1980s Christian Dior Vintage Black Trouser Flower Braces – Silk Blend

These trouser braces were made for Christian Dior in the 1980s, in black silk blend, for men, size 40/100. Dior had extended its name into menswear in 1970 with the Christian Dior Monsieur line, and by the 1980s its men's accessories, from ties to braces, were an established part of the house's offer.

The 1980s brought a return to formal tailoring: double-breasted suits, wide shoulders, high-waisted pleated trousers and crisp shirts. Braces held those trousers in place and became a visible style statement when the jacket came off.

In the 1980s braces became associated with the world of finance and ambition, an image fixed in popular culture by Michael Douglas's Gordon Gekko in the 1987 film Wall Street. They signalled a confident, polished way of dressing.

The black silk blend gives the braces a subtle sheen and a refined finish suited to formal wear. Black works with almost any suit and shirt, from business to evening.

With tailoring and high-waisted trousers back in fashion, vintage designer braces are once again a practical and characterful accessory. This Dior pair is in very good condition.