Belts For Men
Belts are important because they hold up your outfit, literally. But that’s not all that they do, if you tuck your shirt or T-shirt into your bottoms, they form the centrepiece of your outfit. And they can either tie your outfit together or overpower it.
Belts have been used since time immemorial to secure one’s clothes to their body, most often with men. During the First World War, officers in the military often wore wide, tight belts, it was both a useful and decorative part of their uniform. Belts are an integral part of menswear, and it is only right to pay attention to the kind of belts you choose for your wardrobe. Let’s delve into different types of belts:
Leather
Leather belts are a classic type of belt, they are quite versatile and can be styled with a variety of outfits. There are different types of leather belts for different occasions:
Formal
Formal leather belts, also called leather dress belts, tend to have a polished finish. They look sleek and polished and they have simple buckles. These belts are always coloured neutrally (black or brown). Dress belts are usually worn with formal clothes like formal shirts and pants or suits, but they can be used to dress up a simple T shirt and pants combination.
Casual
Casual leather belts look less refined, but by no means unsophisticated! They usually have a less shiny finish, and have larger buckles. Casual leather belts can take you through many outfits in utmost style! Casual leather belts can also come in colours other than the standard black and brown, like dark blue or green.
Woven
Woven belts can be made of leather or cloth, and are meant exclusively for casual wear. One needs to pay a little extra attention to the rest of the attire to style a woven belt, but it pays off because woven belts can make your look go from drab to fab.
Cloth
Cloth belts are worn with casual clothes, and they usually have an O-closure or a box frame closure, although they can also have a buckle closure like most belts. Cloth belts can add some interesting texture to your clothes. They can add a hint of colour and ease to your outfit, which is why they are a perfect companion to your casuals.
Types Of Buckles
There are many types of buckles that men’s belts are available in, you can choose a belt with a buckle that suits your convenience:
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Frame Style Buckle
: This is the type of belt buckle most belts have, and it is used for formal as well as casual belts. Frame style buckles require holes to fasten the belt.
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Plate Style Buckle
: This type of buckle is often used for military belts or more ornate belts, as the front of the buckle is decorated, and the back has a hook that connects to the holes of the belt.
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Box Frame Buckle
: Box frame buckles feature a hollow metal buckle and a post on the inside that secures the belt to the buckle tightly so it stays in place. These buckles do not require holes to keep the belt in place and are useful if you don’t like belts that have only a limited number of holes.
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Ring Closure Buckle
: Belts with O ring closure operate with the friction of the belt material to keep it in place. The belt is woven through the loop and pulled to the desired size so it stays the same size. This type of closure is usually used with cloth belts, and it requires no holes.
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Reversible buckles
: Reversible buckles are a useful type of buckle because they essentially give your belt two lives! The buckle can reverse so it can be used with the other side of the belt.
Must-Have Belts
Wondering which belts are essential to own? We’ve got you covered:
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Brown Leather Dress Belt
: Brown leather belts are one of the most versatile of belts, they look good with most outfits and can give your outfit the finishing touch it deserves. It can be worn with formal as well as casual clothes. Dress belts will give your formal wear a sharp edge.
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Black Leather Belt
: Black leather belts look fantastic when matched with black shoes, these belts could be what your all-black ensemble was lacking up till now!
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Casual Cloth Belt
: Cloth belts are casual, they add an easy air to any outfit and they are available in fun designs. When styled right, they can add colour and texture to your outfit without looking tacky. Cloth belts are also durable and easy to wash.
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Casual Leather Belt
: Casual leather belts look add an element of effortless oomph to any outfit, it can complete a casual look or dress down sober formals.
Styling Tips
Now let’s tell you how to style your belts, so you look impeccably dressed every time!
A good rule of thumb when it comes to leather belts is to match your metals and match your leathers. Match any metal elements in your belt, like the buckle or metal tip of the belt, to any metal accessories you might be wearing, like a watch. Match the leather of your shoes to the leather of your belt. This cardinal rule will ensure your belt doesn’t look out of place in your outfit.
Belts that contrast with the colour of your pants can make you look shorter as they divide your body. If you wish to avoid this effect, match your belt as closely as you can to the colour of your bottoms, this will ensure your clothes look crisp, yet flattering.
Pick your daily leather belt based on the colour of shoes you wear most often. If you wear black shoes often, get a black belt. Also make sure it suits the rest of your attire. With casual wear, one can deviate from the match leathers rule slightly as long as the overall effect is still put together.
To make casual wear more interesting, or to make your formal shirts multitask as casual wear, you can experiment with the colours of your belt without looking over the top. To achieve this, choose subtle colours like dark blue or dark green. You can also try braided belts for a touch of texture to an otherwise plain outfit.
If you want your belt to complement the rest of your attire, stick to neutral colour belts with understated buckles. This approach is fail safe and will suit anyone without a doubt. If in doubt, get a reversible belt and get two belt colours in one! But if you want added drama in your outfit, try statement belts. These take some effort to pull off, because you should balance the elements of your outfit without going overboard. For this, try coloured cloth belts, or belts with slightly bigger buckles, or coloured leather belts. Do not overdose on the colour, and make sure the rest of your outfit is neutral. If you want to wear a statement belt, be aware that it will draw attention to your waist.
Outfits
Here are a few outfit ideas, from the boardroom to the bar!
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Formal Wear
: Any suit needs a belt to look complete. Wear black or brown leather belts depending on the colour of your suit and your shoes. Don’t forget to match the metal of your belt buckle to any accessories you might be wearing. Even a simple formal shirt and pants combination requires a belt to look polished.
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Casual Wear
: There are many ways to style belts with casual wear. Try a shirt and chinos with a tan belt and shoes for a cool look. You can also wear more polished looking shirts with a casual leather belt and a shirt with smart loafers. Cloth belts can be paired with a shirt and jeans with slip-on on casual shoes for a day out.
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Occasions
: When dressing for a party, an all-black look with a black belt is always a good look when you don’t know what to wear. If you’re adventurous, try a shirt with a fun print, like floral, and wear it with chinos, keep your belt understated.
What Next?
Want to add to your belt collection? Limeroad is your shopping destination! Make sure to get a belt with the correct waist size, this is made easy by Limeroad’s size chart, so you don’t have to physically check the fit! We are the best online marketplace for belts because we have men’s belts for all occasions, you’ll never have to look anywhere else! You can create collections, so you can make a list of the belts you want to buy, or you can check out looks others have created to get outfit ideas! Online shopping at Limeroad is so easy, and you will be satisfied with our products, if not, our returns and exchanges are hassle free! So ‘waist’ no more time, because belts are here to stay!
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