Belts have always made quite an impression since the olden days and even at the peak of civilizations like the Roman empire. Later, belts were highly utilized throughout military uniforms until the processes made large scale manufacturing more efficient and made belts come at cheaper prices. After that, men’s casual belts became a fashion statement, from uniforms to formal wear and casual dresses.
Belts can be a great addition to a person’s look but at the same time can do other important functions like keeping the pants up and the shirt tucked in. For other casual occasions, belts are a great war to flaunt styles since it’s versatility makes them go very well with most apparel in the wardrobe. For everything there is to know about belts, consider this article a short guide.
Belts And It’s Parts:
The two most common parts in every belt is the strap and the buckle, the strap having a long winding end called strip and keeper loop to lock the belt in place. The frame of the belt allows the strap to go through and has prongs or locks in place to actually keep it from sliding out.
Frames have plates affixed on them and are what usually stands out as a symbol of the brand or the purpose of the uniform, as is evident for police officers and firefighters having different symbols on plates that resemble different responsibilities. Out of the all frames available in the Australian market, ringed frames and box frames are the most common.
Next, up is the part called box that is further categorised as frames and outs. Box frames are hollow and have no need for holes for fastening, usually found in older or decorative belts. Box outs on the other hand have a frame that is unsuitable for everyday work and is mostly used as decoration.
The Right Occasion For Every Belt:
Like all proper clothing etiquette, belts also have a time and place for wear. For all formal functions like meetings, formal dinners and functions, belts indicate a sense of purpose and responsibility. Mostly dark shades are used to go with darker hues of suits and pants. Casual wears are different and there are no restrictions on the style or colour as men’s casual belts have unlimited options. However, when wearing belts, don’t forget to keep these two things in mind:
- Make sure the colour of the belt actually matches or compliments the colour of the dress.
- The colours of the belt should not be visually off with that of the shoes and accessories like watches.
However, there isn’t a need to wear a belt all the time and there may even be people who find them rather uncomfortable. And that’s okay! Many Australian brands offer pants that have no loops and don’t require a belt. But if the pants do come with loops, having a belt is better off. Remember, belts should complement the dress, not disrupt the visual appearance.
Things To Consider When Shopping For Belts:
A quality belt can indicate the quality and personality of the wearer and having the right fashion sense is what it all comes down to. For beginners, start with something dark and simple and then build up from there. Don’t forget to take proper measurements before actually purchasing the belt as strap size and length matter. Speaking of straps, go for leather that doesn’t crack and has fairly good stitching patterns on them. This is a good indicator of high-quality manufacturing and in the long run, go for interchangeable buckles.