Buying men’s belts

Buying a belt may not seem like such a hard task on the surface, but there are many decisions to be made to avoid social faux pas, embarrassment, and to ensure that the right belt is used for the right task. This guide should help you navigate through this complicated world and come out on top looking your best.

Belt basics

Simply, if your pants have belt loops, you should be wearing a belt.  To size your belt, simply look at the size of your pants and go up one size or two. If your belt is too big, it will wrap too far around and stick out at your hip, looking ridiculous. If your belt is too short, it just won’t fit. Adding an extra size or two ensures that if you gain weight, especially around the holidays, you will not have to buy a new belt. Also, if you lose a few pounds, the belt won’t overlap too far. Remember, that a good quality belt will stretch over time and conform to fit comfortably. These general rules apply for all types of belts.

Some Genuine Leather Belts

Business and formal wear

We all need to look our best at work to impress the boss or new clients. The last thing we would want to do is look like a fool in front of them. We want to dress to impress. For business wear you should wear real leather or, for an eco-friendly alternative, vinyl made to look like leather. You should have at least two belts: one brown and one black. You should wear your belts to match your shoes. They don’t need to be an exact color match, but never wear a black belt with brown shoes and vice versa.

Some Vinyl Options

Look for a skinny belt with a simple belt buckle. Match the color of your belt buckle to the jewelry you wear. The top designers of men’s business wear belts include Gucci, Prada, Fendi and Dolce Gabbana.

Casual Wear

When dressing casual whether for work, school, or leisure, you will still want to dress your best. Match your belt color to your shoes. You may choose either leather or cloth belts. Cloth belts are known for being much more comfortable but are not as durable as leather. If you are wearing white sports shoes, a white cloth belt would be the best match. Popular brands of casual wear belts are Tommy Hilfiger, Lucky Brand, Nautica, Fossil, and Dockers. Men should look out for a more trendy styles of belts as more designers are putting their best effort to provide men a wider range of belts to suit individual tastes. In recent years, men’s belts have evolve to a more bolder look that includes cotton belts in fun colors and camouflage, thin belts, alligator skin, studded belts and even military-style belts.

Some Casual Belts

Work belts

No matter what type of business you are in, you may still need to have a heavy duty work belt. Whether you need it on the job or for work around the house, a good quality heavy duty work belt can last a lifetime. Work belts need to be fatter in width, about two inches, and need to be made from thicker leather to support the use and abuse you will put it through. Once again, match your belt to your shoes or work boots. Silver is usually the standard color for a belt buckle, but you may opt for a different color based upon your jewelry and uniform needs. Popular brands of work belts are Dickies, Timberland, and Carhartt.

Some Work Belts

Belt Care

To clean a leather belt, wipe it clean with mild soap and water and wipe the soap away with a clean damp cloth. Allow this to dry. To keep the leather from drying out, causing cracks and weakening the leather, use a leather conditioner and other high quality leather care products. You should now have a clear idea of what kind of belt you need for any type of occasion. Also, you should know what to wear with it.

So before going out to shop for a new belt, take a good look at your wardrobe and then decide on the right belt for yourself. Good luck!