How to choose the right belt: a comprehensive guide

How are the belts arranged?

Any belt consists of two parts: a buckle and a belt made of leather or other material. Additional elements - belt loop and tip. A loop secures the free edge of the belt, and the tip protects it from wear. On a leather belt, it is usually metal, on a fabric - leather.

What are the types of belts?

Strict

They differ little from each other. Let's consider their general characteristics.

Buckle

Shiny and smooth, gold or silver. Usually in the form of a frame. It differs from everyday ones in its smaller size.

Width

Straight belts are always thin. The width should not exceed 2, 5–3, 8 centimeters.

Material

Exclusively leather. Natural or very good artificial if you are against the use of animal skin.

The most common material is cowhide. She is beautiful and durable. Calf skin is softer and more elastic. Belts made of it are considered especially high quality.

Rare and expensive options are crocodile or snake skin. In a dark color, they are quite suitable for a strict image.

Colour

A strict belt should not draw attention to itself. The traditional colors are black and brown. For a less formal dress code, thick red, beige, dark blue, gray, and white for the summer are also suitable. The surface of the belt should be smooth and slightly glossy, preferably without a pattern.

Combining a belt with a suit

The leather of the belt should match the color and shine of the shoes. And the buckle - with the rest of the metal accessories, except for the wedding ring.

Everyday

When choosing a belt for every day, you can show your imagination. It will reflect your personality and sense of style.

Width

Everyday belts are wider than strict ones, usually 3, 8–4, 5 centimeters. The belt is 3, 8 cm wide and fits well with jeans, chinos and heavy fabrics. The wider ones can be worn with jeans and loose trousers, combined with a classic or bold buckle.

Colour

Brown is a versatile color for everyday wear. Black belts will not work with khaki jeans and trousers. If you want to add personality to your outfit, look for vibrant colors.

What are the buckles for everyday belts?

Frame

On everyday belts, it is larger and more massive than on strict ones.

Buckle-plate

Usually detachable. Most often with an inscription or pattern. Makes the belt longer.

Automatic buckle

There are no holes in a belt with this buckle. The tape is fixed inside the buckle itself.

D-shaped or O-shaped buckles

They consist of one or two rings through which the belt is threaded. These buckles are most commonly found on woven and canvas belts.

Buckle-lock

The opposite ends snap into place like a seat belt. A very practical kind of buckles. Popular among those who lead an active lifestyle.

What material are belts made of?

Leather … Casual leather belts are wider and stiffer. They are usually made from the outer layer of cowhide. On some, traces of scars or marks that were on the skin of the animal during life are specially left.
Braided leather … A good option when you want to subtly refresh your look. Woven belts do not fit suits, but do go well with blazers. The multi-colored belt can be worn in summer with khaki shorts and a polo shirt.
Embossed leather … Such belts will fit well into a simple look, for example, they will go well with jeans with a basic shirt. Don't wear them with flashy clothes. Together they will look too flashy.
Leather combined with tape … A bright and bold option that will help you stand out. Pairs great with boat and golf shoes.
Suede leather … Less wear than leather. For strength, the seamy side of such belts is made of leather.
Braided fabric … A practical material suitable for those who spend a lot of time outdoors. There are colors and patterns for every taste.
Rope … More often found in women's wardrobe, but it is quite suitable for men's clothing. Such belts, for example, are worn by sailors. Usually they are fixed not with a buckle, but with a knot. Such a belt will serve for a long time and will not suffer, even when wet.
Canvas fabric … This metal buckle belt is a simple but practical option. Usually it is solid or with a horizontal stripe in a contrasting color.
Vinyl … Bright, bold and cheap. Suitable only for young people, and even then only at a concert. Most often it looks tasteless.

When should you wear a belt?

Ideally with any pants that have belt loops. That is why they are sewn. Without a belt, the image will look casual.

A belt is required with business suits. In a more casual look with an oversized shirt, you can do without it.

If desired, the belt can be replaced with suspenders. They will do the same thing - they will keep the pants in place. Suspenders are especially good for large men, they visually decrease the volume at the waist. In addition, they will make you appear taller. The main thing is not to wear a belt and suspenders at the same time.

And what to combine the belt with?

The belt can complement your look or contrast with the rest of the details. In the first case, it should match in color with other parts of the suit, for example, with shoes. This is a must for strict belts. For everyday wear, it is enough to combine the color of the buckle with metal accessories. And the color of the shoes does not have to match. For example, it is quite possible to wear brown and beige or beige and white. The main thing is that the belt fits into the image. When in doubt, go for brown.

Another option is a bright or unusual style belt. In this case, build an image around it. Choose solid colors and accessories without patterns. One or two bright spots in the image are enough. Do not forget that this belt will draw attention to the waist. Don't wear it if you're not sure of yourself.

Strict and casual belts can sometimes replace each other. The former are suitable not only for business suits, but also for more formal sports jackets. Casual ones are combined not only with jeans and shorts, but also with chinos.

When clothing is clearly of a particular style, the belt must match. A strict belt will look out of place with casual pants. It will seem disproportionately thin. And a casual business suit belt will ruin the serious impression you want to make.

How to determine your size?

Measure the circumference of the waistband of your pants. The belt should be 3-5 centimeters longer. Or just measure your old belt.

If you like a belt that is not the right size or the old one is too small for you, do not make new holes yourself. They will stand out noticeably, and the belt itself may break at the puncture site. Take it to the shoe shop.

A stern strap should have a short free end. Only a few centimeters of the belt should protrude from under the fastened buckle - enough to pass through the first belt loop.

So how do you choose a quality belt?

Casual belts can be changed every couple of years depending on fashion or desire. It is better to buy a strict belt for a long time. If you choose a high-quality one, it will serve you for more than a dozen years. A calfskin belt is ideal. It should be soft and flexible.

Bend the strap to check for cracking. Press lightly on the inside of the belt with your fingernail. If a small trace remains, the skin is still soft. There will be no marks on the old hard skin.
Pay attention to the stitches. They should be small, close to each other, without protruding threads.
See if the buckle comes off. A belt with a detachable buckle is more profitable. You can change it depending on the situation.
The brand is not that important. Hardly anyone will notice that you have a designer belt. Quality leather and neatness are more important.