How to Pick the Best Leather Belt for Every Occasion

As simple as it looks, a belt holds a lot of power. It can make or break your outfit.

The right belt visually pulls your outfit together and will make you the center of attention in any room. The wrong belt, on the other hand, draws unwanted attention and will kill your self-confidence.

But how can you tell if a leather belt is good quality?

It’s made of the highest quality leather
It’s soft, supple, and doesn’t crack
It’s well-stitched—it has small, tight stitches with no loose ends
Its buckles and rivets are made with a robust and durable metal like brass

While you may have gotten away in the past with casual cargo belts, now is the time to level up and invest in a few leather belts that will work for every occasion.

However, leather belts come in different colors, textures, styles, and quality, which makes choosing the right one overwhelming.

To help you save time, we’ve compiled a guide with all you need to find the best leather belt for every occasion. We’ll cover everything—from determining your belt size to matching it with other accessories.

table of contents

Step 1 - Work Out Your Size Step 2 - Choose a Belt Made From the Highest Quality Leather Step 3 - Consider the Color of Your Belt Step 4 - Match Your Belt With Other Accessories What Belt to Wear for Every Occasion? Frequently Asked Questions

Step 1 - Work Out Your Size

The first step in picking out the perfect belt is finding the right size. A tight belt can cause pelvic pain, while a loose one makes you look sloppy and unkempt. However, a right-fitting leather belt indicates that you wear your clothes, not the other way round.

Choosing the right belt size relies on an accurate measurement. There are two primary ways to measure your belt size:

1 - Using a Belt You Already Own

Measuring a well-fitting belt that you already own is the best way to determine your belt size.

Lay your everyday belt flat on a clean surface. Start your tape measure at the hole you most often use and measure it to the belt’s base (where it meets the buckle).

Once you’ve determined the belt’s measurement, round it to the nearest inch. For instance, if you measure 32.7 inches, round it up to 33 inches. This becomes your belt length.

Man wearing the English Tan leather belt

2 - Using Your Favorite Pair of Jeans

Belts don’t just go around the waist, they also go around your shirt and pants. Thus, a well-fitting belt will be a few inches larger (2 or 3) than your pant size.

If you don’t have a belt, measure a pair of your well-fitting jeans, then add 2″ to determine your belt size.

For instance:

If your pants are 30”, choose a 32″ belt
If your pants are 33”, choose a 35″ belt
If your pants are 42”, choose a 44″ belt

All Popov Leather belts range from 26 inches to 58 inches. Our measurement guide will help you choose the perfect belt size. But if the belt doesn't fit you, don’t fret. We offer a 90-day return policy, so you can return it to us, and we’ll replace it with a perfect fit.

"Awesome belt. Love it! Fits perfect to size and is excellent quality."

Popov Leather Verified Buyer, United States

Expert Tip: Leather belts tend to stretch over time. Don’t worry if your Black Popov Leather Belt fits snugly upon purchase; it will wear more comfortably with time.

Step 2 - Choose a Belt Made From the Highest Quality Leather

The best leather belt for every occasion is made of the purest form of leather.

Unlike other fabrics and leather imitators that wear away with regular use, real leather will stand up to a beating and can last decades with a regular touch of leather polish.

"The leather quality and construction tell me this belt will be a main piece for decades. Thanks."

Kim Y, Canada

There are three main categories of real leather, all based on what section of the hide is used and how it is finished:

Full-grain leather (the best leather): Comes from the topmost part of the hide, making it the purest form of leather. It’s highly durable and develops a rich patina over time.
Split grain leather (bad for belts): Comes from the most fibrous parts of the hide that are left over after extracting full-grain leather. It’s thin and weak with a loose structure that’s not so durable.
Bonded leather (lowest quality): Made using leather scraps. It can make a good first impression but won’t stand the wear and tear of regular use.

A belt made with poor quality leather will break or wear out easily. This alone can cheapen your entire outfit.

That’s why investing in a belt made of full-grain leather is crucial. Besides its functionality, this belt’s quality makes it a classic and timeless piece, giving you decades of service.

At Popov Leather, I make every belt using full-grain Horween leather which is extremely strong and ages gracefully. When paired with any outfit, the belt’s rich texture and character make your overall look more structured.

