If you've ever worn black leather shoes with a tan and green cotton belt, it may be time to think about reviewing your overall personal style. Poorly matched shoes and belts are one of those universal calling cards of bad taste.
The method for properly matching these two items is simple. Match the shoes and belt as close to each other in terms of the same basic materials, colors and decorations as possible.
Material
The first priority for matching is material. Not only should leather shoes be matched with a leather belt, but black patent leather shoes should also use a black patent leather belt. If the shoe leather is ostrich skin with visible bumps, the belt leather should be ostrich skin with visible bumps.
Though this matching-material rule can be loosened up a bit in everyday life, it should always be strictly observed for the sharpest look. If your shoes use a combination of materials, you can either pick one or both to use for the belt.
Colors
Colors should also be matched as closely as possible. Dark brown shoes look better with a dark brown belt, not a light brown one. However, when you use shoes with more than one color, the belt selection can be a little more fun.
In some cases, you might not want to match colors. For example, if you're wearing a pair of black-and-white checkered leather shoes, adding a black-and-white checkered leather belt could really be overdoing it. When patterns or multiple colors are used, it's best to pick one or two aspects from the shoes to reflect in the belt. Keep the material the same, and choose something like a solid black leather belt or a subtle black check-patterned leather belt.
Decorations
Try to echo any decorations in both the shoe and the belt. If the shoe has any buckles or other obvious shapes, repeat it with the belt. The belt buckle should match at least the material and color of the shoe buckle, if not the exact same shape.
However, the double-trouble rule comes into play with decorations just as it does materials and colors. If your shoe has brown leather with decorative white stitching, matching it with a brown leather belt with decorative white stitching might be too much. Pick a solid white or brown leather belt instead.
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 | Balance your selection of men's shoes with a little bit of classical and a little bit of modern style. Wear dress shoes for work or formal affairs and casual shoes for kicking back, and try not to mix the two styles. |
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Men have to buy dress shoes at times too, but how can you find the best value shoes available? In order to get the best deal, and get a good quality shoe, there are many things you have to put into consideration. |
