Let’s be honest, buying a belt is easy, right? You just go in a department store, pick out a 4mm thick or brown leather strap with a shiny silver or golden buckle and call it a day. In the end, who really cares about a belt? You can hardly see it anyway well, if that is enough for you that is great. If however, you are interested in turning your belt from a merely functional accessory to an accessory capable of making a fashion-forward style statement, then this article is for you.Taste is different for everyone but an it ill-fitting or poorly-matched belt can ruin an outfit. Our belt guide will show you can step up your belt’s game.
Below are How To Find The Perfect Belt
Belt Fit & Size Guide
First thing first. Finding the proper size for your belts is essential. That is why we dedicated an entire article to the topic of how you can find your perfect belt size. We’ll just give you a brief summary here: Belts usually have 5 holes. The variety of holes gives your body some for change and allows you to wear pants made of various thicknesses and to tuck your shirt in or not. Ideally, though, you want the belt to fit so that buckle pin goes exactly through the middle hole. Wrapping a long tail of residual leather around your hip or having the tip of the belt hang down loosely is a no-no. The only proper and logical way to measure belt sizes is from the inner edge of the buckle, where belt buckle and buckle pin meet, to the middle hole. The total belt length will then be the belt size plus about 15cm/61n.
When to Wear a Belt
As described in our History of the belt article, belts used to be exclusively functional accessory. Over time, however, the belt transformed its identity to one of the most important decorative accessories for men. The rule is simple: if you pants have belt loops, Wear a belt. Leaving the loops empty looks like you forgot something. That goes especially for formal attire, when your shirt is tucked in. A chic alternative to belts are suspenders. Yet, keep in mind not to wear belts and suspenders at the same time.
Classic Vs Casual Belts
Belts typically into one of two categories: classic belts and casual belts are usually worn with suits or more formal attire and are always made of leather. Casual belts come in a wide variety of materials, such as wool, polyester, nylon or leather, and come in an array of different colours. As the name says, casual belts go with casual outfits. Some belts manage to bridge the gap between classic and casual styles. Braided leather belts like our woven suede belts or our full-grain leather belts work well with both casual and formal outfits when paired correctly.
