Buckle Up: The Best Men’s Belts of 2023 for Jeans, Dress Pants, and More
There are some accessories in a guy’s wardrobe that tend to get overlooked from time to time. Take the seemingly humble belt. Sure, it holds your trousers up, but that’s about it, right? Not so fast. The best men’s belts, whether they’re casual belts or dress belts, go above and beyond—they serve as the focal point of an outfit and show off a dash of style and sartorial care as well.
Choosing a Belt
The best belts get better with age—kind of like a great pair of leather boots—and they should serve you well for years. To get that kind of longevity, focus on casual belts and dress belts made with proven materials, like durable yet supple leather. Cloth belts can work great, too, but make sure they’re made from woven or webbed textiles. These thicker, hardier fabrics are better for withstanding bumps and abrasions.
How to Style Your Belt
There’s a broad range of men’s belts out there to suit every style. Some options you can wear with your favorite pair of jeans and others are perfect for dressing up with a handsome suit. Ideally, you should have a mix of both. At the very least, you’ll need a reliable everyday belt, a dress belt for formal occasions, and another more casual option to mix things up.
Of course, your belt should match your shoes, or at least get quite close—this is especially important when wearing a suit. For an everyday belt, be sure to select a color and material that’s versatile enough to work with multiple pairs of shoes. One belt won’t work with all your outfits, however, so having multiple belts in different colors and materials is crucial.
We’ll leave the actual selection up to you, but to kickstart your shopping, here are our favorite men’s belts for 2023.
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The Best Men’s Belts of 2023
This sleek leather belt is best suited for pairing up with suits. It’s also a great match for business casual looks, formal trousers, and (of course) sharp Allen Edmonds dress shoes.
[$135; amazon.com]
Variety is the spice of life, which is why we love that these leather belts come in several shades of brown, black, and even white for when things get flashy. Each belt is made of a single piece of Italian, vegetable-tanned leather, and has absolutely zero logos on it for those who are anti-label. And at just $24, the price is affordable enough to buy a few and always have the right belt for the outfit on hand.
[$24; amazon.com]
Shake up your style with visually appealing brogue detailing. The Cole Haan Dawson belt serves up this classic aesthetic in a rich shade of tan. Sometimes it’s nice to have something a little different.
[$90; colehaan.com]
The 365 Belt from Flint and tinder is a durable, goes-with-anything belt fashioned from rugged yet supple leather. It’s available in five different shades, from a creamy light tan to black, so it’ll match whatever footwear you have in your closet.
[$85; huckberry.com]
For excursions off the grid, opt for this easily adjustable belt made from durable and stretchy nylon webbing. The buckle clips together with one hand thanks to its magnetic closure, and the loose end of the belt tucks neatly behind the buckle, so it won’t get snagged on anything.
[$65; amazon.com]
Courtesy of Abercrombie & Fitch
A belt is the exact midpoint of your outfit, so make sure it looks good. This woven option from Abercrombie & Fitch is a standout. The elastic polyester fabric blend is wound into rope-like strands and then woven together and paired with dark leather accents—there are lots of subtle textures to this belt.
[$50; abercrombie.com]
Looking for a woven belt with stretch for more active pursuits, like a day on the links? This soft cotton-blend belt should fit the bill nicely, and it comes in multiple colors to match your favorite golfing outfit.
[$45; amazon.com]
Elastodiene might sound like a prescription toothpaste, but it’s the material that makes the stretchiness of this colorful, sporty belt from Ted Baker. The leather finish keeps this accessory from veering into gauche territory, while the stretch itself makes for a snug fit. Instead of pre-made holes, the buckle fits in between the braided fibers for a fit that’s more adjustable than the average belt’s.
[$40; nordstrom.com]
Shinola’s focus on all things leather pays off handsomely with this well-crafted natural leather belt. To really complete the look, be sure your wrist is adorned with a Shinola watch.
[$125; shinola.com]
While it might offend the sensibilities of certain accessory snobs, a reversible belt is an undeniably useful accessory for when you don’t have much room in your closet and/or suitcase. This one from Levi’s has a pretty standard pull-and-twist buckle mechanism and comes in lots of different black-and-brown duos. It’s the perfect belt to wear with a pair of men’s Levi’s jeans, to those casual, don’t-overthink-your-wardrobe occasions to which Levi’s have been worn for generations.
[$22; amazon.com]
Tecovas’ Western boots are handsome, rugged, and well-made, and you can expect the same level of quality from this leather belt. To really maximize its appeal, team it with Tecovas footwear and denim.
[$75; tecovas.com]
Buck Mason frequently mines the past for style inspiration, and that’s exactly what the company has done with this retro-tinged webbed cotton belt offset with tonal suede accents. It’s a great mixture of muted colors and interesting shapes and textures.
[$80; buckmason.com]
Whether it’s button-downs or T-shirts, Faherty has a knack for getting the details right, especially when it comes to texture and color. That same beachy style and attention to detail is evident in this woven belt—perfect for pairing with your other favorites from the brand.
[$148; fahertybrand.com]
For those in search of a subtly stylish leather belt to wear with chinos or a navy suit (along with other business casual looks), this nicely priced option is your best bet. The Nordstrom Mercer leather belt is available in three core colors and is very affordably priced for the quality leather used.
[$50; nordstrom.com]
Go all in on the Western trend with this textured leather belt that’s overlaid with durable blue and white nylon thread. This is a men’s belt that demands to be paired with cowboy boots.
[$125; huckberry.com]
When you want to step away from a sleek dress belt, opt for a braided belt with some appealing texture. This is a super affordable option to try from Old Navy and it’s reversible, so you get two belts for one low price.
[$25; oldnavy.gap.com]
Suede makes for a svelte belt, and this Todd Snyder option adds to the visual intrigue with sandy and tobacco colorways. Each is paired with a less common double D-ring buckle in a shiny gold finish. It’s a great belt to wear with suede loafers or to dress up an otherwise casual outfit with a soupçon of visual distinction.
[$148; toddsnyder.com]
A braided leather belt is the kind of timeless accessory that always signifies good taste. This woven belt from Torino is an understated and unmistakable sign that care went into the outfit it’s pulling together. Its leather, viscose, and rubber construction means it’s plenty durable, too.
[$100; nordstrom.com]
