The belt is an often-forgotten part of a gentleman’s outfit and yet if you wear a good one, people take notice. Most of us pull out the same belt for whichever ensemble we are wearing or switch between a brown or black leather belt depending on the shoes we are wearing. While leather belts can stand the test of time, have you ever really had a good look at yours? Is it starting to look a little shabby or a little dated? Is it time for an upgrade?
Belts were designed to help keep trousers up, but while very useful in this respect, they also serve as a fashion accessory to give an outfit a final flourish. Now, don’t go thinking your choices are limited to black or brown leather, you should know by now that Herring always likes to bring you something a little different!
That said, there is nothing wrong with a classic leather belt. A black leather belt, such as our Westminster, teamed with a dark suit, or black or grey trousers is a classic look. Just make sure your belt does not let your outfit down. A shabby belt, like unloved shoes, will be noticed for all the wrong reasons.
While a black belt is a classic, it does not have to be boring. There are plenty of different styles of black leather belt with different buckles, loop and stitching combinations. Our Harberton belt is made from oak-barked tanned leather. There are no embellishments, just a nickel-plated solid brass buckle. And, if you look after it, it should last a lifetime. The Kensington is a little more contemporary. Made from Spanish leather, it has polished finish, a tapered end, and a brushed chrome buckle for a real no-nonsense business look.
A brown leather belt is a little more dress-down but also works well with a navy suit. Our Scotch belt has a lovely tan and-burnish scotch grain finish and is looks very smart. Our Dartington oak bark belt is made locally by traditional craftsmen using heavy hide, like the type used for harnesses and bridles, and has a solid brass buckle to befit its style. There is no stitching on this belt, so it has a very clean finish. Our Jeans belt offers a cheaper alternative and, funnily enough, looks great with jeans!
So, there are your classics, but what if you want something a little different? How about a weave? Our Barca belt interweaves brown calf with navy thread. There is no need for any holes as you simply poke the buckle through the weave. As an alternative, the Toledo is an all-leather weave.
We love a bit of suede at Herring and we have a homage to suede in the Caserta belt. May I draw your attention to the blue version with visible stitching detail and a silver-coloured buckle? This is where a belt will start to stand out and make a real difference to your outfit. Our new Verge belt also has a middle section of suede in a contrast brown to almost give it a Gucci-esque nod.
The Harrow and the Moor belts embrace countryside living. The former has brogue detail and will therefore look great with your brogue shoes! The Moor is a blend of chestnut leather and tweed to complement our tweed footwear or to accompany a tweed or wax jacket.
Lastly, and I think I have saved the best to last, is the new Gaucho. This is our own interpretation of a classic Argentinian polo style belt. Seriously, what is not to love? Made in the UK, it comes in four different colourways to bring a zip of colour to your outfit. Paired with some chino shorts and you are basically stepping into summer! After all, you don’t want to wear the belt you wear to work at the weekend, do you?
You will find the full range of Herring belts here. Where belts come in different sizes, there is a helpful diagram and video advising you on how to measure for your size. If your belt has seen better days or you fancy a change, feel free to have a browse.