Many people choose their belts as the last accessory to complete their outfits. And it is somehow logical since they select their belts according to their suits and casual wardrobe. At first sight, it seems to be pretty easy to choose a belt. One black, one brown- and it’s all set. Usually, people consider belts just simple accessories for functional purposes. Truly speaking though, these are essential elements to make a statement, to express the temperament of its owner. Try to look from another perspective: what if you choose your outfit according to your belt, and not vice versa? What kind of belt would you opt for? If it was to pick a belt to be the main focus of your outfit? What aspects would you pay attention to?
So, things turn harder if looking from such an angle. As we discussed in our previous article, the belt should complement the whole look. In this article, we will go a little further to discover what to pay attention to, apart from just matching colors. In the end, you will realize that the task is, in fact, not as easy as it appears to be. But, taking it step by step, things will become clearer.
Two basic types of belts
Nothing new here for you. But just to make a short retrospective: these accessories fall into two major segments: casual belts and dress or formal belts. The formal ones add aesthetic value to suits, tuxedos, and all kinds of dressy outfits. These are perfect for weddings, cocktail evenings, business meetings, etc…
On the other hand, casual accessories are pretty less formal, usually feature a wider structure, and look great whenever wearing easy-going outfits, jeans, polos, etc… These are perfect for daily walks, and friends’ night outs.
In rare cases, fashion designers create both casual and formal belts. But, the mass audience can find such types occasionally since these types are rarely sold for the mass market.
Specifics of dress belts
So, now that you know the basic purpose and concept of the formal belt, let’s dive deeper. You should never make the big mistake of combining a formal pair of shoes with a belt of another color. In a perfect scenario, these should be made of the same leather. But, since this is rarely possible, bring your belt as close as possible to the color of your shoes.
I mentioned earlier in the article that casual belts are, traditionally, wider than formal ones. But, I didn’t specify the width of the formal belt. So, here it is: your dress belt should fit between 1/8″ in thickness and about 1/4″ – 1 3/8″ in width. So, don’t exaggerate with the width and thickness, since all belts surpassing these standards fall into the dress belts category. And you don’t want to look unprofessional in matters of style and taste.
Material, quality, and other specifications
Hearing that a belt is “made of leather” is not enough. You should ask the dealer what kind of leather is the belt. And it’s neither about calf nor crocodile leather. It’s about the quality grade. You might hear in response that the belt is of “top grain leather”, “high-quality leather” or “genuine leather”. These are not what you should look for. What you need to find is the “full grain leather” belt, which is the highest standard of quality. The other names might sound pretty convincing to you. But, you should not fall into this trap and keep strongly in mind that full-grain leather is the best option.
Another type of belt is the suede belt. This one is a more versatile option than the dress belts and is usually taken as a casual accessory. In fact, it belongs to the formal belts category and is the most “casual” type from the formal belts spectrum. The truth is that wearing a suede belt in casual circumstances is not considered a mistake, so you can take it into account.
Decorations, buckles, and finishes
A usual misconception regarding formal belts refers to their finish. According to fashion etiquette, the belts should feature a pretty shiny finish. Designers don’t recommend matte finishes, which completely demystifies the usual conception that matte belts are great options. Not at all. The shinier your belt is, the better for you.
The same goes for the additional decorations. If the outfit is expressive enough, don’t turn it into a vulgar one by using a belt with multiple patterns and excessive decorations. The belt should complement and balance the outfit, not make it coarser. So, in such circumstances, less is more.
If you want your belt to look expressive and stylish, opt for minimalist buckles. According to etiquette, the best option is the polished buckle without excessive complications and elements. In the same context, pay attention to the color combination. As in the case of shoe color matching, the belt should also combine well with the color of the buckle. Brown belts couple harmoniously with polished gold, while black leather belts form a great contrast with a silver buckle.
Specifics of casual belts
Let’s move on with describing the key points to consider with the casual belts. These ones are far more flexible and versatile and don’t require such rigid rules in wearing them. In many instances, one casual belt can be opportune for plenty of casual outfits. And vice versa, one single casual outfit couples perfectly with diverse casual accessories.
With these belts, you can experiment with the width and thickness as you please. Generally speaking, these belts are predominantly thicker than thinner, in comparison to formal belts. However, these should rarely be thicker than 3/4” in order to bend them properly around the waist (unless the special outfit requires so).
Material, quality, and other specifications
To avoid style errors, it is always a good idea to opt for a leather casual belt. Similar to the formal versions, the best option is the full-grain leather belt. I hardly recommend other types of materials and here is why: casual belts are typically worn on a daily basis. Therefore, these are more exposed to wear and tear than formal belts. Hence, these are more prone to damage and tend to lose their aesthetic appearance and functionality. In such a context, you need a durable material to easily outstanding daily wear, without being worried about the quality.
Similarly, you can opt for a suede belt, since it goes well with the casual style. Alternatively, it’s not excluded to come across cotton belts. These are usually the most affordable ones. Cotton belts are worn pretty well and complement casual looks. I only can associate them with the casual style, and never ever with the formal one.
Decorations, buckles, and finishes
If you embrace the matte finish, here is where you can apply it. The casual style accepts the matte finish of the belts. The same goes for the decorations. The casual style is usually easygoing and does not imply “screaming” outfits. In such circumstances, the belt decorations add a sort of attractiveness and fit the overall look.
In addition, the casual style is where you can play with buckles as you wish. Both polished and mate buckles are welcome. Moreover, you can play with their forms and shapes as you please. Square or rounded, ornamented or minimalist, they all qualify for the casual style with no reserve. Just be accurate and avoid exaggeration. If there are other accents in your overall outfit, the buckle ornament should balance it, and not create an effect of “excess”.
The must-have belts in your wardrobe
Many men limit themselves to having one or two belts in their wardrobe. They usually think about buying another one only when the existing ones start to wear off. As a matter of fact, a self-respecting man should own a couple of belts in his closet to be always ready to face any type of challenge. I do not insist, I only recommend having them to avoid troubles when the single belt you have does not fit the new pair of pants that you have just bought (for instance). So, to get ready for any circumstance, these are the belt that I suggest adding to your collection:
-a formal accessory in black color: this is the classic that must never miss from the closet;
-a formal accessory in brown color: you never know when you buy a new pair of brown shoes, or grey pants;
-casual leather accessory in brown color: this is for the casual jeans that you probably put on at least 3-4 times a week;
-suede belt: for when you will need to replace the casual brown belt when you switch from jeans to shorts or summer pants.
Of course, these are by far to be the only existing belts. But, if we are talking about the essentials, these would be the most important ones to own.
Buying belts online
Things are pretty easy when you visit a physical store and inspect closely the quality, length/width, and color of the belts. Speaking about the online realm, the task gets a bit challenging. There are high risks that the belts mismatch the color and don’t fit in length when they arrive. As a result, you lose time and nerves and probably end up visiting the physical store to solve the issue.
Alternatively, you can find pretty reliable online stores that are open to solve such kinds of potential troubles. After all, it depends on the online store’s professionalism. In such a context, AAAReplica online store is ready to help you with the selection of a suitable belt. The customer care representatives are always there to recommend suitable colors and sizes. You can always ask for additional pictures to confirm if the color is indeed matching your shoes.
In addition, they will help you with the selection of a great belt according to your style and preferences. You have plenty of replica belt options here and all of them come from the most popular and remarkable fashion designers. In addition, all of them come in the highest quality so you don’t have to worry about their durability. So, give it a try and make things easy for yourself. After all, the belts might not be the most important element of your outfit, but these do express your taste for style.