Belts come in various types, from simple ones to those with intricate designs. They also vary in color, material, and price. And any man who wants to look good needs to invest in a quality belt. Belts are important accessories that add style to your outfit.
Belts have served as fashion staples since ancient times and are primarily worn for aesthetic purposes and serve as practical items, making them the perfect addition to various outfits.
The right belt enhances your look while the wrong one draws unnecessary attention to your belly, making you uncomfortable. There are many types of belts to choose from. Visit the site to enjoy a vast collection of men’s belts. However, choosing the right belt for your outfit is not always easy. Here’s a complete guide to help you choose the ideal men’s belt for your outfit.
Choosing the Right Men’s Belt Size
Ideally, the perfect belt size should be one or two inches longer than your pants’ waist size. A wrong-size belt may require you to gouge extra holes in it, reducing the belt’s appeal. Instead, take it to your cobbler and have the hole added properly. For dress belts, the tail end should be short, with only a few inches to the buckle’s left side after fastening, but long enough to tuck through the keeper loop.
For formal belts, choose men’s belts with a width of between 1.2 and 1.5 inches and 1.75 to 2 inches for casual belts. Generally, wider belts are casual.
Material of the Belt Strap
Leather is the most common material and comes in varieties like suede, tooled, braided, or full grain leather. Full grain leather is used for formal belts. Braided leather comes as multicolored for a casual summer look and monochrome leather that’s casual. Tooled leather and suede are also casual. In addition, exotic leathers are casual but can be worn with formal outfits if you choose a dark color.
Other materials like canvas are used for functional belts and go with box buckles. Webbing is used for outdoor outfits and works with a D-ring buckle. Leather-backed ribbon is casual and available in bold motifs and bright colors. It works well with a frame buckle and matches your boat, golf, or sailing shoes.
Rope is common in women’s fashion but worn by men in the marine industry. The belt is fastened with a knot instead of a buckle, is durable, and takes soaking better than leather. Vinyl is colorful and bold and is ideal for young men’s belts.
A Buckle that Matches your Outfit
Men’s belt buckle types range from plate style, box frame, O-ring, frame, to D-ring style. The frame style is the most common type in almost all formal and casual men’s belts. Its strap goes through the frame, and the prong goes into the holes in the strap to help you achieve the right fit.
The plate-style buckle is normally detachable and is decorated like in cowboy men’s belts. Its hook goes through the strap’s front, and its throw extends its length. The throw is the distance between the hook and chape (the buckle part joining it to the strap).
The box frame buckle is metal, hollow, and open-ended, with a post that presses the strap from the inside part of the box, meaning this belt doesn’t require holes in the strap. The ring buckles have one or two rings that form the buckle. So, to fasten the belt, the strap threads through the ring. This type is mostly casual and is used with canvas, braided, and webbing belts.
So, choose different buckle styles for different outfits. Also, choose a men’s belt buckle that matches the metal tone of your other accessories. For instance, if your watch or stud is silver, the buckle should be silver too. In addition, bigger buckles are less formal, so consider the buckle size when buying your men’s belt.
Men’s Belts for Different Outfits
There are different belts: utility, fashion, and sports belts. Utility belts are worn to provide support during everyday activities. Fashion belts are worn to add flair to your outfits, while sports belts are designed to carry equipment and gear safely and are adjustable.
For formal occasions, black or brown leather is the perfect belt. Colors like tan, oxblood, navy, gray, and white are smart casual belts. However, when wearing a formal belt, ensure to match it with your leather shoes. They should have the same color and level of shine.
Matching your metals is still necessary for casual occasions, but the leather color combination is flexible. For instance, you can match brown with tan leather. However, wearing formal belts doesn’t look right for jeans because of the shine and finish of the belt. So instead, look for a belt with rugged and matte leather.
Conclusion
Choosing the right belt for your outfit can help you look more put together. However, you shouldn’t wear a belt with suspenders or if your pants lack belt loops. Ideally, you should have at least three men’s belts: a dress belt for evening and business wear, a casual belt for jeans, and a webbed fabric belt for a casual summer look. If you can’t afford it all, start by getting a dress belt and gradually progress to the rest.
