A Quick Guide to Choosing Men's Belts
Although a belt does not often receive a lot of attention in the process of updating a wardrobe, it is nonetheless a basic accessory for every man. When a man leaves home without one, in fact, experts look at as a fashion faux pas. But before we get into the intricacies of belt selection, you have to be clear on the real purpose of a belt - certainly not to hold your pants up!
Your belt must complement your look, not be it. That means you have to think twice if you're thinking of getting that loud one with a gigantic cowboy buckle. Here are the most important considerations you have to make when buying a belt:
Width
The basic width for a dress belt from https://twitter.com/missionbeltco, which is worn on formal occasion, is between 1 and 1.5 inches or about the width of your thumb. If you wear something wider, it falls into the casual category and will not be the best for the office.
Length
In terms of length, one size larger than your waist is the rule. For instance, for a waist size of 34 inches, the belt should be 35. When trying on belts, get something one that fits well on the 3rd notch. Anything less means not a lot of leeway. Read http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belt_%28clothing%29 to know about the history of belts.
Buckle
If you want to buy a belt for formal and casual wear, get that conventional belt buckle or that plain and ordinary metallic belt buckle, respectively. Forget that giant and tawdry cowboy buckle that sucks attention, except when the situation calls for it.
Color
Black, brown and belt are the ideal colors to aim for. Based on fashion standards, the belt has to go with the shoes, so buy one of each color. But since they are worn far enough, the colors may only be close and not exactly a match. Go here to purchase high quality belts online.
Finishing
To match polished shoes, a formal belt's finish should be plain and glossy. For a casual jeans-and-sneakers look, matt and dull are great.
Leather
Finally, let's take a look at the leather. It will be the biggest issue in terms of cost. Synthetic leather may be very cheap, but it's also very weak. Genuine leather belts, which are usually layered with scrap leather inside and full or synthetic leather outside, are long-lasting and priced moderately. If you don't mind spending a little more, you can get a full leather belt, which may be more prone scratches but are actually longest-lasting, if you know how to take care of them. Of course, you also have $1,000 + belts made from the skins of exotic animals like lizards, ostriches and alligators (among several others). These belts are the most expensive kinds and they may be durable too, but it's going to take a lot more than basic fashion sense to wear them well.
