One of the most underrated pieces of dressing is the belt. Not only does a belt serve the purpose of holding your trousers or jeans in place but they also often double up as accessories, a piece of jewelry if you may, as they are simple yet chic. The belt buckles here play a crucial role for transforming any ordinary belt to something special and different. The whole range of trendy belt buckles goes well with leather belts and other materials that are used to make belts.
Guide to Selecting Belt Buckles
While not much though is usually given to them, the belt buckles are often the most important part of craftsmanship of the belt making them the style determinant they are today. Nowadays, there are a variety of buckles to choose from – narrow, wide, reversible, non-reversible, with tongue, without tongue, two tongues, clasps, removable – the list and the subcategories goes on. While there are many types of buckles out there, they all can be sorted out into 4 major categories, which are:
#1. Classic buckles – while these comprise of the most common type of belt buckles, there is nothing common in them. Whether you are wearing formal attire or on a casual outing these belts serve all purposes. The most basic ones have one hoop with a tongue that goes through hole in the belt, securing the belt in its place. These are more traditional ones, and you cannot recycle or re-apply any enamel or oil base on the already existing designs.
#2. Plate buckles – the plate belt buckles are more chic or bold as you decide them to be. Instead of a hoop, there is a solid metal plate that houses the clasp or tongue with a loop to allow the belt to pass through. These types see the most customization in terms of turning an ordinary belt into a statement accessory. These buckles are generally worn by NCC corps, polices, by prefects and vice prefects and people from the government who are in high positions.
#3. Clamp buckles – as the name suggests the belt clamps upon itself to provide security which makes them similar to plate buckles, but these are heavier, more bulky.
#4. Two hooped buckles – these belt buckles does not have any prongs, rather they have two hoops, both on the same side, where you take the belt, loop it through both the hoops and twist the free end and open the hoops to add security.
In order to make sure you get functional and looks served by your belt, here are a few tips for choosing the belt buckles:
Take a note of your outfit type and accessories in general. The things you wear and carry the most should be your deciding point. If you wear formals more and your watch is your highlight then avoid clamp belts. Rather stick to classic. They work great with casuals too. You can easily match a t-shirt or a tucked-in shirt with jeans if you choose these belt buckles.
The metal that forms the clamp, plate or hoop of your belt buckle is crucial. The color, thickness and design play an important role. Choose one that is understated yet noticeable. You would not want a bling belt in a professional atmosphere.
With these basics, it will be easier to choose the perfect belt buckles for your wardrobe. Having more than a pair is essential and adds versatility to your wardrobe and outfits. You also need to keep in mind that the outfit, your essential accessories – like watches and rings, should complement the belt and not clash with each other.