I get a few questions about belt width every week. Most people are used to traditional, wider belts, so they assume a 1” belt will be too skinny and will look disproportionate. Personally, I’ve been wearing 1” belts with all kinds of outfits - from very relaxed looks to suits. They even work with workwear or military-inspired casual outfits. But the crucial part of making a 1” belt work is pairing it with high-rise trousers. If you wear low-rise trousers where the waistband sits around your hips, it won’t look as good as when it sits at your natural waist (around the belly button). 

I constantly have guys commenting that it just won’t work for them because they think they’re too big or tall and it won’t look proportional. The thing is, this doesn’t have anything to do with height. I’ve seen guys up to 195 cm wear 1” belts, and it didn’t look much different than on a smaller guy.

Why a 1” width has such great appeal is because it doesn’t fill the entire belt loop. This makes it look effortless and elegant. Visually, a narrower belt also doesn’t cut the whole outfit in half. The main reason why regular belt widths (1.5” to 4 cm) are not a good choice, in my opinion, is that they stand out too much and overpower the entire midsection. They draw too much attention away from the outfit, and it feels like they’re holding the entire outfit together. And don’t get me started on big clasps, especially those with luxury brand logos.

On the other hand, a 1” belt is still an extra layer to your outfit, but because it’s much narrower, it usually only adds a visual separation, and in a much more gentle way. Often, you notice the belt is there, but it doesn’t take your focus away from the outfit.

The only styles where I don’t mind regular-width belts are workwear and very military-inspired looks. In these cases, the belt has to be stronger, as they usually carried a lot of tools. Because of that, for these two types of outfits, I don’t mind it if you want to recreate a more original look. But even then, if you're making a more casual version, a 1” belt will work perfectly. For example, if you wear it with workwear and lighter trousers or loafers, making it more casual and elegant. And the same goes for military-inspired outfits, if you wear a military shirt or jacket with a casual shirt or polo and jeans.

A 1” belt also works perfectly with suits. A very serious or elegant suit is never worn with a belt, which means that a suit with a belt loop is immediately considered a slightly more casual version. In that case, the reasons mentioned above make 1” the best width. It will appear much more elegant and won’t draw attention away from the suit. While in casual outfits I usually want to add another layer and more contrast with a belt, when it comes to suits, I would suggest the opposite. You want to find a belt that blends in completely, so you almost don’t notice it. But even if you do, it’s just a nice element holding your trousers up.

You should not be afraid to try a 1” belt. It will make every outfit more elegant and effortless. And once you get used to it, you will never go back to wider options.

And when it comes to buckles, I can’t stand rectangular ones - for me, it has to be oval. A rectangular buckle makes the whole outfit feel more stiff, in my opinion, while the oval buckle gives it a more relaxed and casual appeal. So, for me, a rectangular buckle is definitely a no-go. I also like Western-style belts, and these buckles have much more character and add a lot of personality to an outfit. You have to learn how to properly balance them and understand when to wear that type of belt and when not to. But that's a topic for another article.

I have been very loyal to Sartolane belts for over two years now. They are, without a doubt, one of my absolute favorites, and I also think they offer the best value for money. But I’m happy to hear any other suggestions.

Below are the best 1” belts currently available:

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