1.5-Inch Y-Back Button Suspenders

Description

Two ways to attach, one pair of straps. The webbing measures 1.4 inches across and is woven from 73 percent polyester and 27 percent spandex, which gives it real stretch rather than the stiff pull of a cheap elastic. The back is a Y join, and the ends swap between stainless steel clips and button connectors, with six matching buttons supplied for the button setup. Faux leather patches finish the joins and the strap ends. The result is a suspender that can be reconfigured rather than replaced when the occasion changes.

The dual ends make this a pair that covers two registers. Clipped on, it works over a shirt for the office or a casual day out. Buttoned in, it sits flatter and quieter under a waistcoat, which is the arrangement most people reach for at a wedding or a formal dinner. The color range is unusually wide for a suspender, running from plain black, navy, brown and white through to herringbone, tartan, argyle, railroad stripe and polka dot, so the same construction covers a plain business look and something with a good deal more character. Patterned options in particular reward a plain shirt, since the strap becomes the thing people notice.

Adjustment buckles on each strap take care of height and torso length. The stainless steel hardware resists corrosion better than plated metal, so damp storage or a wet walk home causes no trouble, and the clip teeth are plastic rather than bare metal, which keeps them from chewing the waistband of a good pair of trousers. Stored flat, the spandex content keeps its recovery well, and the webbing washes clean with a damp cloth rather than a cycle in a machine.

Specifications