How to Wear Suspenders with Jeans

Co-authored by Jordan Stolch

Last Updated: January 14, 2021 References

Suspenders don’t have to be just for fancy suits—they’re a great addition to jeans, turning a regular outfit into a more stylized and modern look! Try pairing them with slim jeans and a button-up shirt, picking a patterned pair to brighten up a plain top, or creating a laissez-faire look with jean shorts and a long-sleeved top. However you choose to style your jeans and suspenders, chances are you’ll feel more stylish and put-together when you wear them.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Picking Bottoms

1
Opt for tighter-fitting jeans to keep your outfit from looking frumpy. For both masculine and feminine styles, jeans that are slim fit or skinny will look better with suspenders than loose or wide-legged jeans would. Suspenders make your outfit look intentional, so you want to match the rest of your outfit to that look.^{[1]
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- Suspenders paired with jeans is more so about the aesthetic of the look rather than the functionality of the suspenders. They may help to actually keep your pants up, but their main function is fashion.
2
Wear cropped jeans and a lightweight blouse for a bohemian look. This look is pretty different from the classic tight-pants with button-up-shirt style, but it can be really fun, stylish, and comfy to wear when you’re out and about. Pick a pair of capris or cropped jeans (they can be slim-fit or a little looser, just depending on what you’d like), tuck in a loose button-up blouse (long- or short-sleeved), and add a pair of leather or light-colored suspenders to create a bohemian outfit.
- Let the blouse hang out a little so it looks flowy when it’s tucked in, rather than pulling it down tight.
- If you don’t have a button-up blouse, you can wear a normal one, too. Just make sure to tuck it in.
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3
Pair jean shorts with a long-sleeved shirt for a nerdy, yet cute, look. This is a fun, casual look that is great for the late spring or early fall months. Choose your favorite pair of jean shorts and tuck in a light sweater or blouse. Add a pair of suspenders to complete your look.
- Add a floppy hat to this ensemble if you’ll be out in the sun.
- You could also wear a short-sleeved shirt with jean shorts if the temperature is too warm for a long-sleeved shirt.
4
Pick dark jeans for a more modern aesthetic. Dark indigo, grey, black, and other darker shades of denim are classic when it comes to the jeans and suspenders combo. They give you a lot of flexibility when it comes to picking a top and a correlating color of suspenders. Wear lighter shirts to really create a strong contrast between your top and bottoms, and then pair that outfit with suspenders that pop.^{[2]
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- Keep things on the shadier side by pairing your dark jeans with a more muted or dark top, like forest green or deep brown. If you do this, pick a light-colored pair of suspenders to create a nice contrast.
5
Choose lighter-colored jeans for a more casual vibe. This look can still be put-together and neat, but the lighter tone will give your outfit a more laid-back vibe. It’s great for weekend mornings spent running errands or going to brunch. If you opt for light jeans, pair them with a darker top to offset the colors, or wear a white top with dark-colored suspenders.^{[3]
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- Browse magazines and fashion sites for inspiration on how to style your suspenders with jeans.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Styling Your Top

1
Tuck in a long-sleeved button-up shirt for a modern, streamlined look. The most common look in the jeans and suspenders fashion is to pair jeans with a long-sleeved button-up shirt. This is great because there are so many styles and colors available for you to choose from.^{[4]
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- A casual button-down shirt like an Oxford button-down (which has buttons on the collar and lapels) in a more casual fabric like chambray would be perfect. This, paired with dark jeans, is a stylish and bold look.^{[5]
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  Jordan Stolch
  Image Consultant & Style Advisor
  Expert Interview. 25 September 2020.}
- You could always roll up the sleeves to your elbows if you get hot or if you’d just like a more casual look.
2
Opt for a short-sleeved button-up shirt tucked in during warmer months. This is a look that is great for a dinner out during spring or summer, and it could also be acceptable in an office, just depending on what you do for a living. Remember to pair a patterned shirt with solid-toned suspenders, and vice versa.^{[6]
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- Try rolling up the sleeves one or two times for a more laid-back look.
- Avoid wearing sleeveless shirts with suspenders. That look usually resembles a firefighter’s outfit more than a fun, cool aesthetic.
3
Wear a soft cotton top for a casual, laid-back look. This look is less conventional, but you can make it work if you’re really intentional about your style. Pick either long or short sleeves and choose a neckline that comes up at least to your collar bones. Make sure to wear slim pants rather than baggy ones, otherwise your outfit will look frumpy.^{[7]
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- Try to pick a top that won’t stretch out too much over the course of the day.
4
Add a blazer overtop of your ensemble for an extra-elegant touch. This is a great option if you’re working in the office and want to dress up your jeans a little more, and it’s a good look for a fun evening out, too. Pick a darker blazer, but one that doesn’t too closely match the shade of your jeans. When you walk around, put your hands in your pockets to hold the blazer back to show off your suspenders.^{[8]
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- Leave the blazer unbuttoned so your suspenders can still be seen.
5
Let the suspenders hang down for a punk-rock look. This is a really specific look that can be super fun for concerts, music festivals, or just a night out with friends. The goal is to look casual rather than modern or put-together. Let the suspenders hang off of just one shoulder, and let the entire thing hang down.^{[9]
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- Be careful to not get caught on things if you do this. The last thing you want is to have your suspenders hook on something like a doorknob and snap you or somebody else.
- You can wear this look with both regular-length jeans or with jean shorts or capris. It just depends on the look you’re going for.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Choosing Suspenders

