Should You Wear a Black or Brown Belt?
When it comes to men’s style, most people agree that the belt is an important accessory. If you use it right, it’s one of those pieces that can take your outfit to the next level.
But how do you choose the right belt for you? How do you know if your belt is enhancing your style or bringing it down?
To this day, most men are still faced with an age-old problem of choosing between a brown and black leather belt. To help you out, we’re going to discuss the key factors to consider when deciding between these two classic colours.
The colour of your shoes
The first thing that you should look at is the colour of your footwear.
If you want to play it safe, simply match your belt with your shoes. Ideally, you would want the tone of your belt to be as close to your shoes as possible. That being said, if the occasion that you’re attending has a casual vibe, you might get away with the colours being slightly different.
Another thing to consider is the texture of your shoes. If your leather shoes have a glossy finish, you should match them with a belt that has some shine to it. The same goes for leather shoes with a matte finish and belts with a velvet finish.
The only exception to this matching rule is when you’re wearing white sneakers. Generally speaking, a white belt with white shoes can be a little too much. However, since fashion is about self-expression, don’t let this stop you from experimenting from time to time.
The wash of your jeans
The key thing to remember with jeans is contrast. If you want a simple look, it’s a good idea to keep the colours of your jeans and belt as close to each other as possible. For darker jeans, a black belt or even a dark brown belt would work well. If your jeans have a lighter wash, it might be a good idea to go with a lighter shade of brown.
There are, however, a lot of instances where high contrast can be advantageous. A classic example of this would be pairing black jeans with a brown belt.
On the other hand, pairing a black belt with a lighter pair of blue jeans tends to be seen as an ‘outdated’ look. But, if you’re into that sort of aesthetic, don’t let anyone stop you. Once again, these are all just generic rules. At the end of the day, it’s all about what you prefer.
Khakis and chinos
When it comes to khakis and the various colours of chinos, things can get a little confusing. To make things simple, you should start with the basic rule of keeping things within the same colour range. For example, true khakis are within the brown range and should be paired with lighter brown belts. For darker chinos, you should go for a black belt or a dark brown belt.
That being said, one of the best things about khakis and chinos is that they can be worn casually. This means you can break the rules a little bit more and get away with it. One thing you can experiment with are colourful woven belts. Playful belts can go well with green, beige or even white chinos during the warm summer months.
It’s always good to know the basic rules first before breaking them. Having a foundational understanding of why certain fashion tropes work will give you a better sense of what might look good in an outfit. For example, having a solid understanding of contrast will allow you to experiment with colours beyond brown and black. It’s also good to remember that your overall outfit can affect how much your belt stands out. So, it’s important to not get too tunnel visioned. Above all, it’s just good to have fun with your style and not take it too seriously.
