Let’s face it, most people don’t put too much thought when choosing a belt to wear. Perhaps you have a “go to” belt, or maybe you alternate between a brown and black belt. While there’s nothing wrong with having a preferred belt, you should use caution to ensure it matches and flow cohesively with the rest of your outfit. Otherwise small nuances in your outfit and accessories can affect whether or not a belt matches. And wearing a mismatching belt will only hurt your efforts to achieve a fashionable, stylish look. So, what’s the best belt to wear with jeans?
Do I Really Need to Wear a Belt?
This is a question many men and women ask themselves. Some people assume that belts are an integral accessory when wearing jeans. While wearing one can certainly offer some benefits, there’s no rule — written or otherwise — stating that you must wear one. If you want to add a new visual dynamic to your outfit, then by all means: go ahead and wear a belt. Or if your jeans are too large and won’t stay on your waist without some type of support, wear a belt. The bottom line is that it’s your decision on whether or not to wear a belt with jeans. Some people prefer belts with jeans, while others do not.
Make Sure it Fits
One of the first things to consider when choosing a belt to wear with jeans is whether or not it fits. Some people have slim waists, while others have larger and wider waists. As such, your choice of belt will depend heavily on your waist size. Thankfully, manufacturers typically size their belts using standard waist sizes. If you’re a man with a size 35 waist, for instance, you should choose a belt that fits a size 35 waist. Typically, belts come in a range of sizes, such as size 32-37. This means the smallest waist it would fit is a size 32, while the largest it will fit is a size 37. Make sure any belt you intend to buy fits your respective waistline; otherwise, you won’t be able to comfortably wear it. Granted, you can always poke an extra hole into an undersized belt, but it’s best to choose a proper-fitted belt in the first place to prevent headaches such as this.
Material Matters
Don’t assume that all belts are the same. Even if two belts “look” similar, they could be made of different materials — and these different materials can drastically affect both the appearance and comfort of the belt. Some companies use cheap materials to make their belts, which results in a not-surprisingly cheap look and feel. But other companies use high-quality materials when making their belts, offering a more comfortable and better-looking belt. So, what’s the best material to use in a belt? You really can’t go wrong with leather, as it’s been used to make belts for more than a hundred years. Even today, it remains the world’s most popular material for use in belts and other fashion accessories. Leather belts are strong, durable and comfortable — a combination that’s not found in many (if any) other materials.
Check Your Shoes
A good rule of thumb to follow when choosing a belt to wear with jeans is to match it with your shoes. We’ve talked about this before on our blog, but it’s worth mentioning again that your shoes and belt should typically match, especially if your shirt is tucked into your pants waistline. Tucking your shirt in places a greater emphasis on your belt, which can either help or hurt your appearance depending on how the colors correspond to your shoes. If you’re wearing black shoes, for instance, stick with a black belt. Or if you’re wearing brown shoes, wear a brown belt. The general idea is to match your belt and shoes so your outfit flows together more cohesively.
Quality
Something else to consider when choosing a belt to wear with jeans is the overall quality. Wouldn’t it be great if all belts were made using the highest quality materials and craftsmanship? Well, this isn’t the case. Some companies attempt to cut corners and make a quick buck by producing and selling low-quality belts. You might be able to save some cash by choosing a low-quality belt, but it will ultimately cost you more in the long run. This is because low-quality belts don’t last as long as their high-quality counterpart. Over time, they will begin to break down and degrade, and eventually you will no longer be able to wear them. Always inspect the belt before buying it to ensure it’s made with high-quality materials and craftsmanship. You can expect to pay a little more for high-quality belts, but trust me: it’s well worth the investment
Style
Now that you know what color belt to wear with jeans (hint: check your shoes), you might be wondering what style to choose. Some belts are designed with a basic single-color style, featuring no other embellishments. Others, however, are designed with rhinestones, stripes, patterns and other visual elements. Opting for one of the latter belt styles is a great way to enhance your appearance while drawing more attention to your outfit.
Wide-Belt Jeans
Assuming you plan on wearing a wide belt, you need to choose jeans that can accommodate these wider-than-normal belts. Most jeans are manufactured with a standard belt loop, meaning you won’t be able to wear them with an extra-wide belt. Wide belts are, well, simply too wide to squeeze through average-sized belt loops. The good news, however, is that some denim jeans are designed specifically for use with extra-wide belts. They look and fell just like any other pair of jeans, but with one major difference: the belt loops are extra wide to accommodate wide belts.
You shop for these wide-belt jeans by clicking here. As the name suggests, this style of jeans has extra wide belt loops to accommodate wider belts. More specifically, the belt loops are 2 inches wide, which is a fair amount wider than your standard belt loops.