1
Pick button-suspenders for a more clean-cut and refined look. Button-suspenders do just that—button into your jeans directly rather than clipping the waistband. This look is great if you prefer a more classic style and if you dislike the shiny metal that comes on the clip-suspenders.^{[10]
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- If your jeans don’t come with buttons already in them, you’ll need to attach them yourself. This requires a little more effort, but your outfit will look really nice in the end.
2
Choose suspenders with clips for an easy-to-wear wardrobe staple. These are pretty popular, as they’re easy to wear and you don’t need to worry about sewing any suspender buttons into place. Most clips are silver, though you can special order gold-toned ones online.^{[11]
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- One of the downfalls of clip-suspenders is that they can sometimes damage the waistband of your jeans.
3
Wear solid-colored suspenders if you’re sporting a patterned shirt. Avoid overwhelming your outfit with two contrasting patterns. Choose a bright color, like red, pink, green, or blue, or opt for something more muted if you’re worried about being too flashy.^{[12]
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- Neutral shades like tan, black, brown, and navy are great staples to have in your wardrobe for everyday wear.
4
Opt for patterned suspenders against a single-toned shirt. This gives your outfit a great pop of color and a dash of style. It’s also a great way to show off some cool suspenders and to create a signature look.^{[13]
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- This is similar to how you would pick which tie to wear with a dress shirt. You want the colors and tones to complement each other, but not to visually overwhelm.
5
Go with suspenders that match your bow tie if you'll be wearing one. Try to pick a color or design that complements but doesn’t exactly match the suspenders. Matching too closely can make your outfit look less stylish and nerdier (but if that’s the vibe you want, go for it!). For example, if you are wearing navy blue suspenders with white polka dots, try pairing them with a pink, yellow, or green bow-tie.^{[14]
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- Use your best fashion judgment to mix and match colors and styles. As long as you like what you’re wearing, you should look good!
6
Wear suspenders that match your shoes if they’re both made of leather. If just one item (the shoes or the suspenders) are leather, you can style them how you’d like. But if they’re both leather, match the shades so that your outfit looks neat and fashionable.^{[15]
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- The suspenders don't have to match your shoes exactly. If you have a chocolate brown suspender, just look for a shoe in the brown family so it's not too matchy.^{[16]
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  Jordan Stolch
  Image Consultant & Style Advisor
  Expert Interview. 25 September 2020.}
- Different shades of leather in an outfit can look shabby, so try to buy matching colors when you shop.

Expert Q&A
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Question

How do you wear suspenders with jeans?

Jordan Stolch
Image Consultant & Style Advisor
Jordan Stolch is an Image Strategist, Style Advisor, and the Founder of MiKADO - a concierge personal styling firm. With over a decade of experience, Jordan specializes in helping people eliminate the confusion and insecurities associated with how to dress in order to build a powerful image and use clothing to their strategic advantage. Jordan trains entrepreneurs, business leaders, and corporate executives in the foundations of "power dressing", from some of the country's preeminent companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Berkshire Hathaway, Universal Music Group, Starbucks, and Disney. She works with clients both in-person and virtually, teaching them how to take the confusion out of style so they can operate at a higher level. Jordan earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and studied Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIDM).

Jordan Stolch

Image Consultant & Style Advisor

Expert Answer

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For a casual, simple look, try a solid medium-wash jean or something that has a little bit of distressing on it. Then wear a solid white or black T-shirt underneath your suspenders and finish the outfit with a rugged pair of boots, like combat or Chelsea boots.
Question

What kind of hat do you wear with suspenders?

Jordan Stolch
Image Consultant & Style Advisor
Jordan Stolch is an Image Strategist, Style Advisor, and the Founder of MiKADO - a concierge personal styling firm. With over a decade of experience, Jordan specializes in helping people eliminate the confusion and insecurities associated with how to dress in order to build a powerful image and use clothing to their strategic advantage. Jordan trains entrepreneurs, business leaders, and corporate executives in the foundations of "power dressing", from some of the country's preeminent companies such as Morgan Stanley, Deloitte, Berkshire Hathaway, Universal Music Group, Starbucks, and Disney. She works with clients both in-person and virtually, teaching them how to take the confusion out of style so they can operate at a higher level. Jordan earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Waterloo and studied Merchandise Marketing at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIDM).

Jordan Stolch

Image Consultant & Style Advisor

Expert Answer

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To go one step further with the look, wear a newsboy cap or even a fedora. This will pull the whole look together if you can rock something like that and feel confident doing it.