The leather belt adds polish to a gentlemans outfit. Whether you are going for a classic or highly fashionable appearance, the belt should enhance the look. This means that it should complement the rest of your clothes, matching the style and mood. Most men enjoy dressing in a classic yet fashionable way and therefore require a belt to suit this mode of dress. In this article I will look at the must own leather belt that every man should have in his wardrobe. It should be able to go with most of your clothes, and could be the only belt you own.
Versatility is the key when choosing a must own leather belt, but can one belt cover both formal and casual wear? The need for a dedicated suit belt has become less and less relevant for the modern man for the simple reason that it has largely been replaced by business casual. There is some debate as to exactly what business casual means, but for many men there is little difference. Jeans are perfectly acceptable for business casual, if worn with a shirt and smart shoes. It is definitely possible to find a belt that suits both styles, and possibly work with a suit.
A casual belt usually has quite a wide width (going up to 5cm) giving a chunky feel, whilst a formal belt has a more narrow width (about 2.5-3cm) for a sleek look. The must own fashion belt should fall somewhere in the middle at around 3.5cm, offering enough boldness to work well with a pair of jeans but also offer a professional look. When it comes to colour of leather, black should always be the first choice. The reason is that the belt should match the colour of your shoes, and black is the most popular shoe colour. For the ultimate in versatility, a reversible mens leather belt offers the choice of black or brown leather. Always choose matt leather over shiny leather, as the latter simply does not look good with a more casual trouser.
A must own belt should have a simple and clean look. This does not mean it should be boring or un-fashionable; a leather belt with sharp and modern lines can look exciting. In addition, there are many opportunities to choose a versatile leather belt with unique design touches so that you feel it best suits you. Subtle stitch detail or embossing can add an extra dimension to the belt, but it is best to avoid over embellished belts. Whilst studded belts for men are a fashionable accessory, they only work well with a very casual look. The buckle offers a good opportunity to add a fashion element, such as plaque buckles and elongated or sharp lines.
There are several designer brands that specialise in versatile leather belts for men. Calvin Klein is an excellent example as their house look is clean and minimalistic. Their mens belts are designed for that business casual look, with many being reversible. Hugo Boss is also well known for its sophisticated design, with a penchant for black (take a look at their Boss Black range). Many of their belts use stitching and have a wide selection of different leather treatments (smooth, textured etc). Ted Baker also cater for the everyman, but with a few stylish touches unique to the brand. For example they offer a fixed prong buckle belt and a paisley embossed belt tip. There are several brands (such as All Saints and Diesel) that have a more high fashion look suited only to trendy casual gear. It is definitely worth having a belt like this, but only if you already have a Must Own Belt.
