Suspend Your Disbelief

In Once Upon a Time in the West, Henry Fonda’s character takes umbrage with people who wear belts and suspenders at the same time. His reasoning is that you can’t possibly trust someone who can’t even trust their own pants. Although I understand the argument, I think we can give Hubrecht Adelhardt a break in this regard. His ridiculous belt is more likely to weigh down his pants than it is to hold them up, so the suspenders are probably necessary in his case. I’ll concede that it’s unusual for someone to wear suspenders without a shirt, but the setup allows the good-natured circus strongman to show off his muscles. It sounds arrogant, but Hubrecht sees the world with a childlike naivety. Although he looks like a jacked up meat head, his arms were apparently fortified by years of hugs. How wholesome can you get?

Boxing organizations usually have strict regulations, but the World Video Boxing Association doesn’t concern itself with trivialities like “weight classes” or “standardized ring gear.” Although some fighters wear proper boxing shorts, others prefer swim trunks, long pants, or denim overalls! Von Kaiser is an instructor at the military academy, so his army-style cargo pants are a logical fashion choice. He didn’t add suspenders to his ensemble until the Wii version of Punch-Out!! was released, but the simple straps somehow made him look more professional. (It almost looked like he was wearing tights in the NES version.) Von Kaiser is known as the German Steel Machine, and his suspenders let you know that he’s all business. Suspenders are an unusual choice for a fighter, but they’re probably more comfortable than a rigid belt would be.

You’d never guess by looking at him, but Robert Richards is a martial arts prodigy with surprising agility. The well-rounded fighter is defined by his charisma and confidence, and this makes him an unlikely ladies man. Bob isn’t overly concerned with his body image, and he’s more worried about losing weight than he is with packing on a few extra pounds. The importance of Bob’s suspenders should be apparent to anyone who understands fashion. The simple fact of the matter is that belts aren’t much use to men with large, round stomachs. It’s not uncommon for a guy’s gut to hang over their belt, but Bob’s suspenders keep his pants up where they belong without his belly getting in the way. Bob could have avoided the overhang issue by wearing tight-fitting yoga pants, but I think suspenders were the right call.

There were a few characters from The King of Fighters franchise that could have been mentioned here, but Vanessa’s being recognized for the sake of diversity. You’d never guess by looking at this list, but suspenders were traditionally worn as underwear. Vanessa is the only one on this countdown who wears her suspenders underneath her shirt, and that’s reason enough to justify her lofty position. As the oldest female on the KoF roster, Vanessa’s fashion sensibilities are decidedly more mature than most her contemporaries’. She participates in street fights while wearing a collared shirt and a necktie, so suspenders are a natural addition to the ensemble. Her pants are likely tight enough to hold themselves in place, but Vanessa obviously doesn’t want to leave anything to chance.

It’s not unusual to see schoolgirls wearing skirts with suspenders, and the look initially became popular with young women in the 1960s. The style emerged from Mod fashion and carried over into the punk rock scene, and it’s still considered trendy today. Alisa Ilinichina Amiella is mindful of her appearance, and she clearly puts a lot of thought into her wardrobe. Her chic outfits usually highlight her legs and show off her cleavage, and her tartan skirts are accented by a matching hat. Alisa’s suspenders are obviously a fashion statement, and they appear to be completely optional. She often leaves one (or both) of the suspender straps dangling, so it’s apparent that her skirts can stay up on their own. If nothing else, Alisa’s presence of this list is a reminder that suspenders don’t necessarily have to be worn for the sake of utility.

Lloyd Irving is a simple country boy who is thrown into a life of adventure after his village is raided by a group of renegades. He was sheltered from the outside world during his upbringing, so the choices he makes during his journey have a tendency to be naive or short-sighted. Lloyd is initially depicted as someone who’s unwilling to plan ahead, but he eventually evolves into a great leader. Appropriately, his outfit reflects both facets of his personality. He wears a red shirt adorned with decorative buttons, and the outfit is reminiscent of 1700s British Empire redcoats. It’s a fitting look for Lloyd, given his leadership abilities and his proficiency in battle. At the same time, Lloyd can’t be bothered to button up his pants, and his simple leather suspenders serve as a constant reminder of his humble beginnings.

Although Balrog was chosen to represent the Street Fighter series on our list of best boxers, there is no doubt that Dudley has more class. The well-mannered gentleman has a disdain for dirty fighting, and he treats most of his opponents with the utmost respect. While Balrog relies on raw power, Dudley is all about technique and finesse. You can tell by looking at his handlebar moustache and his frilly white shirt that Dudley is a different type of boxer. As is the case with Von Kaiser, it wouldn’t technically be possible for an opponent to hit Dudley below the belt even if they wanted to. He keeps his dinner suit trousers in place with matching suspenders, and he even wears a pleated cummerbund to conceal the clasps. What would you expect from a fighter who drinks tea while wearing his boxing gloves?

People tend to associate suspenders with white color jobs, but they’re appropriate for the working class too. Red Dead Redemption 2 follows an outlaw named Arthur Morgan during the decline of the Old American West. The scruffy cowboy is involved in numerous shootouts and heists during his adventures, and he spends an inordinate amount of time hunting and horseback riding. Although his suspenders make a sophisticated impression, they’re obviously worn for their functionality. It’s fair to say that Arthur is more active than typical office workers, and his suspenders never fail to do their job. You almost have to wonder why all of the other members of Arthur’s gang don’t wear suspenders too. Arthur usually wears a belt as a part of his ensemble, but it’s only used to holster his gun. His suspenders obviously don’t need any help.

There are anatomical reasons why suspenders are more popular among men than with women, and these reasons are especially obvious for big tit girls like Tifa Lockhart. The poor gal essentially has to wrap the suspenders around her massive boobs. The suspenders contour her body and highlight her figure, but they don’t look especially comfortable. That being said, it’s completely understandable why she’d choose to wear them. She works in a bar and probably relies on tips, so a short skirt and a tight top are pretty much required. At the same time, she’s a skilled martial artist who stays physically active. It seems redundant for Tifa to keep her skirt in place by wearing a belt and suspenders, but it makes sense for her to error on the side of caution. I’m sure she doesn’t want to risk a wardrobe malfunction on the battlefield.

Geiru Toneido was the daughter of a famous rakugo artist, and she intended to follow in his footsteps. When it became apparent that she lacked her father’s talent, she decided to become a balloon artist instead. Her father eventually passed down his performer name to another student, so Geiru murdered the beneficiary in a blind rage. When Geiru was called as a witness in the ensuing trial, she showed up in her her balloon artist attire! Geiru acted like a complete ditz on the stand and made constant balloon-themed puns. One of her most outlandish maneuvers involved stretching her suspenders out and then letting them go in order to make the balloons under her dress wobble. This made it look like she had big boobs, but it was inappropriate for the court despite being amusing. Geiru Toneido wasn’t just a clown, she was the entire circus!