Belts hold everything together, ensuring that your clothing doesn’t look sloppy. Here is my comprehensive guide to different types of men’s belts.
Belts are a staple in men’s fashion, but typically, we guys only have two of them, maximum, in our closet. Most of us own black or brown leather belts, which tells us how much we know about the handy accessory.
Used for both function and fashion, these small accessories do more than just keep the pants in place.
Sometimes, they’re meant to carry utilities and other times, we just use them decoratively.
Whatever your reason might be, they’re still part of your overall image. They can be cool statement pieces or become an ugly distraction.
To ensure that your appearance looks the best it can be, we prepared the gentleman’s guide to different types of men’s belts.
The Time and Place To Wear Belts
While some say that a man should always wear a belt if his pants have loops — that’s not always necessary. If your pants fit as they should, you don’t really need a belt. It can even be a style advantage to forgo one to avoid breaking up your midsection and help you maintain a sleek, look.
Also, some pants with both belt loops and suspender buttons. When wearing suspenders you should never wear a belt.
Although there’s a widespread idea that skipping on this accessory can make you look sloppy, especially in formal attire, that’s the opposite of the truth.
The most formal outfits don’t give you the option to wear a belt. Black and white tie traditionally don’t have belt loops at all. The classic choice is always silk suspenders.
Many men also prefer to eschew belt loops on their custom suits and instead opt for side tabs and/or suspender buttons.
You can forgo them when you have a shirt untucked, just so you won’t have that weird bulge at the waist. But if you’re tucking your shirt in and have no belt, you will,l in some, instances it’ll just look awkward.
Honestly, it takes some practice to know when it’s ok not to wear a belt.
If your pants have belt loops the safe choice is to wear one. This is especially true of casual pants styles such as jeans, chinos, and shorts.
How to Match Your Belt to Your Shoes
Let’s say you’re trying to make a strong first impression, and you’ve got your outfit all figured out. Then, you top it off by putting on a mismatched belt. This small mistake can ruin an otherwise stellar look.
How to match your belt with your shoes can be a bit tricky. Here’s an entire article dedicated to the topic.
How To Choose Various Types of Men’s Belts
Categorically, there are two kinds of belts: formal and casual.
Formal belts are often made of leather and worn with suits and smart casual attire. Casual belts, on the other hand, sometimes come in alternative materials, like nylon, and are used for less formal activities.
The perfect belt can bring out the most in your outfit, especially if done correctly. You can’t just grab the one with the shiniest buckle and expect it to go with any piece of clothing.
Dress Belts
Let’s start off with the dress belts. Primarily made from cowhide or reptile skins, they add a touch of sophistication to your snappy suit.
You’ll most likely to wear these with elevated looks. When buying one, be sure to get the classic frame buckle.
The strap shouldn’t be more than 1.5 inches wide and always go for either black or brown belts. The Allen Edmonds Main Street Dress Belt.
It is a great choice as it pairs well with business clothing.
Handcrafted in America, it’s crafted from vegetable-tanned leather and showcases a silver-tone buckle. Match it with your shoes and keep them both polished, and you’ll be the sharpest man in the room.
Relaxed Casual Belts
Now that the formality’s out of the way let’s talk about casual belts. These can range from braided to canvas and are best matched with blue jeans and khakis.
The ideal width for this category depends on the outfit you’re wearing.
Braided Belts
Usually built with a combination of hide, nylon, and wax cotton, they have a sporty appearance and offer good mobility.
Their flexible and stretchy designs let wearers move better during light activities like golfing, fishing, or sailing. You can partner them up with soft-colored shirts like lavender and cyan.
One of my favorites in this category is the Asket Braided Elastic belt. Its soft and durable Italian-made cotton-viscose-natural can fit well with your hips without restricting movement.
Fused with its nickel-free zinc-alloy buckle, it gives off a timeless and effortless look that can pull together any casual outfit.
Canvas Belts
Nothing concludes the summer look more than canvas belts. They’re stylish and relaxed, and their usual neutral color schemes mesh well with khakis and
Since they’re constructed from durable resources like cotton with a few leather accents, they stay durable with time.
The L.L.Bean Men’s Comfort Waist Belt is a great option because of its versatility and clean look.
It’s 1.5 inches wide, features nylon webbing, and has a brass buckle finish. You can strap it on your chinos or just pull it around your cargo shorts.
Full-Grain Leather Belts
You can’t underestimate the sturdiness of full-grain leather belts, as they’re made from hides that weren’t sanded or snuffed. They also have thicker fibers that add to their strength.
Another factor in their toughness is the fact that they’re made from the upper part of the hide. It’s denser than the lower sections of the skin.
If you’re looking for an all-occasion companion, then the Tanner Goods Classic Cognac may be the right one for you.
From craftsmen who create top-notch items, it’s a standard brown sash made from English Bridle and features a sturdy buckle. This high-quality belt can stand as your all-occasion style companion whether you’re in denim or slacks.
Suede Belts
Suede belts offer a unique aesthetic in its own right. It’s softer both in color and texture compared to others of its type and isn’t as hard.
Lucky Brand’s Distressed Suede can be your laid-back clothing partner to add texture and contrast to your informal apparel. Its soft fabric and distressed details mean you can wear it during all seasons, as long as the colors don’t clash.
Just don’t use it alongside suits; it’s not meant for formal occasions. You’re better off with faux or vegetable-tanned items in that instance.
How to Choose the Right Belt Size
Now that you know the various types of types of belts for men. Let’s figure out how to get you the right size.
First off, your belt size should be an inch or two larger than the size of your pants’ waist. If you don’t have a measuring tape, then just use your current gear.
Start from where you buckle to the opposite end of the strap, then get the closest size.
Ensure that your dress belts only have a short tail end, as you wouldn’t want it along your hip a second time.
You can do the opposite for more casual belts, but don’t make the tail too long as you’ll look ridiculous.
FAQs
Here are some answers to common questions about men’s belts:
What Type of Belts Do Men Wear?
You can narrow down belt types into two categories: formal and casual. Formal belts partner well with suits and slacks, especially if they’re made from genuine hides or skins.
Casual belts come in wide varieties, from braided to canvas, and are often associated with jeans, khakis, and chinos. Canvas belts are popularly paired with summer attire because of their versatility and durability.
Always take into consideration the kind of clothes you’re wearing before putting on a belt, as it can make or break your overall look.
What Type of Belt Is Formal?
Leather dress belts are the only candidate for formal wardrobes. You can choose between full-grain, faux, top-grain, full-grain, and bonded materials. Don’t go for suedes, as they’re more fitting for dressed-down outfits.
Have at least two colors, black and brown, so you can have more styling freedom. If you can grab a reversible belt, then that’s even better. Don’t forget to pair it with your shoes to maximize your elegance, and match the buckle color with other metallic add-ons. Make sure that all items are shiny and polished.
How Many Belts Should a Man Own?
Owning both a black and a brown leather belt is a good rule of thumb for guys. These two, in particular, easily complement jeans, chinos, and slacks.
Any more than that is just a matter of preference, but gray, tan, and beige are great choices and provide you with more styling options.
Keeping the Standards High
You can experiment with your clothes and see which belts can fit the set best. You can buy as many as you want, but you need to avoid constant replacement.
If you’re not careful, you might end up with something less than your money’s worth, so always check its quality before running it through the register.
If the belt’s made from calfskin, you can flex it a bit and check if it brittles or cracks. If it does, then find something else.
It’s also effective to lightly score the back with your fingernail. A faint line indicates that the leather is soft and fresh.
This concludes our gentleman’s guide to different types of men’s belts.
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