Different Types of Belts Dress Belts Dress belts are typically made of leather and streamline in their design. This typically involves a thinner strap, usually 2.5cm wide, that is cut from smooth, fine-grain leather. To keep things simple, dress belts have a sleek square-shaped buckle with a shiny finish, and the stitching is usually the same colour as the leather. They’re suitable for almost any formal occasion and are the go-to belt choice when wearing suits, business or dress pants. Although they can come in a variety of colours, we always recommend opting for a simple neutral colour – either black, brown or tan. Casual Belts For more casual occasions, there is a wider array of belt options and fewer limitations on colours and styles. Casual belts tend to have a larger buckle and broader strap width made from a variety of materials including full-grain leather, suede, rope, canvas or cotton. The leather used is a lot tougher, raw and rugged, often woven or completed with contrasting white stitching. As for the buckle, casual belts have a thicker buckle than dress belts and are made with unpolished, brushed metal. They are far more versatile than dress belts and can be worn on numerous occasions and paired with jeans, shorts or chinos How to Match Your Belt When pulling together an outfit, it can be difficult to know what separates to combine and the belt that is required to finish the look. As a general rule of thumb, we suggest matching your metals and leathers to your belt. This means that the buckle should be the same metal as your watch, cufflinks or jewellery, and the belt strap should match the colour of your shoes. For example, a brown belt with a silver buckle pairs with brown shoes and a silver watch, while a black belt with a gold buckle pairs with black shoes and gold cufflinks. However, there tends to be a lot more leeway with casual looks so feel free to mix and match with your personal sense of style. For formal looks, we recommend steering away from contrasting colours and sticking to a sleek and minimalistic belt with minimal textures and simple finishes. If you’re only looking for the essentials, you can’t go wrong with a black or brown leather belt, which are often combined to make reversible belts. Dark brown is the most versatile colour and is best worn with grey, navy or blue suits, as well as tan chinos and blue denim jeans. When Should You Wear a Belt? Although it may seem simple, there are always some situations where you question if you need to wear a belt. Do Wear a Belt: When your pants have belt loops. This rule mainly applies to pants with belt loops, rather than shorts, which you can get away with not wearing a belt. When your shirt is tucked in. Regardless of the bottoms that you are wearing, you should always wear a belt when your shirt or top is tucked in. Wearing jackets and blazers. As you’ll probably have your shirt tucked in, you’re going to want to wear a belt when wearing jackets. If you’re wearing all one colour. This can help break up the monochromatic look and provide contrast. Don’t Wear a Belt: When wearing a slim fit shirt. Belts can interrupt the tailored look and sometimes make slim fit shirts bunch up at the back. Casual looks. When wearing a shirt or t-shirt untucked, feel free to skip the belt, unless you still would like to wear it for functionality purposes. Choosing the Right Size A key part of wearing belts is ensuring that the belt is the right size and fits your waist correctly. A helpful guide is using your pants size and then going up one size. For example, if you wear size 34 pants, you should purchase belts in a size 36. This will ensure that there is the perfect amount of strap leftover to the left of the buckle once it is fastened. Ideally, you want two spare holes leftover, which will keep you looking proportionate and put together. Belt Alternatives If your pants don’t have belt loops, or you’re after something a little different, suspenders are a fun, comfortable alternative. Even though they are commonly worn with formal suits, they are also ideal for smart-casual looks such as chinos and a blazer. Another belt alternative is side tabs which are usually featured in formal suit or tuxedo pants. Side tabs are two buckles on the side of pants that allow you to tighten the waistband for the perfect fit. This offers a more polished and streamlined look. Belts are not only a wardrobe staple for functionality but can add an extra touch of depth to any outfit and keep you looking modern through the seasons. Explore GAZMAN’s dress and casual belts for men.