No Belt With Suit When Tailored
What is your take on going sans belt on a suit that fits perfectly.
I have seen some senior execs going no-belt and a great illustration of this style is in the movie Collateral with Tom Cruise's character looking smooth in the same style...
Assuming you have the right body type for this look, what is the deciding factor to ditch the belt?
Wearing a Suit Without a Suit Belt
Our users feel that you should wear a belt with your suit unless it is a bespoke suit fit to you without belt loops. If there are loops in your pants you should be wearing a belt.
I fashion consult, and i definitely say to wear the belt. agreed, the no belt look can be pulled off and look fine, but most of the time it looks a little awkward. also, its not always about keeping the pants up and looking the "norm". for men, belts are an amazing way to accessorize and add an extra element of style to your outfit.So, in my opinion, grab yourself a stylish belt, that matches of course, and wear it with the suit.
User @GameTheory" shared:
There are obviously situations in which a belt is not required (i.e. when pants are worn with suspenders). If fzjgdk was referring solely to the practice of wearing pants with belt loops sans belt, then yes, I would agree. Otherwise, I'd generally agree with wintonheights above. The only real acceptable way for it to be done is in a made-to-measure or bespoke trouser that has no belt loops. A notable colleague of mine (director) would make most of his pants without belt loops, but he would make a subtle button tab on the sides above his hips. He was in good shape and pulled off the look well.
You can see a comparison between belts loops and no belt loops below.
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wow... this is actually something I feel I can advise about and be confident in my statement
i fashion consult, and i definitely say to wear the belt. agreed, the no belt look can be pulled off and look fine, but most of the time it looks a little awkward. also, its not always about keeping the pants up and looking the "norm". for men, belts are an amazing way to accessorize and add an extra element of style to your outfit.
so, in my opinion, grab yourself a stylish belt, that matches of course, and wear it with the suit.
i would say that there is never a time when you should ditch the belt completely. i personally wear a belt with everything except athletic shorts.
hope that helps and if you need any other fashion tips or advice, please feel free to contact me.
you just answered your own question.
Two largest factors for going no belt in my opinion:
This combination ensures that your suit fits precisely (rendering a belt unnecessary) and that your silhouette is continuous, especially from the abdomen down (a belt is distracting as it formally splits your body and highlights a probably already fit waist).
Plus, I think the look is forward right now (tho not really, they hark back to the days when suits were mostly tailored and not commodities) like slim fit, two buttons were a little over a year ago - it attracts attention because its different.
While a tailored off the rack suffices, a bespoke suit sans belt loops is the best way to pull of this look.
my 2c
kidding. i dont claim my opinion superior. anyone else care to weigh in?
There are obviously situations in which a belt is not required (i.e. when pants are worn with suspenders). If fzjgdk was referring solely to the practice of wearing pants with belt loops sans belt, then yes, I would agree. Otherwise, I'd generally agree with wintonheights above. The only real acceptable way for it to be done is in a made-to-measure or bespoke trouser that has no belt loops. A notable colleague of mine (director) would make most of his pants without belt loops, but he would make a subtle button tab on the sides above his hips. He was in good shape and pulled off the look well.
That being said, despite switching over to bespoke, I've always made trousers with belt loops.
If you have bought a bespoke suit, don't belittle it with a belt.
A beltless bespoke trouser may be much more acceptable in London, where I imagine finance professionals are much more likely to be Savile Row clientele. I personally still like to maintain a level of subtlety in my dress. Things like working buttonholes, pick stitching, etc. are nice details to have on a suit, but there's no need for me (from a personal style standpoint) to scream "my suit is bespoke!" It's really just a fit thing for me.
The director that went beltless in my banking days was not only much more senior than me, but also a bit flashier in just about everything he did, so nobody really gave it a second thought.
I've noticed the same thing as GameTheory. Some of my former colleagues from the UK would go beltless but they had side tabs and their trousers were designed sans belt loops (with adjustable side tabs in lieu). However, if the trousers do have belt loops, it would seem funny to wear it withotu a belt. Generally in the States, you're expected to have a belt as part of your professional ensemble.
If you have bought a bespoke suit, don't belittle it with a belt.
