedo. 

How To Style Belts

The great thing about belts is that they can easily be styled up or down, depending on the material of the belt and the occasion or event that you’re going to. If you work in a creative office or are heading to a smart casual event, a brown leather belt can add a sophisticated touch to a pair of chinos in either a neutral or bold color, a patterned long or short sleeve shirt that’s tucked into your pants, and a sport in a solid color with interesting details, like elbow patches.

Black leather belts can add an element of edge to a casual outfit when worn with black denim, a black or white solid tee, and a black leather jacket or denim jacket – think James Dean meets every “bad boy” in a rom-com. Canvas belts are ultra-casual, so wearing them with cargo shorts, jeans, or casual shorts is your safest bet when styling them.

They’re also good for when you’re doing any type of activity, like skateboarding or rollerblading, and need a little extra help keeping your bottoms in place. To reiterate, you should never wear canvas belts to any event that’s more than casual, so keep that in mind when you’re putting together an outfit for a first date, client lunch, or even just dinner with your folks. 

How To Style Suspenders

Suspenders are typically worn in more formal occasions, like at weddings or wherever a tuxedo is the dress code. Although their main job is to hold your pants up, they also add an eye-catching element and sense of sophistication to your outfit, especially when you take off your tuxedo jacket. You can never go wrong with a basic black pair of suspenders; however, if you want to bend the rules of formal fashion, opt for a pair of suspenders in a subtle pattern or bold color. 

On the flip side, suspenders can be worn in more casual settings, but there should still be a bit of formality in your outfit when rocking a pair to a non-formal event. Try pairing brown leather suspenders with a short sleeve plaid or checkered button down tucked in (of course) to a pair of solid fitted chinos, and finish off the look with some wingtips or brogues in leather or suede. 

For a look that’ll definitely score you points on a first date, try adding a pair of brown leather suspenders on top of a chambray shirt, skinny black denim, lace-up work boots, and a beanie or wide-brim hat for a super hip, effortlessly cool vibe.