Belt Length and Width

Have you ever noticed an extra length of tail on a men’s belt awkwardly peeking out on an otherwise perfectly dressed person? Because it is so unexpected, it diverts the attention from both the fashion mix and the overall look.

The length of the belt is absolutely crucial to the look and should be the first thing you check when shopping for a belt. The perfect length for a belt means you should be able to put it in the next loop of the trousers after you have fastened it. If in doubt, err on the short side provided it can be done up – it is better to have no obvious spare length than to have the belt try for a second circuit of the waist.

The simple way to buy the correct length of men’s belt is just to compare it with the size of your trousers. If you wear a 32in waist on your trousers, go for a belt that is 34 or 36in long – but always try the belt before you buy it.

As well as the length, consider the thickness of your belt. If in doubt, choose a belt on the narrow side to wear with a suit – broad belts simply look inappropriate and are also noticeably unfashionable. The ideal width obviously allows the belt to fit the loops on
yours trousers, and that means you might have to pick a narrower width than you would like.