Suspender Connections: Clip-ons versus buttons

Clip-on suspenders

Suspenders can be connected to your pants in two main ways: clip-ons and buttons. There’s also a few more, which I’ll briefly mention, but these are the 2 methods.
Clip-on suspenders have sharp teeth that grip the pant material. They are sometimes called alligator clips. The clip grips the waistband of the pant, leading to the material being damaged over time. Clip-ons provide a quick, easy method to attach suspenders to your pants or skirt. Each shoulder strap has 1 clip that snaps to the front of your pants on each side of the hips, and 1 or 2 clips (depending on if it’s a Y or X style) that clip to the back. They come in wide variety of colors, can be thin or wide, and add a fresh spice to a dull wardrobe. Because they are so easy to attach, they are designated to the novice suspender-wearer.
Wearing clip-ons with a formal suit or skirt not only looks tacky and cheap - like wearing a clip-on tie - but also damages the materials from the pull of the sharp teeth. No well-dressed individual would use clip-ons when wearing a formal outfit.

Button-on braces

The better option is to use buttons to attach the suspender straps to your  pants or skirt. Button connections use leather ends that attach to the strap. Button-on braces are more comfortable, traditional and formal than clip-on suspenders. Where clip-ons have 1 point of contact with the pants, button-ons have 2. There are 2 buttons at each end of the suspender straps - 2 on each side in the front, and 2 buttons in the back for a total of 6 buttons. This results in 6 “connection points” to the pants, compared to a minimum of 3 connections with Y-style clip-on suspenders – double the connections! More connection points means your pants stay in place better and the straps will not move as much. Your pants will still stay up even if you pop a button. There’s also braces that have 8 connection points – 4 in the front, and 4 in the back, which can be very comfortable.

Connection points are the key consideration. If you just want to follow the latest trend, you can use clip-on suspenders. But if you actually want comfort and to hold up your pants, you should use button-on braces. Case in point, this man wearing suspenders when he should be wearing braces. The suspenders are not adequately supporting the pants. He should be wearing button-on braces to properly support his wider waist with 4 connection points in front.

More connection points (with braces) would better support these pants

Brace tabs

Inverse V-tabs

With buttons, there’s a sub-category: inverse V-tabs and inverse U-tabs. V-tabs have 2 separate straps or tabs that connect to the buttons, while U-tabs are a half loop. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.  

V-tabs are more traditional, with a D-shaped ring that allows the straps to pivot over the shoulder strap. When the brace wearer moves, the straps pivot along the ring, but do not shift left or right when you lean left or right. Therefore, when you lean sideways, the opposite side will feel a pull on the outer button, pulling the pants up. This increased strain is the number one reason for buttons popping off, and why the outer button generally pops off first.

Note the popped button and
loose brace strap

The straps are generally made of leather, although could be made of other material.

As a result of the disadvantages of V-tabs, U-tabs were invented.

Inverse U-tabs

U-tabs are somewhat more modern with a strap to allow the shoulder strap to hold the braces in place. This allows the braces to glide left or right to accommodate to the body’s movement. This provides more freedom and superior comfort. In the front, when you lean sideways, the strap slides to that side. This results in less strain on the buttons, especially the outer buttons. When you wear Y-back braces, when you lean left, the back strap will slide left; when you lean right, the back strap will slide right. This also occurs on the front straps. Everything in line, everything comfortable, and less strain on the buttons! This is likely the reason they have become the predominant style for braces (excluding clip-on suspenders).

Here is Robert Shaw playing Doyle Lonnegan in The Sting, 1973. He is wearing inverse-U tab braces. Notice how the inverse-U tabs shift as he bends forward (red outline). There is shorter space in the inner side then the outer side. This would not be the case if he was wearing inverse-V tabs (blue outline). Notice the extra strain that the front-side button has to endure with when inverse-V tab braces are worn, whereas the inverse-U tab style shifts some of the pull.

Doyle Lonnegan from The Sting, 1973

Many opponents to braces state that buttons pop off easily. After wearing braces for many years, I have simply not found this to be the case. In fact, up to this point I think I can only remember one time that 1 button popped off, and that was due poor workmanship. I noticed it in time and retrieved the button. The braces continued to hold up my pants, and I continued on my way.

If you are concerned about buttons popping off, I recommend wearing inverted V-tab braces. One drawback of U-tabs is that if one button pop-off, the strap pulls up as one end of the tab is not anchored anywhere. This is not the case in with inverse V-tabs which retain the tension as the tab is anchored to the pants and to the strap junction. Mind you, if you pop-off a button on either style, the loss in the connection point will be noticed!

As you’ve probably noticed, I generally use suspenders to refer to clip-on suspenders, and braces to refer to the button-on variety.

I recommend button-on braces any and every day over clip-on suspenders. But you do get marks for wearing suspenders!

The primary disadvantage of clip-on suspenders is that they always snap off at the wrong time, or need constant adjusting...

...but they are easy to put on to hold up pants.

Alternative connections include:
- bachelor buttons provide a permanent connection with a metal rivet and suitable for denim. These are useful when doing heavy labour, but may not be stylish.

- single connection strap – These are simple and basic, but do not provide sufficient support for the pants. This is because there are fewer connection points which will result in sagging.

Or this single-button style that uses braces to attach to a single button:

- Clip on, button-style connections – like these. These are the middle ground connections that try to be too much. They are handy for snapping on your pants, but are not suitable for formal wear, where buttons show the more polished image.

- Straps sewn directly into the pants or skirt. These are stylish, but don’t allow for movement and stretch during the day. As a result, they are more prone to ripping and tearing which is harder to repair than sewing on a button.

Discussion time:

• What type of connection do you prefer?
• Do you buy pants/skirts and then find braces to wear with them, or buy braces and then find pants/skirt to wear with it?

Note: all photos are used solely for non-commercial use and to illustrate braces in fashion. No plagiarism is intended.