In the world of men's fashion, there are very few details that allow for individuality. In contrast to women's fashion, where there is an opportunity to roam the soul, we, men, are subject to standards and traditions. Go beyond the classics with close attention to detail. Accessories such as a men's watch, tie, pocket and neckerchief, cufflinks, tie clip, suspenders and belt are perhaps a comprehensive list where you can show your individuality in business etiquette. It is about the last accessory that will be discussed in this article today.
Is the belt as simple as it seems to us? I'm sure every man has a belt in his wardrobe, but what role does it really play? Is the belt part of the look or is it just to support your pants? How to choose a men's belt if today it can differ not only in color, material, plaque, but also perform different functions for an athlete and a businessman? All of these and many other questions I will answer in this guide.
Before discussing the types of belts for men and looking at the details, it is worth mentioning some general principles.
Choosing a men's belt
Dress pants, jeans, chinos, khakis, or any other pants should not fall off when worn without a belt. Read about how to choose pants in this article. Both a business suit and any pants should be matched to your physique and complexion. The belt is for the most part a means of enriching your look, image. The function of restraining the pants so that they do not fall off is secondary.
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Match the color of your leather wardrobe. Black shoes – black belt; brown shoes – brown belt. This is a hard and fast rule to follow, although some people think otherwise. It is even better to combine a watch with a leather strap in the color of shoes and a belt, but it may just be different than a combination of shoes and a belt. However, the rule should not be taken literally. If you don't have ordinary shoes, say with stripes, then the color of the belt does not have to be 'striped'. But, nevertheless, follow the general color scheme.
Black belt – black shoes, brown belt – brown shoes
Pay attention to the belt buckle. If you are growing up from childhood, choose a simple classic buckle without 'Dolce & Gabbana' lettering across the entire width. Silver color and simple look are the best choice. But we will talk about this separately.
A belt, perhaps, is not the kind of thing worth spending money on, unlike a suit, shoes and a watch. However, the rule: the better the thing, the better and better it is, it works here too. Belts made from cheap, poorly made leather, or even leatherette, stretch and crack after a short period of use. Especially if you like to tighten your belt tighter.
Spend some money on a good leather belt and you won't regret it.
Types of men's belts
The belt is not only an accessory that emphasizes the status and delicate taste of its owner, but also a necessary item of men's dress. All belts that exist today can be divided into three groups – sports, for everyday wear and classic. Designers who create outfits for a strong half of humanity believe that all these varieties of this male accessory should be present in the wardrobe of a modern man. It's hard to disagree with them.
Classic men's belt
For the most part, separating the belts between formal and informal is not difficult. For example, a regular black leather belt is not very thick and with a regular buckle will fit a formal dress code; a colored belt made of fabric is more suitable for a casual dress code.
According to some beliefs, it is possible not to wear a belt with a classic business suit. It is a fact. However, in my humble opinion, using a belt, you fill in the missing link (line if you will) between the shirt and pants. So whether to use a belt with a formal dress code or not, try to decide for yourself.
Classic men's belt in brown leather 
Classic men's belt in black leather
Classic men's belt made of red leather 
Classic men's braided leather belt
Classic belts can be made either from leather or from a substitute for this material. The width of the classic belt is 4-5 cm, it is one-color and has a small buckle made of metal, sometimes colored plastic. The color of the leather strap can be black or brown (depending on the color of the shoe) with a silver or gold buckle. Silver, by the way, is a more suitable color for office work or official events, meetings. The buckle should not be massive, curved or non-standard. Save all the 'sophistication' for an informal dress code.
For special and solemn occasions, every man, I believe, should have at least one expensive leather belt. A good belt, according to my observations, withstands at least 3-4 years (however, like any leather products, belts must be alternated from day to day and given to 'rest', otherwise the belt will not last even a year), but a real, soldier's belt, so generally decades =) but this is a completely different topic …
In order not to be mistaken in choosing a quality belt, it is worth knowing that these leather men's accessories are trimmed along the edge. At the same time, leatherette products are tucked inward and stitched along the edge. A leather belt always consists of two parts, connected to each other during the pressing process.
When buying a leather accessory, you should pay attention to the quality of pressing and the ability of the material to stretch. If the belt practically does not stretch, then some inconvenience will be felt during its operation. You shouldn't buy a leather product that stretches as if it were made of rubber. Such a belt will quickly deform and lose its original appearance. The ideal option is a belt with a maximum stretch of less than 2 cm.
Casual (casual) men's belt
Casual belts, or belts for casual style, are much more varied than classic belts. You are not tied to form and tradition, therefore you have more freedom of color, style, material from which the belt is made. The same goes for the belt buckle, but wearing the 'I Love Rock-n-Roll' lettering or something similar is still not worth it.
Casual men's belt in brown leather with stitching 
Casual men's belt made of fabric
Casual Men's Woven Belt 
Casual men's suede belt
Casual belts, as a rule, are slightly wider than classic belts and can reach 5 centimeters. Narrow belts are recommended for young men, while older gentlemen should use accessories of the maximum width. As for the buckle, it is also larger than the usual classic to look harmonious with jeans or chinos. The buckle mechanism is also varied. Besides the simple open buckle, there are back side anchor buckles or clip buckles. The latter are usually used on fabric belts, otherwise the leather will quickly deteriorate.
Braided belts are very popular. They are versatile and great for casual style, hinting at individuality. A suede belt combined with suede shoes will make you stand out in any company, be sure!
Sports belt
A little about sports. The sports belt can be made of rubber, rubber or fabric. It is only appropriate when wearing sportswear or denim clothing. Moreover, in the second case, the belt should be hidden under a T-shirt or sweater. Such a belt says little about business or everyday style, so we will not dwell on it, but leave a detailed story at the mercy of sports blogs and sites.
As a conclusion
Belts are often underestimated. Most people, especially people of the 'old school', will be sure that the belt is only for functional purpose and that it is not necessary to combine it with other wardrobe details. However, play a little with the color or structure of the belt, try to combine the overall aesthetics and the function of keeping the pants in place, and you will kill two birds with one stone!
The belt deserves your attention. Today the market offers an infinitely wide range of colors, shades, materials, buckles, so that you can easily find the right belt for your style. Don't miss the opportunity to diversify your image a bit!
