How to choose the right belt: A comprehensive guide

How are the straps?

Each belt consists of two parts: a buckle and a strip of leather or other material. Additional elements - shlovka and tip. Shlovka captures the free edge of the belt, and the tip protects it from wear and tear. A leather belt he used metal on fabric - leather.

What are the straps?

strict

They do not differ much from each other. Consider their common characteristics.

Buckle

Shiny and smooth, golden or silver color. Usually in the form of the frame. From day to day it is smaller.

Width

Strict belts are always subtle. The width should not exceed 2.5-3.8 centimeter.

Material

Exceptionally skin. Natural or artificial very good, if you are against the use of animal skins.

The most common material - cowhide. She is beautiful and durable. Calf skin softer and more resilient. Belts from it are considered particularly high quality.

Rare and expensive options - crocodile or snakeskin. The dark color is quite suitable for the strict image.

Colour

Strict belt should not drag the attention. Traditional colors - black and brown. For a less formal dress code suitable as deep-red, beige, dark blue, gray, and in the summer - white. The surface of the belt should be smooth and slightly glossy, better without a pattern.

The combination of a belt with a suit

Leather belt should match the color and shine shoes. A buckle - with the other metallic accessories, except for a wedding ring.

everyday

When selecting a belt for every day you can show imagination. He will reflect your personality and sense of style.

Width

Casual belts wider than the strict, usually 3.8-4.5 cm. 3.8 cm wide belt is well suited to the jeans, Trousers, chinos and tightly woven. Wider can be worn with jeans and trousers lax, combined with classic or bold buckle.

Colour

Brown - the universal color for everyday wear. Black belts are not suitable to jeans and khakis. If you want to add the image of personality, look for bright colors.

And what are the buckles in everyday belts?

Frame

it is larger and heavier than on strict daily belts.

Buckle-badge

Usually detachable. More often than not with the inscription or a pattern. It is making the belt longer.

Automatic buckle

In a belt with a buckle no holes. The tape is fixed inside the buckle.

Buckles D-shaped or O

They consist of one or two rings, through which the strap is threaded. Such buckles are most often found on woven and canvas belts.

Buckle-lock

The opposite ends latched as on a harness. A very practical kind of buckles. Popular with those who lead an active lifestyle.

What material do belts?

• Genuine Leather. Casual leather belts wider and more rigid. They are usually made of an outer layer of cowhide. On some special leave traces of scars or marks that have been on the skin of the animal is alive.
• braided leather. A good option when you want to gently refresh the image. Braided belts do not fit the costume, but it is combined with sports jackets. Multicolored strap can be worn in the summer with khaki shorts and a polo shirt.
• embossed leather. These belts fit well in a simple way, for example, suitable to jeans with a basic shirt. Do not wear them with the mug. Together they will look too gaudy.
• The skin in combination with the tape. Bright and bold option that will stand out. Excellent combined with boat shoes and golf shoes.
• Suede leather. Less of socks than the skin. For the strength of the underside of belts made of leather.
• woven fabric. Practical material suitable for anyone who spends much time on the street. Colors and patterns are there for every taste.
• Rope. It is more common in the women's locker room, but it is fine and menswear. Such belts, for example, are sailors. they are usually not fixed buckle and knot. This belt will last a long time and will not be affected, even when wet.
• canvas cloth. Such a metal belt buckle - simple, but practical embodiment. Usually monophonic or a horizontal strip of contrasting color.
• Vinyl. Bright, bold and cheapest option. Suitable only for the young, and that except for a concert. Most often looks tasteless.

When you need to wear a belt?

Ideally, any pants, which have shlovki. To ensure they are sewn. Without belt image will look sloppy.

From business suits belt is mandatory. In a more relaxed manner with his shirt untucked, you can do without it.

If desired, the belt can be replaced with suspenders. They perform the same function - to support the trousers in place. Braces are especially good for big menThey visually diminished volume at the waist. In addition, in them you will appear higher. Importantly, do not wear a belt and suspenders at the same time.

And with what to combine the belt?

Belt can complement your image or contrast with the rest of the details. In the first case, it should be combined with the color of the other parts of the costume, such as shoes. It is mandatory for strict belts. Enough for everyday combine buckle color with metallic accessories. And the color of the shoes do not necessarily have to. For example, it can be worn brown with beige or beige and white. The main thing is that the belt fit into the image. If in doubt, choose brown.

Another option - a bright or unusual style of the belt. In this case, build an image around it. Choose plain clothes and accessories without patterns. Only one or two bright spots in the image. Do not forget that this belt will draw attention to the waist. Do not wear it if you are unsure of yourself.

Strict and casual belts are sometimes used interchangeably. The first approach is not only to business costumeBut also to more stringent sports jacket. Casual combined not only with jeans and shorts, but with pants-chinos.

When the clothes clearly refers to a particular style, the belt must match. Strict belt will look out of place with casual pants. He seems disproportionate fine. A casual belt with a business suit violates a serious impression you want to make.

How to determine your size?

Measure the circumference of the waist of your trousers. The strap should be 3-5 cm longer. Or simply measure your old belt.

If you liked the wrong size belt or old you become small, not doing your own new holes. They will be visibly allocated, and the belt is cracked at the puncture site. Take it to the shoe shop.

In strict belt should be a short free end. From under the buttoned buckle should look out only a few centimeters of the belt - enough to pass through the first shlovku.

So how do you choose a quality belt?

Casual belts can be replaced every couple of years, depending on the fashion or desire. Strict belt is better to buy a long time. If you choose a high quality, it will serve you for decades. Ideal - strap calfskin. It should be soft and flexible.

• Bend the strap to see if the skin cracks. Press lightly on the underside of the nail belt. If remains a small footprint, the skin is still soft. On the old hard skin traces left.
• Note the stitches. They should be small, closely adjacent to each other without protruding threads.
• See if the buckle is removed. Belt with removable buckle profitable. You will be able to change it depending on the situation.
• Brand is not so important. It is unlikely that someone will notice that you have a designer belt. Quality leather and accuracy is more important.