Belts

Wear belts correctly

By default, each belt is provided with five holes, with 1 cm distance between each hole. This allows for flexible adjustment in case of weight fluctuations or depending on the type of clothing and material thickness. If the belt closes at the third hole, it fits perfectly, regardless of how it is worn. There are differences. Hip belts, equally popular in the men's and women's world, are usually cut wider and worn at hip level. In general, the more official the event, the narrower the belt. The classic models are between 2.5 and 4 cm wide and fit every occasion. Narrow waist belts are reserved for women. They sit directly below the chest and accentuate the feminine silhouette.

Determine the optimal size

The most important thing first: Belt length is not equal to belt size. The first value indicates the distance from the outer edge of the buckle to the end of the belt. The belt size, on the other hand, refers to the waist size and corresponds to the length of the belt from the tip of the buckle to the middle (third) hole. If only the total length of the belt is given, you can approximate the waist size by subtracting 15 cm. For example, for a belt with a total length of 100 cm, the size is approximately 85 cm. You can measure your correct belt size by measuring the circumference of your hips or waist. Round off the result to 0 or 5. For example, if you measured 93 cm, two sizes are possible - 90 cm and 95 cm.

Important features

Materials

The most commonly used material for classic models is leather, especially cowhide. It looks noble, feels soft and is very hard-wearing. Another reason for its frequency is the size of the animal: even very long belts can be made seamlessly from one piece of leather. Belts are also made of calf, goat and buffalo leather. More and more manufacturers are also using so-called Saffiano leather, in which a kind of cross-hatching is pressed onto the upper layers of leather. Important: the Saffiano embossing is possible on a genuine leather belt as well as on a synthetic leather belt. High quality genuine leather belts consist of at least 80% leather material. Imitation leather belts are lighter than their animal counterparts and are usually also cheaper. These accessories not only imitate the noble appearance of the leather belts - they are in no way inferior to their competitors in terms of style. Other natural and synthetic materials such as cotton, polyester or nylon are also used. These materials can be easily dyed, so that fabric belts score with a wide variety of colours. It is also not uncommon to find fabric mixes or belts made of a combination of textile and leather or imitation leather.

Belt buckle

Buckles for belts are made of stainless steel, brass, plastic or zamak castings. The latter consists of zinc, aluminium, magnesium and copper. The design possibilities of belt buckles are very diverse: the basic shape is usually oval or square. Classical belts usually close with a buckle. The so-called folding buckle, also called clamping buckle, is a typical feature of casual designs. Sporty fabric belts often have a D-ring closure. Rather rare are magnetic buckles, pin buckles and hook fasteners: these unusual models cause a lot of euphoria among belt fans.

Edges and Ends

There are several types of edges, which differ in whether the edge has a seam or is processed without it. Belts with an edge in a different colour provide stylish accents: the trend accessory adds subtle highlights to any look. Versions with a slightly raised centre and no visible seam are considered classics. The shape of the belt ends can be pointed, trapezoidal, straight or round. The design of the ends and edges is a question of personal taste and has hardly any practical significance.

Storage and care tips

In order for your belts to last long, you must store them properly. There are two ways to do this: You can store the belts hanging or rolled up and lying down. With the first option, you should make sure that the buckles do not rub against each other. This way you avoid unsightly scratches. If you want to store your belts separately, a box with separate compartments is best: you roll up the belts and put them in one by one. Extra tip: To keep leather belts in shape longer, you should sometimes pull them through from the other side. Generally speaking, men loop their belts in on the left side, whereas women can loop them in on both sides. However, men should occasionally wear their belts the other way round to prevent one-sided bending. There are also special care tips for belts made of suede, as they are relatively susceptible to dirt due to their surface structure. Jeans often stain light-coloured models. There is only one thing to do: remove the discolouration as quickly as possible with a dirt rubber or suitable cleaning agent. Success depends on the time elapsed, because the longer the cleaning is delayed, the deeper the dye or dirt penetrates the leather surface and the more difficult it is to remove.

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