Y-back vs X-back Styles

One of the special things about wearing braces is the different styles they come in. Brace straps are generally worn straight down in the front, and cross over (X-back) or join (Y-back) in the back. However, there are other varieties, including crossing over in the front (X-front) and not crossing over at all (parallel). Before taking about X-back and Y-back, lets take a moment to discuss these other varieties and why they are generally not recommended.

X-front, as shown on the right, crosses over in the front. This may look fashionable, but is actually distracting with the large X in the front. It also crosses in the wrong place. For ladies, this is probably uncomfortable.

Parallel brace straps run over the shoulders and attach to the same side on both the front and back. They are not connected together. As a result, when they don’t have sufficient tension in the straps they will easily slip from the shoulders, as nothing is holding them together. This style was the original style of braces, and people found them to be very uncomfortable as they always slipped off. As such, they joined the straps in the back (H-back), or crossed them over (X-back).

The next style is the H-back, which connects the two brace straps in the back. These braces effectively support the pants and do not slip off the shoulders. In fact, ledehosen are designed around the H-back style. Wear H-back braces if you can find them, as they are very rare. By rare, I mean those with buttons and excluding ledehosen.

Now onto the more common styles: Y-back and X-back. Y-back have shoulder straps that combine at the mid-point of the back and then go into a single strap to attach to the pants.  

Y-back braces

X-back go down the back and cross-over to the other side. This allows wider range to actually hold up the pants. As such, it is recommended for people with larger pants. For illustration, as this gentleman is more portly, he should not use Y-back braces as shown...

Y-back braces with large pants

Rather, the gentlemen should use X-back braces like these, which provide better support of the pants.

X-back braces with large pants

Notice the total of 4
brace buttons on the back

Fish-tail back

Some people suggest that Y-back are more stylish than X-back. I couldn’t say, but from a functional perspective, there are advantages for each. Y-back attaches to the middle of the pants, and can provide the random wedgie. Even when button-on Y-back braces are used, the space between the buttons is generally less than 4 inches, and can cause the pants to ride up. This look can be favorable when wearing a fish-tail back such as those illustrated to the left.

The X-back braces can cross higher on the back and thus can be spaced wider apart when they reach the pants. This allows them to anchor approximately one-third the distance on the back of the pants and provide better support. Thus, when you need to hold up the pants, X-back is preferred. In fact, you can add two more connection points to X back to have a total of 4, and ensure your pants are secure. Notice how level the pants are to the right.

X-back braces may also have the added benefit of positioning the junction at the correct height, relative to the wearer. This is important for people with sloped shoulders. When the junction is lower on the back, the shoulder straps will have a tendency to slip down the sloped shoulders and even slip off. This is annoying and doesn’t serve the braces purpose. To solve this problem, the junction should be raised higher on the back, closer to the neck, while still being comfortable. X-back braces generally have a movable junction to facilitate this. 

The junction on these braces is too low and will likely slip off the shoulders. As the junction is movable, it should be raised. 

The junction on these braces is not movable, but is at the correct height. Notice also the fish-tail back:

Swivel Back Braces

One variety of X-back braces that is very comfortable is the swivel-back braces, as illustrated to the left. These are also known as Paris Free-Swing braces. These have a joint loop that swivels with the bodies movement. I have tried these out and can verify that they are very comfortable and keep the suspender straps in place on the shoulders – no slipping!

Here's the complete look, complements of this link - very stylish.

There's also ads for President Suspenders. I have yet to see these in use. They look comfortable and very flexible, with all the pulleys and strings, but that could also be annoying.

You may think that we have exhausted all the possible styles for braces. On the contrary, there have been at least 12 different versions over the history of braces, as shown here:

And a page from the "Suspender Department" from an old catalog.

Discussion time:

• What do you think of the different styles?
• Do you find the Y-back or X-back style more comfortable?

Note: all photos are used solely for non-commercial use and to illustrate braces in fashion. No plagiarism is intended.