As a result of a challenge from a friend of mine who is this year the Chief ‘Pooh-Bar’ of a large UK charity I have been dragged, kicking and screaming into a sponsored diet which lasts until December and which will, if I manage to achieve my target, see me lose three stone.
The result of the first three months famine was that when I tried on my suit for a family lunch party last week I discovered that I was in great danger of embarrassing myself by loosing my trousers due to the weight I had lost.
It was clear that if I was to avoid a classic farce moment of trousers around the ankles at some point in the party, it would certainly be necessary for me to wear either a belt or braces to maintain my modesty.
I have many belts but now that there was some room around the waistline of my suitage I decided it was time to fulfill an ambition and possibly attain a little of that Gatsby style we have all heard so much about recently.
I have for many years, hankered after a pair of those classic button on braces and the extra inch or so or room at my waistband should, I thought, allow room for six buttons without being uncomfortable.
But it appears that the mens outfitters of today, outside the confines of Jermyn Street and Savile row don’t stock braces as they are obviously passe for the majority of men and don’t generate the volume sales required to justify stocking them.
I searched the web and found some beautiful looking classic striped button on braces but at nearly £50 and with only two days to go to the party they were never going to be a practical alternative.
I tried a pair of clip on braces that I found at the back of a draw and somehow, even though they were a very good quality pair and in a classic burgundy they somehow didn’t match up to my aspirations.
It’s that little bit of leather that just peeks above your waist band as you swish back your jacket to pull out your hankey which marks you out as a gentleman who knows his braces.
So my excess weight loss and my lack of time (or possibly planning) combined with my extremely high aspirations in the braces department meant, I am sorry to say, that I had to go to the party wearing a belt.
I know that the look wasn’t perfect but today I shall make a run down Jermyn street where I know there will be plenty of choice and I will find a pair of braces which will match up then, roll on the next party.
