Wear yours like a local – drop the lederhosen braces!

Traditional Bavarian lederhosen come with strong leather over-shoulder straps. Joined across the chest by a panel which is usually dedicated to decorative embroidery, these braces are a key part of the Alpine outfit without which, for many, a pair of lederhosen is not complete. Nonetheless, when worn as a fashion item and not as a part of traditional costume, lederhosen are increasingly being paired

with belts instead of braces.

There are a couple of reasons why. Firstly, lots of the new Bavarian fashion styles are based on leather shorts as the key element, but include elements such as casual tops and trainers, but the hallmark H-shaped lederhosen braces are made to go with shirts, waistcoats, and blazers; when paired with a t-shirt, braces can look almost childish. You’ll see plenty of Munich locals wearing Bayern München strips with their lederhosen, for instance, and leaving the braces off so as not to detract from the top.

Secondly, there is the sheer issue of comfort. While lederhosen braces are good at holding up the leather breeches and can be adjusted, they can end up getting in the way, as well as chafing shoulders or even nipples. What is more, even Bavarians sometimes have trouble getting in and out of them

(especially “out” after a long day in the beer garden) and so are inclined to leave them off for informal (read: boozy) days out and reserve the Full Monty for weddings and christenings – matched with smart shirts, shiny waistcoats, and loden blazers.

In fact, at the Munich Oktoberfest and similar events, turning up in a checked shirt with your braces in perfect order is one way to look like a tourist, especially if you wear the neckerchief often sold with Oktoberfest outfits too: it’s the privilege of locals to bend and twist the rules, and Munich locals have their ways of adapting traditional styles. Combining your lederhosen with a white shirt or Bavarian top and ditching the braces will certainly help you blend in.

Replace lederhosen braces with Bavarian belts

The difficulty, of course, is that lederhosen are not supposed to be worn tight – and get looser as they are worn. That is, of course, one reason why lederhosen braces become common in the first place. This means that you have to replace them with a belt to keep your leather breeches in place – and that shiny black leather belt you wear with your office slacks won’t quite cut the mustard. So if you do want to go local, opt for a full on Bavarian belt, too: they are made of the same leather as lederhosen, are fittingly thick and broad, and have satisfyingly chunky buckles. If you already have a pair of lederhosen, there are belts in plenty of shades of leather, so you should be able to get one to match; alternatively, if you’re buying lederhosen new, then lots of retailers are responding to the change in style by offering leather shorts with a belt instead of braces. We’d still advise buying with the lederhosen braces – the breeches themselves last longer than trends, so who knows when you’ll need them again – but would definitely advise getting a belt, too.

If you like, it’s a case of belt and (lederhosen) braces.