Slowly but surely, suspenders have started to invade the fashion scene. Last year, Mischa Barton made them her go-to accessory, and more recently Victoria Beckham rocked Dior suspenders on the cover of the January 2008 issue of Elle. Suspenders add a nostalgic air to a modern day outfit, except that now we don’t need to use them to hold up our pants.

They may have lost their practicality in today’s fashion world, but they definitely make a loud bang when added to any basic ensemble. On those days when I am too lazy to throw together an outfit more complicated than a pair of jean shorts and t-shirt, I’ll either wear my my leiderhoesen-esque denim shorts that have suspenders built into their design or just attach my suspenders to a pair of shorts to spice things up. Even though they are a simple accessory, suspenders bring something fresh and new to the table.