Full-grain Horween leather

Step 3 - Consider the Color of Your Belt

There isn’t a one-size-fits-all in true fashion, but there are certain things that do work best for most men.

Color is more than a personal preference. Your belt’s color should complement that of your outfit.

When matching your belt’s color with your outfit, use the color wheel to ensure you follow the standard rules.

You’ll realize that some common belt shades, like blue, are cool while others, like brown, are warm.

As a rule of thumb, don’t mix a cool belt and a warm shoe; stick to one tone. Pair blue shoes with a cool-toned outfit, or a tan belt with shoes no more than two shades darker.

Popov Leather Belts in different colors

If you’re wondering whether it’s possible to pair a brown belt with black shoes, the simple answer is yes. But ensure that the brown and black shades have similar tones.

Below is some simple advice on how to match your belt with your shoes and outfit based on their colors:

Belt Color	How To Match It
Dark Brown	Most versatile belt color Looks best when worn with claret shoes Pairs well with any suit color, but best worn with pants that are a mid to dark tone
Black	Most common belt color When paired with black shoes, it’s the second most versatile option Works best with a monochrome color palette
Blue	Ideal for adding personal style to an outfit Best worn with other blue tones and khaki pants
Tan	Pairs well with tan shoes Best worn with a navy blue suit Also blends with earthy tone pants like khaki or brown

"After ordering a different color, I was impressed and wanted another. So I got it in black this time around."

Popov Leather Verified Buyer, United States

Step 4 - Match Your Belt With Other Accessories

Choose a belt that complements the rest of your accessories, including your lapel pin, watch band, and wallet.

The first rule of choosing your outfit’s accessories is that leathers must match leathers. Your watch strap’s color needs to match the color of your belt. For instance, if you’re wearing a brown leather belt, match it with a Brown Apple Watch Band.

But matching your leathers doesn’t mean you need to have the exact hue on your belt, shoes, and accessories. Staying within the same color family is enough.

Also, ensure your belt has the same overall look and feel as the rest of your outfit and accessories. If your suit has cufflinks, the metal needs to match your belt’s buckle. A brass buckle calls for brass-looking cufflinks.

Top Tip: For formal settings, match your belt and shoe leathers, plus any metals in your outfit, such as cufflinks.

For casual occasions, you’ll still need to match your metals but you can be more lenient on the colors, e.g., brown with tan or tan with white.

Popov Leather belt with matching watch strap

Popov Leather belt paired with matching watch strap

What Belt to Wear for Every Occasion?

A canvas belt is ideal for casual meetings only, whereas a leather belt can be worn in both casual and formal settings.

Leather is king. So you want to ensure that you invest in at least two real leather belts for every occasion.

If you’re just starting on your leather belt journey, I suggest Popov Leather’s versatile Leather Belts. These are the best everyday belts.

You don’t need to think twice about them; you can get out of bed and reach out for them without having to wonder if they’ll work for your outfit.

All Popov Leather belts are durable and pair perfectly with any outfit.

Popov Leather Bourbon belts

Not to mention, they look even better with age and wear, thanks to the Horween full-grain leather which yields a rich patina over time.

So grab one or more today, and look put together whether you’re on a business trip or out with friends.

"When I first handled this belt, the difference was immediately obvious. It feels and looks fantastic."

Rory B, United States

Frequently Asked Questions

When should you not wear a belt?

You don’t need a belt if:

Your pants lack belt loops
Your outfit looks too busy
You’re wearing suspenders
You don’t have a versatile belt for every outfit
You’re wearing a tuxedo or a cummerbund

What is the best width for a men's belt?

The best width for a men’s belt is 1.5” (3.8 cm). That’s why all Popov Leather belts are 1.5” wide.

Which hole should your belt be on?

The hole you use on a belt should fall in the middle. Our leather belts have seven holes, so you’ll want your buckle secured at the fourth.

Related Articles: How to Identify Whether a Belt Is Real Leather

Written by Ryan Popoff

Ryan Popoff is the creative mind behind Popov Leather wallets, iPhone cases, belts, watch bands and journals since 2013. With a Bachelor Degree in Fine Arts, my leatherworking journey began at home. I wanted to create a simple leather wallet that could fit into my front pocket and — to my delight — it was a hit with family and friends. Hopefully you love our honest, quality leather goods too! Reach out with questions.