Reader Questions

From Valerian

"I am a young professional and like my trousers at the hip instead of the waist. However, your blog prompted me to want braces instead of belts and I was wondering if trousers with braces need to have a higher waist or if I can wear them just as I wear my standard trousers."

You can wear hip-height trousers with braces and realize one benefit - your trousers will remain in place without periodic adjustment. That said, you may not want to convert your existing wardrobe. Trousers intended to be worn suspended should be about an inch larger in the waist so they can move freely as you do.

Following that logic myself years ago, I quickly realized that I might as well just get high waisted trousers in the first place. When they are waist-high they have a better line, and better finish the look of a suit, particularly a vested suit. Note how the high waisted gentleman in the illustration does not have a bit of shirt or a belt showing through the open quarters on his jacket.