How are belts measured?

As far as how men’s belts are measured goes, Elizabeth says “the heel of the buckle to the middle hole is the size of the belt.” She recommends grabbing a tape measure to figure out your size and length and says “you can always mimic your waist size or jump a size up, but standardly that distance should, at minimum, be your waist size.”

How do you match belts with a suit?

“I think the word match is very loose these days,” says Elizabeth. “Your look needs to be you and tell a story—your belt is the closing piece to your argument of who you are,” she adds, noting that it doesn’t need to be perfectly matched. With that said, Elizabeth says to look to your shirt (or even your tie) to match your belt to vs. your suit. “Do not buy the same color belt as your suit,” she explains, adding that a belt is best matched with “your personality, not the threads.”

Do belts and shoes need to match?

In general, Elizabeth says that belts and shoes do not need to match as, these days, fashion is all about “taking risks” and leaning into personal style. That being said, there is one rule about matching belts and shoes that she advises sticking with. “The one general fashion law that has stuck and should always stick is black and navy,” says Elizabeth, explaining how it’s a no-no to mix the two. “If the colors are similar in shade, it gives off the idea that you thought they were the same [color],” says Elizabeth.

The 12 Best Leather Belts for Men of 2023

Brides / Lecia Landis

When it comes to wedding attire, it’s all about the accessories for men. From the tie to the cufflinks, these components are a great way to tell the story of your style—and belts are no exception. Second, to neckties, belts are perhaps the most important accessory in men’s formal wear as they can be “the entire closing point that ‘buckles’ up a look,” says expert Jeni Elizabeth. “No matter what design or color, a belt finishes a suit—it completes the look in a classy and sophisticated (or fun) manner,” Elizabeth adds.

With so much pressure put on the belt, making a selection for your big day—or as a wedding guest—is a bit tricky. And, while it would be nice if every suit came with its own corresponding belt, the next best thing is having someone do the work for you. That’s where we come in. We heard your frustrations and went on a major deep dive, putting together a comprehensive list of the best leather belts to rock at a wedding, whether you’re the groom or guest.

Our Top Picks

Best Dressy:

Gucci Leather Belt With Squared Buckle at Gucci.com

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Best Budget:

Amazon Essentials Classic Dress Belt at Amazon

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Best Designer:

Saint Laurent Monogram Leather Belt at Nordstrom

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Best Extended Sizing:

Men’s Wearhouse Black Double Loop Leather Belt at Menswearhouse.com

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Best Black:

Cole Haan Gramercy Leather Belt at Nordstrom

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Best Brown:

Magnanni Carbon Leather Belt at Nordstrom

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Best Braided:

Nisolo Talia Braided Belt at Nisolo.com

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Best Raw Leather:

Tanner Goods Heritage Belt at Tannergoods.com

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Best Tooled:

Ariat Filigree Stripe Belt at Ariat.com

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Best Reversible:

Tommy Bahama Reversible Classic Leather Belt at Tommybahama.com

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In This Article

Our Picks
What To Look For
FAQs
Why Trust Brides?

Gucci

View On Gucci.com

If you’re looking for a dressier belt to complement men's wedding attire, it’s almost always best to go with something designer. The quality alone helps tie your look together while the style is an added plus. Our favorite pick for the best dressy belt is this squared buckle belt from Gucci. The thin black leather strap makes it the perfect choice for a pair of dress pants while its geometric buckle design adds a handsome touch. And, while Gucci is known to adorn its designs in the designer’s iconic logo, we love that this buckle takes a more subtle approach with a small etching of the iconic logo, that way it doesn’t draw too much attention from the rest of your look.

Price at time of publish: $420

Size: 70-120 | Width: 1 inch | Material: Italian Leather

Amazon

View On Amazon

Finding a high-quality belt on a budget isn’t too much of a challenge, but finding one for around $15 feels like a major win. This Amazon Essentials dress belt features a classic design, comes top-rated by almost 4,000 customers, and is available in a wide range of sizes with a choice of black, dark brown, and tan, so you can find the perfect match for your wedding day ensemble.

Price at time of publish: $20 for size 32

Size: 30-56 | Width: 1.25 inches | Material: Leather, polyurethane, polyester

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Neiman Marcus View On Bergdorfgoodman.com

If you’re going designer for your wedding day belt, choosing one that feels timeless is key. We love this black leather belt by the iconic Saint Laurent for its quality, sophistication, and classy design. Another reason why it’s a top pick is that while it’s obvious that it’s designer, the classic YSL logo isn’t too over-the-top.

Price at time of publish: $525

Size: 85 EU-110 EU | Width: 1.25 inches | Material: Leather

Mens Wear House

View On Menswearhouse.com

This Men’s Wearhouse belt made our top list not only for its range of sizes but because it is of great quality with an even greater price to match. Made from full-grain Italian leather and designed with double loops for a subtle stylish touch, this belt is a great piece and the perfect addition to any best men's wedding suit.

Price at time of publish: $40

Size: 30 - 60 | Width: 30 mm | Material: Italian leather

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom View On Bloomingdales

If black on black isn’t your vibe but you still want to wear the best black belt on your wedding day, we’ve got you covered. This traditional black belt from Cole Haan featured a silver square buckle and sleek leather strap, creating a look that is elegant and timeless.

Price at time of publish: $70

Size: 32 - 42 | Width: 1 1/4" inches | Material: Leather

Nordstrom

View On Nordstrom

This Magnanni belt’s hand-burnished leather gives it luxe and velvety feel and is a top pick for its stunning craftsmanship, color, and beautiful silver hardware.

