At first glance it may seem that there is nothing to get wrong when choosing a belt. In reality, however, it is a very important accessory that will either underline your outfit perfectly or drag it down completely. Visually it divides your figure into two halves and, as a result, attracts a considerable amount of attention.
If you already know which shoes to choose for different occasions, you are halfway there. The belt should ideally match your shoes in both colour and material. To put it simply: the less ornamentation, the more formal. Oxford shoes call for a formal belt in smooth leather, suede shoes pair with a suede belt, and with trainers you can opt, for example, for a braided one.
Follow three basic rules when choosing a belt:
1. Both the belt and the buckle must harmonise with your other accessories: shoes, bag, watch and cufflinks.
2. The belt should be made of quality leather. It looks best and lasts the longest. The only exceptions are some fabric belts intended for leisure wear.
3. Always keep at least one black and one brown belt on hand to alternate between. Coloured belts look great, but they are harder to match with shoes and the rest of your outfit.
Formal belts are made of smooth leather and have a simple metal buckle. The ideal width is 3.5 centimetres. A black belt is appropriate for more formal occasions, while a brown one complements your business outfit perfectly – it shines best with a suit or chinos.
A reversible formal belt with a silver buckle, ideal for everyday office wear as well as for more formal occasions.
A hand-dyed formal belt in shades of brown.
Informal belts, just like the formal ones, are made of smooth leather, but the buckle is different. It can often be more ornately decorated and, in some cases, automatic. The room for creativity lies above all in the choice of colour – alongside black and brown you can also allow yourself blue or grey. They pair well with chinos as well as with a business suit.
A blue informal belt catches the eye at first glance and elegantly completes a less formal look.
For leisure belts the rules are freer – they can be single-piece or braided. The colour is entirely up to you, and the buckle can be more pronounced than on the first two types. They are often wider than formal belts, some measuring more than 4.5 centimetres. You can wear them with jeans, shorts and chinos. Never, however, with a suit.
Braided belts look superb where classic ones fall short – on shorts, for instance.
Not sure about the right length or buckle for your belt? At Blažek brick-and-mortar stores our specialists will gladly advise you on how to match a belt with your other accessories and the rest of your outfit. You can browse the latest collection in our lookbook.
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