The London Lounge

Drake's are making them, amongst others. I can't say I dislike the look, and it does go some way to obviating the need to match your shoes (though white leather ends achieves the same).

What's the consensus? Elegant? Silly? My feeling is that they would probably look okay but not be sufficiently hard wearing for daily use. I'm happy to be told otherwise, however!

I do favour braid-ends over leather-ends, but I'm the only one to know what I'm wearing under my coat. As hard-wearing as leather, but softer to touch and more comfortable. Have you ever seen vintage day-wear braces from the 20s-40s? The elastic often looks old, while the braid ends still look as new.

Dear BoS,

I have both, leather and braid-ends, and I wear them as I please. Most times, they will not be seen anyway. I never ever paid attention to a potential mismatch with my shoes.

Cheers, David

Braid is good, as is leather. The important thing, which obviously, you already know, is to wear braces.

rodes wrote:The important thing, which obviously, you already know, is to wear braces.

Why?

Thanks, gents.

Frederic Leighton wrote:I do favour braid-ends over leather-ends, but I'm the only one to know what I'm wearing under my coat. As hard-wearing as leather, but softer to touch and more comfortable. Have you ever seen vintage day-wear braces from the 20s-40s? The elastic often looks old, while the braid ends still look as new.

Frederic, why do you say that braid is more comfortable? I can't say I notice my leather pairs much at all, so as to experience any discomfort!

BirdofSydney wrote:

Frederic Leighton wrote:I do favour braid-ends over leather-ends, but I'm the only one to know what I'm wearing under my coat. As hard-wearing as leather, but softer to touch and more comfortable.

Frederic, why do you say that braid is more comfortable? I can't say I notice my leather pairs much at all, so as to experience any discomfort!

Dear BirdofSydney, I know two main kinds of leather-end braces (image below) - those ending with two flat leather flaps, which are very similar in shape to braid-ends, and those ending with one leather 'bar' that in its middle part has a round cross-section. The former kind is softer and more flexible. I find it more comfortable when I am sitting and don't wear a waistcoat; the floppy flaps just bend on themselves instead of sticking up. The round cross-section of the leather ends makes the latter kind of braces stiffer. Braces with flat, leather ends are of a much simpler construction. No screws, no big pieces of leather to join the ends to the elastic/fabric band. Lighter, flatter, softer...