It would be safe to say that a belt is one of man’s best friends when it comes to cinching together (pun intended) a perfect outfit. The belt is one of the few flattering yet masculine accessories that every man should have in his closet. In fact, venturing outside without a belt, any dapper gent is in danger of pulling down two things: your image and your pants.
When you wear a plain white dress shirt and a pair of black pants – “the salary man” look, as we like to call it – it looks pretty mundane, right? Put on a nice belt though and it’s another story altogether. But while belts can accentuate and add glamour to your ensemble, choosing the wrong one can also make you look ridiculous. Therefore, take some few precautions in choosing the right belt to wear, and consider carefully the strap color and material as well as the shape and design of your buckle.
If you hope to achieve a more conservative look, go for neutral shades that match the usual color of your trousers, like the brown, black or tan. These are the universal shades for belts that won’t give you a hard time when paired with any shirt. It’s best if belts in this color are made of soft and high-quality leather. The buckle should also be small and simple, with a metal clasp.
If you’re looking for something a little more fun, we recommend tucking in your shirt and using your belt to create the “tri-color” look. Basically, this look is what it sounds like: pants, shirt, belt, all different colors. You can still use your classic leather belts, but if it happens to be tan, for example, pair it with a pair of blue pants and a white/grey shirt. Or, for a sporty look, you can also invest in some brighter cloth belts with double ring or “airplane buckle” clasps – belts like these are usually inexpensive; three or four of them may run the same price as one high-quality leather belt.
You can also go for a white or beige belt on cream or light brown pants paired with a pastel dress shirt. Belts with lighter shades look classy and neat, but only if you want to pull off a casual look. For an evening of revelry, a dark brown leather belt that matches your craggy pair of denim pants and trendy short sleeved dress shirt can look very hip. Shoot for a broad belt with a funky buckle (perhaps with studs), it would give you an adventurous, fun and modish look!
As always, with accessories don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things. For guys who want to become more confident with their fashion, taking risks with simple accessories can be a great way to step outside of the box of predictability and into personal styles that are a little more unique and daring.
Tags: Advice, Belts, Casual Wear, Shirt Accessories