Price at time of publish: $150

Size: 32 - 46 | Width: 1 1/4" inches | Material: Leather

Nisolo

View On Nisolo.com

If you’re headed to a beach wedding or somewhere tropical for your big day, your wedding day ensemble might call for something a little more casual. Enter: The braided leather belt. This one from Nisolo comes top-rated by customers and is available in a variety of colors, making it even easier to add your flair.

Price at time of publish: $60

Size: S - L | Width: 1 1/4" inches | Material: Leather

Tanner Goods

View On Tannergoods.com

If you’re going for a raw leather belt, you want something that feels handmade but boasts a lot of sophistication. We love this one because not only does its natural tan color add a nice touch to a wedding day look, but you can choose between four different belt buckle medals to create the perfect match for your big day.

Price at time of publish: $125

Size: 28 - 42 | Width: 1.5 inches | Material: Leather

Ariat

View On Ariat.com

Who says you can’t have fun with your wedding day style? For those rocking a pair of cowboy boots on their big day, a matching tooled belt is a must. We love this one from Ariat because it has that Western feel with a dressier, more upscale approach.

Price at time of publish: $59

Size: 32 - 46 | Width: 1 1/2" inches | Material: Leather

Tommy Bahama

View On Tommybahama.com

This reversible leather option from Tommy Bahama offers multiple options for color-coordinating your suit. It features white on one side and navy blue on the other, with a simple chrome buckle that'll complement a range of looks.

Price at time of publish: $60

Size: S - XL | Width: 1.55" inches | Material: Leather, Polyurethane

Buck Mason

View On Buckmason.com

If you're planning or attending a more casual beach wedding or need something to wear to the welcome party, rehearsal dinner, or farewell brunch, this belt might be just the thing to complete your ensemble. The laid-back design is crafted from soft, woven leather for a distinguished look that's not overly dressy.

Price at time of publish: $98

Size: 26 - 38 | Width: 1.55" inches | Material: Leather

Calvin Klein Men's Sleek Modern Dress Belt

Amazon

View On Amazon View On Macy's

For those who prefer vegan leather, we recommend the Slim Minimalist Dress Belt from Calvin Klein. Available in black or brown, the versatile, sophisticated design features a thin band and a shiny chrome buckle that'll pull together any formal or semi-formal look.

Price at time of publish: $50

Size: S - XL | Width: 1.55" inches | Material: Leather/polyurethane

Meet the Expert

Jeni Elizabeth is an E! News commerce style expert, lifestyle reporter, and a network & celebrity wardrobe stylist.

What to Look For When Buying a Leather Belt

Length

“There are so many options for belts these days but, most importantly, the length must be accurate,” says Elizabeth. “One of the biggest mistakes you can make with a belt is buying it too long. You never want to ‘re-loop,’ so always make sure you’re sizing correctly because, odds are, you will not take it to be altered.”

Some men's belts come in standard sizes, ranging from small to extra-large, like the Tommy Bahama Reversible Classic Leather Belt. But if you need a more accurate size, consider one that comes in a range of lengths, like the Men's Wearhouse Double-Loop Full-Grain Leather Dress Belt.

Loop Size

Shopping for a belt to wear with a suit is much different than shopping for a belt to wear with jeans. “Always think about the width of your loop,” says Elizabeth. “The loop on denim is much more forgiving and larger than a suit pant,” she adds, noting that you should make sure your belt “is not pulling through the loop,” meaning looking too snug in the loop space.

The Calvin Klein Slim Minimalist Dress Belt is a great option for suit pants with smaller belt loops. But if the loops are slightly wider, opt for something thicker like the Cole Haan Gramercy Leather Belt.

Personal Style

In addition to the length of the belt and loop size, Elizabeth says personal style is important to consider. With so many options available, she explains that choosing the right belt “depends very much on who you are as a person and the statement or style you are looking for with your day and the memory.”

Selecting a belt that feels most like you is key. If you're going for a dressy look and are a fan of designer duds, consider something fancier like the Gucci Leather Belt With Square Buckle. But if you're more laid-back and don't want to look too flashy, the Buck Mason Braided Leather Belt might be a better option.

FAQ

How are belts measured?

As far as how men’s belts are measured goes, Elizabeth says “the heel of the buckle to the middle hole is the size of the belt.” She recommends grabbing a tape measure to figure out your size and length and says “you can always mimic your waist size or jump a size up, but standardly that distance should, at minimum, be your waist size.”
How do you match belts with a suit?

“I think the word match is very loose these days,” says Elizabeth. “Your look needs to be you and tell a story—your belt is the closing piece to your argument of who you are,” she adds, noting that it doesn’t need to be perfectly matched. With that said, Elizabeth says to look to your shirt (or even your tie) to match your belt to vs. your suit. “Do not buy the same color belt as your suit,” she explains, adding that a belt is best matched with “your personality, not the threads.”
Do belts and shoes need to match?

In general, Elizabeth says that belts and shoes do not need to match as, these days, fashion is all about “taking risks” and leaning into personal style. That being said, there is one rule about matching belts and shoes that she advises sticking with. “The one general fashion law that has stuck and should always stick is black and navy,” says Elizabeth, explaining how it’s a no-no to mix the two. “If the colors are similar in shade, it gives off the idea that you thought they were the same [color],” says Elizabeth.

Why Trust Brides?

Contributing writer Jessie Quinn has a bachelor's degree in fashion journalism. From working in the fashion closet and interviewing designers at NYLON Magazine to now writing about the best style trends for various publications—including, Byrdie, Brides, The Zoe Report, Bustle, and more—Jessie researches and sources the best fashion finds for readers. When researching the best leather belts for men, Jessie had versatility top of mind. After all, a belt can be worn for any occasion and, if you’re going to invest in a good one, you want to get the most use out of it. Additional research and reporting for this article was done by Theresa Holland.

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