Dress Belts for Men
Walk into your next formal event or professional meeting with confidence by wearing the right men’s dress belt. Your whole ensemble, from shoes to belts to ties, is part of the modern-day armor, also known as the formal or professional dress. There is a standard uniform to these events, and knowing you’re wearing and looking your best is an essential part of your social arsenal. Men’s dress belts offer the finishing touch to any dress ensemble and are an excellent way to express your style, class, and taste. Read on for more on how to choose, style, and customize the best men’s dress belt.
How to Choose the Best Men’s Dress Belts
Choose the best material.
Men’s dress belts are made out of leather, and the highest quality leather is full-grain. Full-grain leathers are processed less than lesser leathers before tanning, so more of the hide remains intact. Processing like sanding, scraping, or shaving removes some or all of the top layer of hide, which makes it thinner and reduces its ability to form a patina. Since it’s thicker, full-grain leather is more durable and makes excellent belts.
Choose the right size.
The best-looking belt in the world can’t help a poor fit. The wrong size belt can be uncomfortable and create an undesirable silhouette. Finding the correct belt size is easy. For a quick fix, check the size of your best-fitting pants, and add two. That roughly gives you your belt size. For more accurate belt sizing, put on those pants and measure your waist with a cloth or paper measuring tape.
Choose the right tone.
Everyone looks naturally good with one of three color tones: cool, warm, and neutral. Tone is different than skin color and is the undertone of your skin. You likely have naturally intuited your skin tone; look at your wardrobe and accessories. You're likely cool-toned if you lean more towards grey, black, crisp whites, and silver. You may be warm-toned if you wear more khakis, browns, creams, and gold. A bit of everything? Maybe you’re neutral. Knowing your tone means choosing the right men dress belt for you more accurately.
Choose for your wardrobe.
Picking a belt that will go with most of your wardrobe creates more style choices. Make sure you examine the belt loops of your dress clothing to ensure your new leather dress belt will fit them. Your clothing will give clues about the belt style to choose. For example, if your clothing is very sleek, you may want a textured belt like a Saffiano to provide some subtle contrast. And vice versa, a smooth leather belt is an excellent finish if there’s more texture to your dress pants.
How to Style Dress Belts for Men
Match your shoes to your belt.
This is the definitive rule for styling a men’s dress belt. The match doesn’t need to be exact, and as long as you never, ever pair black and brown together, there is some flexibility. For example grey and black match, so you can pair a black belt and shoes with a grey suit.
Express your style.
For men dress belts, there are endless opportunities to express your style to whatever degree you feel comfortable. You could choose genuine crocodile or python leather for your dress belt if you want something splashy or eye-catching. While still formal, crocodile and python make exquisite statement belts. Or, if you want something more subtle for your men’s dress belt, choose a belt with customizable stitching so you can add a touch of color to your ensemble.
Men’s Dress Belts vs. Casual Belts: What Are The Differences?
A straightforward way to distinguish between casual and dress belts is through the material. Anything not made of leather is a casual belt. Now, not all leather belts are dress belts, even if all dress belts are leather. Many casual leather belts are distinguished by their wider width, more casual textures, bolder colors and patterns, and more oversized buckles. Dress belts are narrow, with plain, discreet metal buckles, and while they can come in colors or patterns, they tend to be one neutral color.
Custom Dress Belts for Men
Create custom men’s dress belts to reflect your unique style at Roger Ximenez. You select the color of the belt, its material, texture, width, size, and color of stitching. Each belt has its own selection of complementary colors, so every belt always looks fantastic. Choose from Italian or French full-grain calf leathers or genuine crocodile or python reptile leathers. From the smooth finish to pebble-grain, Saffiano, and mock reptile leathers, you’ll find a texture that suits your style. To shop for the most gorgeous leather belt you’ll ever own, please visit Roger Ximenez’s website and fine boutique retailers in your area.
