The length of a belt is measured from the beginning of the buckle to the middle hole:if the belt has six holes, the length is measured to the third. In the event of a change in morphology, there remains a margin of adjustment in one direction or the other! To determine the belt length that suits you, use a flexible tape measure. Wrap it around your waist or hips, and measure around. Do not overtighten the meter, to take into account a margin of ease. You get the necessary belt length. Are you looking for a belt for specific pants? Slip the tape measure through the loops of the pants and measure his waistline. You will get an exact measurement, perfectly adapted to the height of the pants in question. If your favorite belt is at the end of its life, also remember to measure it before changing it! Measure the distance from the edge of the loop to the hole you are using. You get, again, the ideal length for a belt to your measurements. Finally, if you prefer to use standard measurements, be aware that a trouser size 36 or 38 corresponds to a belt length of 80 cm. A 40 corresponds to 85 cm, a 42 to 90 cm, and so on, adding 5 cm per size. These measurements are however much less precise, varying according to the brands and the type of belt, at the waist or at the hips.
Even when it does not tighten, a belt that is too small leaves an impression of skimpy. An optical illusion that accentuates the shapes and rarely benefits the silhouette, when it is so easy to choose a good length for your morphology! With generous curves, avoid belts that are too short; conversely, beware of belts that are too long on a small build.
To choose the right belt length, choose a way to wear it! A belt worn at the waist is shorter than a belt worn at the hips. Take a look around your wardrobe:do you have more low-rise or high-rise pants? Unless you like to divert your belts to wear them under the chest, Empire style? Depending on the answer, measure your waist or hips, or even your bust.
If the length may seem incidental, it is nevertheless an integral part of a look. Do you like folk, romantic and vaguely wild silhouettes? Play with long fancy belts, by tying them or rolling them up. For a cleaner, professional or classic silhouette, prefer a belt that does not extend beyond the second loop of a trouser, after the buckle.
One more detail? A belt reacts differently depending on its material. If it is easy to play with a long thin braided belt, it is much more complicated to manage a rigid leather belt that is too long!
