More than just the thing that holds up your pants, belts can really pull your outfits together. But how many of them should you own? Take a deep breath and simply start with these essentials:
1. Dress Belt
Worn with suits, slacks and business casual pants, this belt should be in a shiny leather and about 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide. If you want your shoes to match your belt, you may want to have both a brown and a black one. Go double-duty with a reversible dress belt.
2. Casual Leather Belt
This will be the perfect counterpart to your dress belt. This one is typically thicker in size with a more rugged-looking leather. Tan and brown belts will always be a wardrobe workhorse, especially when worn with shorts, jeans, chinos and khakis.
3. Casual Fabric Belt
For those truly laid-back days, this belt works with flip-flops, sandals and tennis shoes. There are many colors, prints and fabrics that you can choose from. The key to this belt is not matching but coordinating with your outfit. Try a braided style with your colored shorts or a striped style with chinos.
With these few styles, you’ll be well equipped with a belt for any occasion.