Men’s belts are something that is not very discussed and focused on. Maybe because belts come in few options so most men wonder “how hard can it be?”. In this article, we break down everything you need to know about belts, so that next time you put one on, you will be sure you have chosen the right one.
The belt does not only hold your trousers up, but is also a fashion statement. In order to make sure you are alright, if you are wearing a suit, you should follow the rule that says that your belt needs to match your shoes. It’s not only your shoes that need to match your belt. Your whole outfit must be in perfect harmony. Even though both black and brown are neutrals (you can read more about neutral colors in our other articles), a brown belt and a black suit don’t go together.
However, if you are wearing a more casual outfit, like jeans and a casual shirt, your belt can be seen as an accessory and therefore, it must not match anything, it has to go. You can read more about how colors go together, on our article “The professional way to choose the colors of your clothes“.
We recommend that you have at least two belts in your closet: a good leather belt that comes in great quality and that you can add to your formal suits or more dressy outfits is the first kind. When you purchase a quality belt, it’s ok to make an investment. Think about the cost/wear. For example, if you invest $90 on a belt, but you wear it 150 times in a year, that means that the cost/wear is $0.6. It’s good to have a strong belt, as if you will buy a cheaper one it will go bad earlier and you will need to buy another one, so you will spend more money!
A casual belt is the second type of belt men should own. Some brands sell belts made out of nylon or cotton. Sometimes these belts have bright colors such as green, blue, red and sometimes they even come in stripes. We recommend that you wear this kind of belts only with casual outfits, such as t-shirts and jeans or short pants.
There was a time when studded belts were a fashion, but generally we recommend that you don’t wear embellished belts, as you will want to have another piece be the main focus of your outfit. Usually accessories are not main pieces, the main clothing pieces are, such as the shirt, the vest, the blazer or the pants.
When it comes to the belt buckle, remember that both silver and gold are neutrals, so they go with anything.
You might not have thought of this, but for a man who is always on the go, belts can look great if they match your briefcase. Using this tip will make your whole look come together.
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. What type of belts do you have? Do you have any questions about belts? Share your thoughts and questions in the comments below!
21 replies on “How to Choose a Good Belt (B)”
Another great article. I think a good belt is such a necessity in any wardrobe and can change the look of an outfit so much!
Charlotte
http://www.winstonandwillow.com
Thanks, we agree, belts can make an outfit!
good article!
Thank you!
A belt of good quality is a great way to upgrade an outfit. I like simple leather belts the best. xoxo KJ
Yup, they work with almost anything and as you said, take the outfit to another step.
I prefer those slim belts over the average sized ones coz I think they’re more stylish. Do you think so? 🙂
When it comes to belts, slim or wide is a matter of proportion of the belt with to the wearer’s body size. This is pretty much just like in the case of ties.
Different belt sizes go with different body sizes and shapes, so you got to try several belts on to see which width is perfect for your body size and type.
Wide belts usually go with bigger body frames where slim belts go with thinner body types. Of course, the whole outfit and the other accessories you wear should be taken into consideration as well when choosing a belt.
Right right. So I guess slim belts are fine on me. Thank you!
We’re happy to have helped you!
Best wishes!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
Once again, this information is essential to the soul!
Once again, thank you!
Nice Belts. Thanks For sharing.. I little bit which one i have to choose blue one or black one..I thinks i have go with both..
Excellent post
Thank you!
I will go with Blue One. I like it. Thanks
I can attest that I have a good belt bought many years ago and it’s still going strong!
Hi Luis,
Thank you for your input, it’s great to have you confirm what we said!
F&F
Are printed belts OK to wear?
They definitely are, but usually go best with casual settings. You can also wear a belt that has a great texture to add dimension to your outfit!
The thickness of belt material and how it’s constructed can be just as important as the width of the belt. I’ve also run into problems with less expensive belts being available in limited lengths. Thankfully I live down the street from a man who makes leather goods and it’s been a godsend. My husband nearly threw out several nice ones he’d outgrown over the years. Some were able to be extended and I gave them back to him for an anniversary gift. The others were altered and now he gets to enjoy me wearing them!