How to Adjust Overall Buckles

Co-authored by Elle Monus and Janice Tieperman

Last Updated: June 29, 2024 Fact Checked

Overalls are a comfortable and durable piece of clothing that are great for outdoor work or a fun outfit. While this no-nonsense garment is easy to put on, it can be frustrating if it rides up or if the straps feel too loose. Thankfully, you can make quick adjustments to your overalls in a matter of minutes or seconds. If your overalls are pretty damaged or not buckling properly, take a few minutes to install some new buckles and buttons on your garment.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Making Quick Adjustments

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1
Tug on the loose end of the strap to tighten your overall straps. Feel beneath the main straps of your overalls for a small section of fabric or denim. If your straps keep slipping off your shoulders, pull on this section of denim to tighten your overalls into place. ^{[1]
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- If your overalls continue to slip after you’ve adjusted the strap, you may need to purchase a set in a smaller size, or visit a tailor.
2
Pull down on the buckle to give your overalls more slack. Grip both sides of the adjustment buckle, which is the buckle located further up your overall strap. Pull and drag this buckle down, which increases the length of your straps and gives you more wiggle room. ^{[2]
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- Most overalls have 2 buckles—1 for adjustment, which sits higher up on the strap, and 1 that attaches to the button portion of your lower garment.
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3
Remove the adjustment clip and circular buckle if your overalls are riding up. Twist your overall strap so you can see part of the adjustment clip, which helps you change the length of your. Then, take a pair of pliers and undo this latched wire beneath the adjustment wire, along with any latched wire beneath the lower, rounded buckle. Remove both the adjustment clip and the circular buckle from your strap, then rethread the connecting buckle back into place through the circular buckle. ^{[3]
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- Oftentimes, these buckles are twisted and secured beneath the fabric strap, which helps hold the buckle mechanisms in place.
- Some overalls may have an adjustment buckle instead of an adjustment clip. ^{[4]
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4
Rethread the strap through the circular buckle. Loosen the wires in the buckle and slide them through the bottom of your overall strap. Secure the latched wires back in place within the strap so it stays in place. ^{[5]
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- Some buckles may not need to be adjusted with wires—you may just have to rethread the strap through your circular buckle.
Alison Smith, Master Tailor

Getting the right fit on your overalls is key for comfort when you wear them. If the straps are too loose, they'll slip down as you work. Start by finding the metal slider buckle a few inches below the top shoulder seam. Grip both sides and slide it up to tighten the straps so they hug your shoulders snugly. If still loose, remove the buckle completely, pull more strap through the loop, and reattach the buckle. For looser overalls, just slide the buckle downward. Well-fitted straps evenly distribute the overalls' weight across your shoulders.