The London Lounge

The new James Bond is back to traditional suspender belts, but embracing newer times, is wearing white coloured suspender belts, instead of the black ones Sean Connery wore.

Two previous JBs, Pierce Brosnan and Roger Moore, did not wear suspender belts, but that did not seem to have hurt JB's well-dressed image at all.

His dinner jacket was outta this world!

And I really liked those white braces. Never thought I would like white on white, but it was cool.

Didn't think his cufflinks were very fancy, though.

Didn't think his cufflinks were very fancy, though.

Even in the novels, James Bond never liked cufflinks, he was known for only wearing simple cufflinks with his black tie.

A sidenote:

Has anyone noticed on the Turnbull and Asser website they have an evening shirt named The James Bond shirt?

Isn't a suspender belt something else?

I thought white moire braces were correct for white tie, black with black tie. That is, back when people cared about such things.

Even in the novels, James Bond never liked cufflinks, he was known for only wearing simple cufflinks with his black tie.

Exactly!

On the other hand, I find it odd when the Gilligan culture embraces what the newest "Bond" does or wears and forsakes anything that might be associated with Thurston Howell?

In the meantime one ignores the Coopers, Astaires, Grants, Windsors et al.

alden wrote: In the meantime one ignores the Coopers, Astaires, Grants, Windsors et al.

People tend to say things such as they "love Cary Grant's style" if only to sound like they appreciate classical dress, but if persued, I'm willing to bet most people wouldn't know what it is that makes Cary Grant's style different from their own.

Might be, Sir, but I've forgotten what that something else is. Care to tell us, Mr. Anton?

Personally, I'd follow convention, if I were aware of it. But if white is for white tie and black is for black tie, what should we use for the business/lounge suit?

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manton wrote:Isn't a suspender belt something else?

I thought white moire braces were correct for white tie, black with black tie. That is, back when people cared about such things.

HappyStroller wrote:Might be, Sir, but I've forgotten what that something else is. Care to tell us, Mr. Anton?

Personally, I'd follow convention, if I were aware of it. But if white is for white tie and black is for black tie, what should we use for the business/lounge suit?

For business/lounge suits, I usually wear something that matches or harmonises with the tie or the shirt. Also, the leather parts should match the shoes, in my humble opinion.

Thank you, James, for your helpful tip.

So, for white tie, where black formal shoes are worn, the chest straps should be white, but the leather buttonholder straps should be black?

And totally white suspender belts should be reserved for casual use with white bucks, is that correct?

No, the convention is to wear white moire braces with white tie that have white runners etc., not necessarily made of leather. New & Lingwood sell a nice pair, made by Albert Thurston I think. Likewise, with black tie, the convention is to wear black moire braces with black runners.

Oh, and you really don't mean a 'suspender belt'. A google image-search will reveal why. Using the English term braces removes any such confusion.

White or black moire (watered) braces with braided ends are meant for formal wear, not lounge suits. For louge suits, either barathea or boxcloth, with brown or black leather or white gut ends.

Thank you, Algernon and Manton, for the wonderful and valued information from both of you.

Algernon, I had a good laugh after checking Google for the alternative or rather more standard meaning of suspender belts. Just goes to show I have very little acquiantance with ladies who wear such lovely devices.

Here is an amusing partial quote:-

"we made various braces for the movie. From the stills we have seen so far Bond's white moire braid end evening wear braces"

from the following webpage:-

http://www.albertthurston.com/faqs.cfm?catid=5

How about Morning Dress?

And, also, the Stroller?


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manton wrote:White or black moire (watered) braces with braided ends are meant for formal wear, not lounge suits. For louge suits, either barathea or boxcloth, with brown or black leather or white gut ends.