I was actually wondering about this too. I've always liked the belt-less pant look. And it makes sense that bespoke trousers by definition shouldn't need them. But is it considered a somewhat affected or personal look? Or is it as "correct" and "safe" as wearing a belt?
edit: i agree with you.
when i posted, i didnt even think about no belt loop pants. i did intend to speak in the case of wearing pants with belt loops.
also, with suspenders, belts are functionally useless. most of the time belts are functionally useless even without custom tailored pants anyways since store bought pants are available in almost every size. that being said, never should belts and suspenders be worn together; wear one or the other. i prefer belts!
If you REALLY want to go beltless you can get side-tabs put in as opposed to loops. That's the only way to go beltless imo.
Having said that, if you're wearing a tie, which you probably will be at any respectable bank, you should probably be wearing a belt.
Moony- Do you work at a "respectable" bank?
At several "respectable" BB banks analysts don't wear ties for normal day to day work. Meetings and client-facing activities are a different story.
My advice to the OP:
Do whatever makes you feel most comfortable.
Haha, sorry all,
Didn't mean to imply that a bank was not "respectable" if analysts don't wear ties to work there.
Essentially, I just wanted to put forth my opinion about the tie with no belt combination. It is my relatively limited and inexperienced understanding that wearing a suit sans belt is more casual, so purchasing a suit, especially at the analyst level (I personally can't afford more than a few), without belt-loops would reduce its versatility assuming you have a FO job.
No disrespect, and I agree, do whatever makes you comfortable, just offering my 2 cents,
Moony
I've seen senior bankers at my BB who rock the sans-belt look with trousers that have loops. Looks weird to me. I'm with GT, though: if you're going to go no belt, get your suit 1)m-t-m or bespoke and 2) trousers with side tabs.
Quick question: what's the verdict on SAs wearing nice loafers (Tod's/Ferragamos) with the metal clip thing on the side of the shoe? Senior bankers only?
FINALLY, a consortium to address this significant style issue. I work in finance and wear dark suits every workday. I have been working with a tremendous tailor at a high end suit company (I am grateful to be in a position to be able to wear $1000+ suits), and this IS a style issue of importance.
I have always loved the fit and style of a traditional well cut and tailored suit. It truly makes the man, and makes a difference in both professional and social interactions. I prefer my suit pants to be tailored to the point that a belt becomes functionally unnecessary.
That leaves the issues of the remaining belt loops on the pants. Per the suggestion of 1.) my tailor, and 2.) the suit fabric representatives from England for this particular clothing company, I have had the loops removed from suits that had them, and I have my made-to-measure suits made without them.
If I literally gained a couple of pounds, first of all, I clearly wouldn't be working hard enough in the gym. If all of my pants became too tight in their current cut, guess what, I would have them all re-altered to my current stable size. This is what wearing suits is all about, even if you still insist on wearing a belt with your pants.
RE: Fellas,
What is your take on going sans belt on a suit that fits perfectly.
I have seen some senior execs going no-belt and a great illustration of this style is in the movie Collateral with Tom Cruise's character looking smooth in the same style...
Assuming you have the right body type for this look, what is the deciding factor to ditch the belt?
Fuck the belt/no belt situation.....go with suspenders, Gordon Gecko style
Wearing a suit that has belt loops without a belt makes me want to throw up.... The people that do not wear a belt are wearing trousers that have side tabs. If you buy a Ralph Lauren Black Label suit it will come with side tabs. I purchased mine from the "Polo mansion" on madison ave and the guy told me that RL doesnt like his suits being worn with a belt because it takes the slim aspect of the suit away. I have to say I really like the side tabs and most of the suits I buy in the future are going to have them. They're much more comfortable and your shirt doesn't bunch around the waste line like it does with a belt.
1) Only no belt if you have latches on the sides 2) Otherwise wear a belt
We had an analyst who always wore pants with buckles with no belt - he'd get sht all the time
My picture is how you should look.
Hmm, no belt? How about suspenders with the bespoke?
Wearing a belt with a suit is absoloutely a no no it is sloppy takes away from the line of the body and breaks up the continuous look of the suit, most men can'tdress anyway.they have no idea how to dress properly, belts were originally made for casual dress not a nice suit, and it do's not have to be bespoke
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