Most people don’t think too much about their belt. Most see it simply as a tool that holds up your pants. Of course, at a most basic level, they would be right. But a belt is much more than that. The right belt can have a massive impact on your entire outfit. A belt has the potential to either finish off your outfit and make it much better, or completely ruin it.
There are many things to take into consideration when getting a belt: What color, the measurements, which material to use, and so on. It can be a difficult decision to make, so here are a few tips for buying the perfect belt.
1. Understand the belt
To get a better picture of what you are looking for, you should first have a decent understanding of all the things that make a belt a belt. So, let’s begin with the most essential part of a belt.
The long band that goes all the way around your waist, is called the strap. The strap can be made out of any material as long as it stays durable and can keep your pants up without getting too worn out.
At one of the ends of the strap, you will find the belt buckle. This is the mechanism that keeps the belt closed and secure around your waist. The buckle is usually made out of three parts: the buckle frame, the bar, and the prong. The frame is the part that the other end of the belt goes through. The bar is what keeps the frame attached to one of the ends of the belt. The prong, the piece that sticks out from the middle of where the bar is, is the part that goes into one of the punch holes on the other side of the belt and keeps it secure.
The side of the belt that doesn’t end with a buckle usually has a rounded tip and a series of punch holes which the prong goes through.
Of course, this is only the most basic type of belt. There are many different types out there, but this one has all the most common things that “make” a belt.
You can find a wide verity of belts to choose from at BeltBuy.
2. How to know if a belt fit
How a belt fits is the most important part of wearing one. At the end of the day, although it can be a fashion piece, a belt is a practical addition to your pants. Don’t pick a belt solely based on its looks. First and foremost, worry about if it can do its job.
To find out what length of the belt is right for you, all you have to do is look at the waist measurement of your trousers. As a rule of thumb, you should usually look for a belt that is around three inches longer than your waist measurement.
Belts, like most other clothes, come in sizes. S, M, L, and so on. Once you find a belt that is the right size, you should know what size is your fit. So, unless you’ve gained or lost weight since your las purchased belt, you could have no trouble with buying one in the same category.
3. Different categories of belts
There are different types of belts for different occasions. Although there isn’t a set rule, the width of the belt usually is one of the most noticeable differences between the types.
The common casual belt is around 1.75 inches long. This type of belt usually comes in the plain brown leather color. There are of course different colors available. There is also a wide variety of materials to use. Although rarer, and quite a bit more pricy, other than the classic calf leather, you can have a belt made out of lizard skin or crocodile leather.
The other kind of belt is the dress belt. This is seen as a more formal variant of the casual belt and is around 1.5 inches wide. It is usually more of a fashionable part of your outfit instead of being solely for utility.
The last kind of belt is a reversible one. With this type of belt, you are essentially getting two belts disguised as one. A reversal belt can, as the name suggests, be reversed. Both sides of the belt have a different style and this is handy if you want to be able to have a more versatile wardrobe.
4. The belt should fit the outfit
Belts come in many different colors and It can be a bit of a daunting task to pick from all of the options. The color of your belt can affect your look greatly. So, it is important to choose the right one. One of the “rules” to follow is that the look of the belt should match the rest of the outfit. This doesn’t only mean the color either, but the material as well.
A leather belt goes with a leather outfit. If you have a glossy, shiny belt, match it with a pair of shined shoes. On the other hand, matte shoes go better with a matte belt.
If you are going for something more “business”, don’t choose a belt that is maybe a bit too outlandish or extravagant. Instead, you should go for a more elegant look, something simple yet impressive and visually appealing.
Conclusion
So basically, a belt is one of the most crucial parts of any outfit and is often overlooked. If you truly want to make a complete and concise look, do not underestimate the difference that a belt can make. There are a few simple things to take into consideration and steps to follow so that you don’t ruin your outfit with a bad belt. Instead, you can elevate the whole look of your outfit by following the few steps and you will end up with a much nicer result. Remember, even though the main purpose of a belt is utility, is a piece of fashion as well.
