The history of suspenders begins in France, in the 18th century.
At that time, the first fancy suspenders were hardly more than simple decorative fabric strips, attached to the buttonholes of men's trousers.

Everything changes in 1822, when a London haberdasher named Albert Thurston first draws public attention to this accessory by marketing them as "braces".

Wide suspenders for men and women then become exceptionally popular.
Their role is primarily functional: to hold up the loose trousers of the time and maintain the presence of the dapper gentleman, avoiding any wardrobe mishaps.

If the belt eventually gains popularity, it does not signify the disappearance of vintage leather suspenders.
They remain a symbol of discreet elegance, a signature of masculine refinement inherited from another time.

Until the 1930s, a notable distinction persists:
belts are part of the outerwear, while leather suspenders are still considered underwear, worn out of sight.