Style Up Your Belt This Weekend!

There’s no doubt that accessories are all the rage in menswear as of late.  So to help you take one of your closet staples from functional to fashion-forward, we turned to Maureen Wilkie, Co-Founder of made in New York custom belt company, BeltCraft, for some tips on adding some bang to your belt.

This year is all about the details for men.  From colorful patterned socks to matching pocket squares, men’s accessories are becoming much less of an afterthought. So where is an easy place to start with this trend? Your belt. Not only does every guy wear one, but it happens to be the centerpiece of an outfit. With all of the new options and colors available this year, it’s time to think outside the box when it comes to picking your perfect belt. Here are a few tips I put together to help:

Match Your Shoes

I’m all for matching a belt to shoes. That said, you don’t need to take this rule for face value. A grey shoe doesn’t necessarily require a grey belt. Instead of matching belt and shoe colors, think about matching the material. If you are working with a suede shoe, for example, think about buying a belt with a suede belt loop in a bold color. Just remember that if your shoes have hardware (buckles, etc.) to keep the belt buckle the same color as the hardware on the shoe.

Complement Your Clothing

If matching your belt and your shoes isn’t really your thing, you can always step away from matching altogether. Think about the different components of a belt – the strap, loop, buckle, stripe, or stitch. Pick one of these parts (or more) and match it your favorite shirt or pants. So you own a lot of navy shirts? Try buying a belt that has a navy strap or a navy loop. The same goes for stitch – the white pants you bring out every summer would be perfectly complemented by a belt that has white stitch.

Go for the Bold

Throw all the matching rules out the door and pick a bold color. When is this appropriate? When you are wearing a simple outfit like a t-shirt and jeans or khakis. When wearing subtle colors everywhere else, you should definitely throw on a bold statement piece such as a colorful belt. Look for belts that not only have color, but are wider than your standard 1.25” belt. The additional width will not only make your belt stand out, but it keeps the casual vibe of the jeans and t-shirt look.

Just as socks, ties, and shoes have become statement pieces to a guy’s look, the belt is on its way. It is something that you wear everyday, so why not have some fun with it? Next time you head to the store to replace your belt, skip the rack with the brown and black belts and put the tips above into action.