Here is the point. Your belt is crap. You know the one I am talking about. It is this thin leather tape you bought at H&M some three years ago. And, yes, it is peeling around the edges and ruining the expensive look of your trousers. Well, it is high time you got something better than that.
The belt is not just a tool to keep your trousers on. It is your sartorial foundation. Once you get one, you will never buy any other one ever. Think of it as an investment into your waistline for the next thirty years.
The first and foremost thing you need to pay attention to when picking your belt is not the label with the brand name on it. You are paying for the quality of the leather material. It has to be marked “Full Grain.” Otherwise, if the label says “Genuine Leather,” you have just found yourself a bargain basement product. That one is the particle board of leather products.
Full Grain leather ages. It darkens and becomes glossy in the places where it has been often folded. And that is exactly the purpose of buying a belt for you. You want your belt to tell the story of your professional life. And that is exactly what a cheap one cannot give you.
Another criterion for choosing a good belt that most people miss is its thickness. You have to pick a belt that ranges from 4mm to 5mm thick. Anything thinner will feel as if it were a piece of paper. And anything thicker will be too bulky for you.
Here is a piece of advice for you that will save you some money. Pick up a belt that goes well with the leather in your dress shoes. You should have either black Oxfords or brown Derbys. Mixing those two is the sin of the boardroom.
While the brand of your belt is relatively less important in comparison with the way it was made, yet consider these brands Allen Edmonds and Anson Belt & Buckle. If you can afford to spend a bit more, try Ferragamo. It is an amazing brand of belts. What you need to pay attention to in your belt is its stitching. It should be tight, and edges should be burnished. Poor quality edges means poor quality construction.
Now, we come to the point of sizing. Here, many people commit the mistake of their lives. No, you just cannot pick up a medium belt and hope for the best. You have to measure your belt from the edge of the buckle to the hole you wear. That is your size. If you find yourself in between sizes, round up.
Also, take into account the style of the buckle. Plain brass is timeless. Silver buckle fits cool colors of your suit. Try to avoid big plaques except for the rodeo. Your goal is “executive.”
Finally, maintenance takes you five minutes twice per year. All you have to do is to purchase Lexol conditioner and clean your belt with it. Like your skin, leather dries out. Take care of it properly and it will last longer than both your car and your marriage, but who knows.
Spend $100 on a belt. It hurts now. But amortized for the next thirty years, it is absolutely nothing. Also, you will have the piece of peace of mind. Do not invest in the garbage, which will end up in the landfill. Buy once, cry once, and be gorgeous forever.