How to Properly Fit a Men's Leather Belt

In every department store or men’s shop, the belt rack is usually the most disorderly of all accessory displays. The reason is that finding a belt you like that fits your waist and your budget is a daunting task. There's always the risk that you won’t be happy, the belt won’t feel right or you’ll end up wasting your money—and good belts are not cheap. Here are some tips to help maximize your investment.

Instructions

1. Plan your wardrobe so that you have multiple belts--at least one that matches every pair of shoes you wear. Some belts may match more than one pair of shoes.

2. Determine the best places to buy belts, then frequent those places so that you are always on the lookout for belts. Good belts at stores like Nordstrom can run from $80 to $100, but you can also sometimes find great ones in the $10 range at a discount store.

3. Match your belts to your pants, as well as to your shoes. The rule of thumb is to buy your belt two sizes larger than your pants; thus, your 38-inch-waist trousers theoretically require a 40-inch belt. However, belts differ by style and maker almost as much as any other item of clothing. So you have to try each belt on, and with the pants you will actually be wearing it with. A belt that fits properly with tight-fitting jeans probably won’t work with expensive high-rise dress slacks.

4. Think about a belt each time you purchase clothing. The best way to accumulate a meaningful wardrobe is in units of outfits. If you don’t have the right belt, your ensemble is never complete. The belt must fit comfortably, in addition to being a visual match with the outfit.

5. Consider the sizing of the belt in terms of your growth cycle. Many people gain weight at certain times of the year, or over an extended period of time. If you are at the low end of the cycle, a slightly larger belt makes more sense than if you are at the high end. And don’t discard every belt as soon as it becomes too small or too large. You may change sizes again, or you might be lucky enough to find a luggage or shoe shop where you can get the belt shortened or have another hole or two punched in it.