We created this quick guide to simplify the process of buying a men's belt. Here's how to approach every decision:
Belt Width
To keep things simple and maximize value, all of our standard men’s belts 1.25 inches wide. This width is the most versatile in men’s belts -- it works great for either a dress belt or a casual belt and everything in between.
But aren’t dress belts supposed to be skinnier? Most dress belts are 1.1-1.25” wide and casual belts are generally 1.25-1.4”. A 1.25” belt is perfect for all occasions.
Leather Color
Color is really just a matter of personal preference. Blacks and browns will take you through almost every occasion. For casual wear, pretty much anything goes.
Leather Texture
Most of our leathers can be dressed up or down with different buckles and outfits. For dressy belts, we love a glossy black leather or our black genuine snakeskin. You also can't go wrong with a black pebbled or smooth leather paired with a shiny buckle. For casual belts, we love the textured pebbled leathers, our smooth leathers, and suedes.
Leather Grade
With leather we only have one rule -- it must be full grain -- the highest grade of leather which is most durable, beautiful, and expensive. Most department stores and discount stores sell belts made out of much lower grades of leather that fall apart fast. (You never have to worry about this decision at Bello Belts!)
Buckle Color
As a general rule, all dressy buckles can be dressed down, but not all casual buckles can be dressed up. For dressy looks, choose something shiny in silver or gold/brass colors. For casual looks, the shiny silver, brushed silver, and antiqued brass finishes look best.
Buckle Material
Here is where you want to look for the words "Solid Brass." All of our standard men's belts (Signature, Soho, and Hudson collections) are made of solid brass and come in four different finishes. They all feel substantial in weight but not too heavy/bulky. (If you want to spend a ton of money, then maybe look for solid silver or gold or diamonds somewhere else).
Buckle Shape
This one's also just a matter of personal preference and doesn't generally impact how dressy or casual your belt is. For more contemporary looks, we like something sleek and rectangular like our Signature belts. We also have a few statement belts for men with more detail in the buckle. You can use our style filters to search by the look you like best.
Matching (Does my belt need to match my shoes?)
Nope! For more casual and fun looks, we encourage you to mix colors and textures. While this once was a fashion rule, those days are long over. More people are wearing sneakers and casual wear around the clock -- and belts certainly don’t need to match sneakers!
The Caveat: If you work in a formal office environment or you’re going somewhere fancy, like a black-tie wedding, then yes, match your colors. Black belts with black shoes. Brown belts with brown shoes. The textures and shades don’t need to be exact, but they should be pretty close to pull off this more conservative and polished look.
Mixing and Matching
All of our belts come with snaps so you can mix and match your straps and buckles. Don't worry, the snaps are hidden by the belt strap when you are wearing the belt! You can buy any individual strap or buckle through our Design Your Own platform.
Sizing
See our comprehensive Size Guide.
- March 20, 2017
- Allison Floam
