You’re free to equip your wardrobe with a belt-long selection of waist accessories but make sure you have a casual belt and a dress belt.
Casual belts are perfect for adding more of your personality to your outfits. These may come with buckles of unusual material, shape, or size. The strap width of casual belts is typically between 1.5 and 1.75 inches. The wider ones are considered more casual. Heavily textured belts are also categorized as casual. Perfect with chinos, denims, and bottoms of heavier fabrics, casual belts can bring contrast and character to outfits.
Dress belts, on the other hand, are formal belts. These are typically thin, soft, sleek and made of leather. The buckles are usually flat, simple, and straightforward. Dress belts come with 1 to 1.5 inch strap width. Leather is the only suitable material for these formal belts. You’ll find dress belts made from alligator, crocodile, lizard, ostrich skin, or cowhide. The most hardwearing and most good-looking is of course one made from full-grain leather.
When wearing a belt, consider if you want it to become an accent piece or a centerpiece. Casual belts tend to be more suitable centerpieces while dress belts work best as subtle, low-key complements to your whole outfit.