For most men putting on a belt when they dress is second nature. But whether they should do so when wearing a suit is up for debate. Some say not, and nine times out of ten, we tend to agree.

This is mostly because the trousers should fit without one. Wearing a belt with your work suit, unlike some of the best suspenders for men that are often used as a fashion accessory, your three-piece, your red carpet number, or – dear lord – your wedding suit suggests that your trousers don’t fit, an instant style penalty in what should be the most tailored outfit in your rotation.

As with most styles rules, however, there are exceptions. The case for a belt worn with smarter tailoring is a strong one – providing you pick the right style and wear it in the right kind of way. Then it can enhance your attire rather than detract from it.

A belt can also create a visual break along your middle too, which works especially well for tall or skinnier men. And, as one of the few accessories a man might wear with tailoring, it’s another site for self-expression – one that is especially important to the overall look when wearing a dressed-down suit or tailored separates.

When To Wear A Belt With A Suit

Ask a tailor and he will tell you never. Either wear braces – which, as the American name suggests – literally suspend your trousers around your waist, allowing them to properly drape. Or wear trousers with buckle or button side adjusters, which more gently nip in the waist without puckering the waistline, something which isn’t good for the cloth. It’s a convincing argument – and, as dress etiquette demands, certainly always stands when it comes to black tie.

You’ll notice the images chosen in this article only feature slouchy or dressed-down tailoring. As well as your dinner suit, a belt is a surplus to requirements with the average office two-piece and they never work with a waistcoat, either.