Falling-down pants are not one of our concerns, though for a time they were, which only sharpened the thrill of living. Suspenders presented another option, though—one that remains so ridiculously charming, Jonquil & Mr Black designer Jordan Christianson develops his own, in many variations. His single-belt suspenders slice the body diagonally, and some have an added strap that swoops beneath an underarm to provide "just a slash of detail. It's not like a gun holster or anything." And his traditional versions have dual strips—they rest parallel in the back, or form X or Y shapes. These designs carry us backward, capturing something romantic and faraway: an image of a man—not a real man, but an old-timey drawing of one—spry and handsome, strolling through slanted gold light, and whistling some twirling song.
Jordan draws inspiration from antique horse dressage—bridle buckles are especially sturdy and elegant, he says. And he crafts his suspenders with leather, inviting a deep list of obstacles. Leather is expensive, which is stressful, and once the sewing needle perforates the hide, it leaves a hole that never goes away. Stitches set too short weaken the garment, causing the seams to rip easily apart, like paper from a spiral notebook. Leather stretches pell-mell during construction, and gets brittle and stiff in the cold winter air. (A hair dryer works as a corrective, Jordan says.) The cutting process, too, is earthy and strange: The hide won't lie flat, even after he's spread it out overnight to creepily "let it breathe." Always near the limbs, the loyal skin swells up from the floor—as if poising itself for its animal companion to return and daintily step into it, resuming its wear.
The finished suspenders are meticulous, matching the personality of their designer. Jordan approaches problems with an engineer's grace, and during his prototype sessions, he considers the strap thickness, the efficiency of the connection points, the even suspension of the pants, the angle of the back strap split, the proper shoulder placement, and the hardware's performance. To affix them, Jordan sews buttons on the waistband of all of his trousers, even his jeans. And when he creates vests, he deliberately scoops the armholes so the suspenders will peek out.
His past projects include a sleek weekend bag with an innovative side wing design, developed to hug against the body, ensuring "the heavier it gets, the more comfortable it becomes." And for Halloween, he's building a delightfully slutty Stay Puft Marshmallow Man costume for a friend—booty shorts with a lumpy crop top. 
