For black/white tie, I currently have two pairs of the white moire silk with silk loops. I ordered one pair, but there was some dirt underneath the shoulder clips or whatever the metal thing is called, so I sent the photos to Thurston saying they should improve their QC. Given the state of customer service at most other companies I didn't expect anything and just wanted them to know they might have a production issue. But the lady there told me to throw away my bad pair as a new one was being made and sure enough a few weeks later a perfect pair materialised in my mailbox.I note that you say "could have bought." Did you stick with the basic version or did you buy the more indulgent ones?
I love how on SF white moire silk braces are somehow considered basic and utilitarian. . . . And I own a pair myself. I justify it, however, on the theory that I might have to give my jacket to my date to protect her when a super-villian takes over the casino and forces us out into the Alpine cold. Even jacketless, one still needs to look dashing, so moire silk braces are a must.
I don't know what basic means in this context; to me the Thurston is as good as it gets (I guess they could have the metal parts be made of platinum? and I agree with Andy that ivory is also very nice, except they didn't have it with silk loops anymore). The function of holding up the trousers could be done by any type of braces, including those with clips; and there are goatskin-looped Thurstons (and cheaper brands) on eBay for a song, but they usually have little ducks on a red ground or something. I mention it does not matter because since your braces won't be seen, who cares about the little ducks? But I like nice things.
Being from the Alps, even in summer I would not leave the house in the evening without a coat. I remember water freezing in a friend's chalet at the height of the summer at night, even if during the day the air might reach 35 Celsius. I dislike casinos (and for that matter, the idea of the British interfering with my country's affairs - see De Gaulle's War Memoirs for the precedent, or the last 1000 years).