You might think that shopping for the best belts for men isn’t nearly as exciting as throwing down on a badass leather jacket, a swaggering suit, or even some aggressively tinted shades. After all, those other items have main-character energy and the belt, the belt is almost always playing a supporting role in your outfit. Which is precisely why, though it may seem tedious, we would argue that your belt collection very much deserves your attention, consideration, and financial investment. Because if you’ve ever inadvertently ruined an outfit with the wrong belt, or seen the movie Moonlight, you know that both supporting belts and supporting actors are essential to any creative masterpiece.
Here’s how to make belt-shopping more fun. First, stop thinking about the whole thing in black and brown. Start thinking about color, texture, and leopard-print pony hair. Next, consider not only the dress codes you want to cover with your belt collection, but also the style archetypes; Western, preppy, and Moondog, for starters. Finally, start teaching yourself how to use a belt to not only keep your pants on, but to transform the essence of your outfit. Try on three belts with one white tee and jeans and observe the way the energy in the room shifts. Once you see the humble men’s belt for the style secret sauce that it truly is, the prospect of acquiring a new one won’t bore you, but thrill you. To get you started on your journey toward belt enlightenment, GQ Recommends went deep on 27 of the best belts for men out there.
The Best Belts Shopping Guide
The Best Every-Single-Day Belt
Named after its founder, Cecilia Bringheli, and country of manufacture, CB Made in Italy is a decade-old accessories brand that makes our hands-down favorite basic genuine leather belt on the market: the aptly named semplice belt. Available in some 15 suede and leather hides and a variety of sizes, you can customize it to fit your wardrobe, your mood, your shape, your personal belt philosophy. We’re partial to the rich brown leather option, which is an appropriately casual complement to the belt’s buckle—simple, square brass—and looks just fantastic with jeans, chinos, and any manner of flowy trouser.
The Best Freak-It Belt
In menswear, few things signal peak freakiness (and the occasional bout of bad decision-making) like an animal print. Stüssy’s embossed leather belt features not one but two reptilian prints laid on top of each other that, naturally, take this outlandish accessory to a whole new level. The metal buckle and tip might take it down half a notch, like throwing a black tee over a lamé tank in an attempt to “blend in”, but let’s be real—there’s no disguising your true nature when you slip this around your waist. And that’s exactly why should buy it.
The Rock ‘n’ Roll Standard Belt
Pretty much anything goes in rock ‘n’ roll, and INAN’s mishmash of metal and leather perfectly embodies that ethos in one stylish-as-hell belt. The brainchild of stylist Ilaria Norsa and Angostura’s jewelry designer Giulia Tavani, INAN is a collection of accessories that pay homage to the gritty underground and all it’s inspired. The tubular stripes belt is crafted from calfskin leather and kitted out with silver beads, piercings, and a buckle, creating a drape across that oozes the type of sex appeal often reserved for rock’s elite. Slip it over your crispiest trousers and slinkiest button-up to let The Man know you’ve got a mind of your own, or ditch the top altogether and belt up your baggiest jeans before hitting the town.
The Best Outdoors-Ready Belt
At GQ, we’re big fans of Kavu’s nostalgia-drenched, delightfully crunchy outdoors-y gear. So, naturally, the brand’s printed nylon belt is a banger, a retro-flavored blast from your trailblazing not-quite past. It looks like a bizarro mash-up of your old camp counselor’s favorite bracelet and the seatbelts in your family’s trusty Subaru, and it’s designed to keep you and your pants company (be they cargos, tech-y zip-offs, or sawed-off jorts) while you scale peaks, hurdle over rocks, or just do that awkward walk-skip to catch the train.
The Holy Cowboy Belt
Anderson’s is the Italian belt brand; they’ve been perfecting their craft since the ’60s right in Parma. In fact, according to the brand, each belt takes over 100 steps to make and every single one of those steps happens by hand. Which is to say, you will buy an Anderson’s belt and you will keep it for years, maybe even for a lifetime. While Anderson’s specializes in classic, Italian suede and leather belts—very handsome stuff—we must say, they make an especially mean Western belt. It’s refined and not at all costume-y, so you can wear it with more than just some double denim and boots. Nothing against a full Western look, but that’s a freedom worth investing in.
The Best Woven Belt
Guanabana is a Spanish-Columbian brand known for its woven, colorful accessories and y’all, do they ever make a nice belt. Maybe not the variety of belt you’ll wear to work or your wedding (although, more power to you if that’s your thing), but the kind that completes every outfit outside of formal occasions, from oversized cargo pants and an open-collar shirt to linen suit and a knit polo. When you look at the patterns on offer, you’re probably going to want buy more than one, which is perfectly okay considering they retail for a reasonable $80 a pop.
