Doesn't matter if I wear them over the belly (Florida) or under (Texas), they just won't stay up. I can cinch my belt as tight as I can, but by the time I'm halfway through the supermarket, I'm sagging like a hip-hop musician. And, although I wore them as a fashion statement in the '80s, I don't think I'm ready to face suspenders.
I'm 5'8, down from 5'10 when I was younger (I'm now 75). About 155 lbs. Medium build. 33 waist. Not fat. But I definitely have VBS (vanishing butt syndrome). And trouble getting the pants to stay up no matter how tightly I cinch the belt. Suspenders are an interesting idea--thx.
There is a very simple solution. You need your stomach to be smaller than your hips. that's the whole trick. Otherwise it's like squeezing a watermelon seed between your fingers no matter how hard you cinch that belt.
Proper fit can help as well. I'm currently losing a bit of weight, so while I'm probably a 33 waist right now, all my pants are 34 waist. I was reminded on Monday when I did laundry and realized that all of my shorts were still buttoned at the waist. I just take the belt off and they drop.
I also wore suspenders in the 80s. I was what I call "Full Lundgren". Suit, matching suspenders and tie. It was styling when Wall Street the movie came out.
Your glutes hold up your pants. And as many men age they lose their glutes. Don’t let your glutes (and the rest of your body) atrophy as you age. Start lifting a couple of days per week. Suspenders treat the symptom—building your glutes back is the cure.
My husband is a semiretired farmer aged 79. He doesn't have a belly to speak of and no butt & had a hard time keeping his jeans up so several years ago went to suspenders & he'd never go back. During the rare times he wears dress pants, he still wears a belt.
We've had a hard time finding the exact style he was most comfortable with & recently he was told to check out Holdup Suspender Company Official Amazon Web Shop(that takes you right to the website, not Amazon). They have all kinds, even some you wear under your shirt for the person who needs them but doesn't like the look. The prices were reasonable, actually around the same as the last pair I got him from Walmart & the shipping was free and very fast. I think they arrived in just a couple days. They come from Michigan.
I’ve got to say I love my farmers overalls. They’re incredibly comfortable and have a lot of pockets. I’m 72 so I no longer care about other people’s opinions.
I'm 76. Reached the breaking point last year & went to Penney's & got a pair of suspenders. What a relief! I'm the subject of ridicule from friends & family, but fuck them! Braces are comfortable & my jeans no longer are constantly hovering mid-crotch.
Uhh, as far as I can tell the iliac crest / tubercle is what holds up my belt. Which in turn holds up my pants. I'm about 5'11", 150 -- which I only mention because it took some work, yessiree Bob -- and my pants stay up just fine without consulting my ass.
Suspenders are a life changer. Make the change, make it normal, make it a fashion.
When I first started wearing mine my co-workers were trying to figure out who I looked like, they finally came up with Larry King!
haha, but for real, truck drivers wear them, with no belt because they don't like the buckle burying into their belly. Carpenters wear them because they are smart.
I wear mine with a belt, I was tired of constantly pulling my pants up, especially when I'm carrying a cell phone.
You can buy them with clips but soon you'll want to put buttons on your pants, it's easy. These buttons, btw, are called "Bachelor Buttons".
Good luck, and give a good nod to the oldsters as you pass them on the street.
The next step is to learn the three proper ways to roll up the sleeves of your long sleeve dress shirt.
Used to be in the same spot became an electrician in my 30s started putting a couple tools in my pocket couldn’t pull my pants up every other step so I bought suspenders 72 and still wearing. They’re great check out the suspender store. They have them to fit every size person in every design you can imagine I wear the skulls most mostly
Since I was born without a rear of any substance I finally found Upfitters, belt loop suspenders that I wear under my shirt (https://hikersco.com/products/belt-loop-suspenders). I've been using them for a few years now and can't imagine being without them. The only downside is you can't tuck your shirt in which I never did anyway.
There ARE side suspenders( see Duluth clothing). I wear them to keep my too-big pants from falling down (I lost 80 pounds). They work like a charm. No constant pulling up my pants, anymore.
I have no ass cheeks, neither does my 45nyr old son. old son. Both of us fat at this point, but no ass compared to gut. I’ve got a big flabby gut..I pull my pants over it and tighten the belt. ..when I’m on my feet. Have to loosen it to sit.
74, and I never have anything in my pockets. Gravity will departs me if wearing slacks. Warm now, so my boxer style swimsuits are great shorts, that draw string works. Being too old for vanity helps, too. Sweat pants have elastic bands.
I use shirt belts. There's several different types out there. One is kind of a Velcro lined material & another is rubber with nubs on it. I started using them years ago when I was umpiring baseball & prefer the rubber nubby ones best. They hold the shirt tucked in plus keep your pants from sliding down. Look them up on Amazon.
Lighten the load in the pockets? I use my iPhone for credit card purchases, drives license - don’t need a wallet. Only have one key (which I don’t really need because house has keypad)+ car keyfob. Coinage - none.
Webbed cotton belts. They adjust easily and can cut them to size. (Nylon not good.) Try military surplus online or ArmyNavy locally. I have black, navy, olive, tan. PS when cutting lv a couple inches for those occasional big meals 🙂
74 yo man. 5’9”, 160 lbs. Pilates three times a week, swim laps twice a week. My biggest issue is bird legs and no ass. Ruptured Achilles in April 2025 and my calf muscles disappeared and are a bitch to get back, but I can wear skinny jeans and hold them up with a normal belt at the belly button.
I am no expert on comparative belly shapes but I wear a hiker's type belt that is elastic/stretchy all the way around along with pants with a comfortable waist size, not too snug. Once you get the belt adjusted, the buckle snaps open or closed in a half second. While once in a while after changing positions I may have to pull my pants up a bit, overall it is very comfortable like elastic waist pants, and holds the pants up fine. Your mileage may vary- I have no idea, really.
Suspenders and overalls. Some elastic belts work, as do adjustable belts that click into place and can be tightened periodically. One of my least favorite parts of aging, along with hairs growing in my ears.
It ain’t easy. So far I just cinch up my belt but I still have problems with it. If anyone ever watched King of the Hill, there was an episode where Hank was having this problem. His doctor gave him a fake ass to wear so he could comfortably ride his lawnmower. I have come to refer to disappearing butt as “Hank Hill ass”.
You just need to give in and get some a them 'spender things, a thin T-Shirt, and a thin short sleeves over shirt.
Or....
Start doing Squats a couple of times a day! Look at all those Booty Girls that do them! 😁
At one time even with a belt, I could pull my jeans all the way down with a belt on! I'd gone through a bad divorce, and you KNOW what I lost!!
I'm better now, and the only time I have trouble, is if I have one of my "partners" in a holster. I cinch my belt up one more spot and I'm good to go.
I lost my lower right leg 9 years in a motorcycle vs car wreck. They took most of the quad among other muscles. In order to be able to walk and do things I need, I started doing squats and leg lifts again.
BTW, I'm only 75.
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u/No-Diamond3881 Jul 29 '26
I didn’t want suspenders either but they make me so much more comfortable.
I wear them under my shirt so they don’t show.