Online source for cool belts

[montecristo#4]

I'm looking for an online source for reasonably cool belts. I checked out the Denim Bar here in DC. They had some good stuff that was reasonably priced, but as luck would have it they are out of my size in everything that isn't completely over the top crazy.

Any ideas?

 

[LA Guy]

Try Lance's site (www.virtualclotheshorse.com). He has a few belts that are denim suitable, and for cheap. The Engineered Garments belt (available from Drinkwaters in Cambridge. MA) seems to have become the official styleforum belt, like APC's the official jean (j., Brian, and I all have it). If you want something in custom, check out www.baltazar.la, and phone the Denim Doctors to get hooked up. In all cases, tell them that you got the info from Styleforum.

 

[rearviewmirror]

Laguy -- what is up with the sizing on baltazar belts?

i wear a 29-30 in jeans but i need a 36" belt?.

 

[LA Guy]

Laguy -- what is up with the sizing on baltazar belts?

i wear a 29-30 in jeans but i need a 36" belt?.

You need a small. The length is the entire length, from end of buckle to end of leather, Including overlap, a small will give you about 3-4 inches of tongue, which is pretty much what you want. Belts are designed this way. Go to any store and see how much tongue is left after the holes... So yes, a 36 inch (total) belt, bill fit you. I have a 32-33" waist, and want my belts to be at least 40 inches, if not more, total length.

 

[rearviewmirror]

I'm just saying that most places that sell belts that I am accustomed to use the *buy one size up from your pant size* method =)

 

[LA Guy]

Well, Baltazar belts come in S, M, L and XL. I have a 32.5 waist right now, which puts me squarely in a medium, although the small fits after extended use. A 34 (85 cm) belt is not really 34 inches total length, it just means that the last hole is at 34 inches.

 

[philosophe]

Has someone posted a picture of the Engineered Garments belt?

 

[LA Guy]

Has someone posted a picture of the Engineered Garments belt?

Yep. Â Here it is: Engineered Garments belt (also available in black with pewter/silver buckle The semi-official SF belt. Â Tell Gary the LA Guy sent you.

 

[montecristo#4]

Damn, he's out of brown in size 36. Apparently 36 is the world's most popular belt size.

 

[LA Guy]

Damn, he's out of brown in size 36. Apparently 36 is the world's most popular belt size.

MonteCristo, If you are wearing Rescue 30's, a 34 might fit you. My true size in the New Standard would be a 31, (same size as j.) and the 34 fits me just fine. My true waist size is between 32 and 33, for reference.

 

[montecristo#4]

After one day in the Rescues, I almost think I could go to a 29 since apparently the rise isn't affected by size changes -- only the waist. And the waist on these size 30s has already stretched a bit.

Anyway, maybe I will give the 34 a try. LA, I don't suppose you could take a measurement from your belt -- specifically, the distance from the buckle end of the leather strap (excluding the buckle itself) to the middle belt hole? And then another measurement from the middle hole to the tapered end of the belt?

I'm guessing a 34 could fit me, but my concern is that I have to leave the belt on the last hole all the time, and I don't like the look if there isn't enough excess strap showing at the end.

 

[j]

I think the 34 in the EG belt is a little smaller than the usual size 34 belt. Granted, the APCs were lower on the waist than most of my jeans, but I had to use the second to last hole on the belt for a while until it stretched a bit, rather than the middle hole. Now I'm able to use the middle hole, though I'm a little worried I'm going to stretch the belt way out of shape doing that.

BTW, LA Guy advised me to wear the EG belt "backwards" so that you had to flip the latch up to quick-release it rather than flipping it down, because of a possible danger of inadvertant release, but I decided it was too weird wearing that way and I haven't had any misfires yet. I just wear it the normal way.

 

[rlevine]

hmmm... I haven't had the problem you mention with the EG belt either.

 

[LA Guy]

I think the 34 in the EG belt is a little smaller than the usual size 34 belt. Granted, the APCs were lower on the waist than most of my jeans, but I had to use the second to last hole on the belt for a while until it stretched a bit, rather than the middle hole. Now I'm able to use the middle hole, though I'm a little worried I'm going to stretch the belt way out of shape doing that.

BTW, LA Guy advised me to wear the EG belt "backwards" so that you had to flip the latch up to quick-release it rather than flipping it down, because of a possible danger of inadvertant release, but I decided it was too weird wearing that way and I haven't had any misfires yet. I just wear it the normal way.

The belt stretches after some use, so i'm afraid that my measurements wouldn't be of much help. I actually had the same experience as j., to the point that wearing the belt at the 3rd hole is sort of loose. Then again, I hitch my hands on my belt a lot, and it tends to stretch the belt out more than usual. Again, if you can wear a 29 in the rescues, get the 34' belt, not the 36", which will probably be too long. Brian has a true 29-30 waist, and the 32 belt looks fine (great, really) on him.

 

[montecristo#4]

I ended up ordering a belt from these guys: http://www.leathergoodsconnection.co...madebelts.html The buckle is nowhere near as cool as the EG, but the strap I MTM'd should actually look a little cooler. I'll post pictures when it arives, probably mid- next week.