The Right Belt
Belts may seem simple, but there are a few things to keep in mind when buying one–especially a belt that you’re going to be wearing with your tailored suit. Consider the following few rules as a way to minimize the amount of time and money you spend on this accessory by choosing a few that, properly cared for, can last for years.
LGFG Fashion House offers custom tailored business suits. Hand tailored and delivered to your office.
When to wear it
You should definitely be wearing a belt with dress pants. A thin–about an inch wide–belt is formal, and gives your look some hard edges to keep you perfectly put together. Thicker than an inch is a casual look and can be worn outside the office.
Length
A dress belt should be long enough to go through the buckle and still have a few inches to the left of the buckle to tuck into the first belt loop. If you are a 34” pant, go one size up for the right belt length. The easiest way to know is to wrap the belt around your waist in store.
Belt Colours
Quite simply, if you’re wearing leather shoes, make sure to match your belt. Don’t wear different colours of leather! If you want to appear taller, wear a belt that is the same colour as your suit to give your torso more length.
Buckle
A well-tailored suit has clean lines, is hemmed to the right length, and fits just right. A rectangular buckle follows the same straight lines and improves the “clean” look of the suit. Rounded buckles are less formal and thus can be worn with a more casual outfit.
Quality
A good quality belt should last you for a long time and improve the look of your suit. Therefore, a good quality belt is in order! Look for high-quality soft leather–it won’t show any cracks when you bend it. This means that it’s still supple and in good shape.
Care
Like anything you have invested time and money into, care is just as important as the piece itself. Hang your belts straight to keep them from cracking. If you don’t have a belt rack, slip the buckle over the neck of a clothes hanger. Secondly, keep your belts out of the sun! Like any leather, storing away from the sun keeps the supple material from drying out and cracking. Storing away from the sun also prevents discoloration and should be consider a must for all leather products.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money to look good. Remember to care for your clothing, and get the right fit! A few pieces go a long way.
LGFG Fashion House is a custom high-end tailor of men’s suits. Hand delivered and of the best quality. Find out more.
