Belts are accessories that can really compliment your outfit in a very subtle, yet impactful way. It should go without saying that leather is the preferred material for men’s belts due to its durability and flexibility. However, not everyone finds the process of picking leather belts easy. That being said, let’s look at a few things that should impact the decision. And the rest of it is just personal taste.
Address The Purpose
The belt can enhance your whole look or stick out like a sore thumb. For instance, narrower leather belts with small buckles and glossy finish can look great with a suit but are not suitable for a casual look. The wider and more distinguished belts with rounded buckles and simple or complex stitching would work well for that since they allow for more freedom and variety to the wearer when it comes to expressing their style.
Match the Buckle with Other Metals
Most belt buckles have either a gold-coloured or silver-coloured finish. If you wear male jewellery of any kind, like a watch, cuff links or tie clips, the belt should be in the same colour family. Silver accents should be paired with a silver belt buckle and gold ones should be restricted to gold.
Pick the Leather Type
The price of a leather belt is usually determined by the type of leather has been used and how the product has been produced. When it comes to this aspect, it’s all about how much you are willing to spend. You can choose between full grain leather, the finest of all leathers, or bonded and genuine leather which are considered to be of lower quality.
Figure the Length
A good rule of tumb is to have a few inches of leather to the left of the buckle once it’s fastened and that’s why a proper fit will usually be a little longer than your pants’ size. An easy way to determine the belt size is to simply add 2 inches. Let say if you are 34 inches around the waist, then you should consider purchasing a 36 inches belt.
Look at the Shoes
The colour and look of the leather belt should match the shoes to make a perfect combo – except when you are wearing sneakers that aren’t made of leather as these allow for more freedom. Otherwise brown leather shoes go with a brown leather belt while black shoes go with with black belts.
