One black belt that looks right under a suit jacket and with your favourite jeans. Nine full-grain Italian leather belts, made by hand in Vancouver, from US$149.
By Bian VarianiN° 08 · The black collection3 min read
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Full-grain Italian leatherCut from one solid pieceMade by hand in VancouverSolid stainless steel buckleEvery even size, 26 to 581 3/8 inch, 35 mmFree tracked shippingFull-grain Italian leatherCut from one solid pieceMade by hand in VancouverSolid stainless steel buckleEvery even size, 26 to 581 3/8 inch, 35 mmFree tracked shipping
The short answer
The best black leather belt for both jeans and dress pants is smooth full-grain leather about 1 3/8 inch (35 mm) wide with a simple stainless buckle. Variani's best seller, #VAR007, fits that brief at US$149; #VAR020 is the plainest, #VAR012 the heaviest (10 oz), and #VAR016 the finest, with a CNC-machined buckle.
In brief9 black belts, US$149 to US$349
021 3/8 in (35 mm) wide
03Sizes 26 to 58
04Full-grain, no painted coating
The black collection
Nine black belts
Full-grain Italian leather, 1 3/8 inch, every even size from 26 to 58. Prices in US dollars, free tracked shipping.
Full-grain Italian cowhide cut from one solid piece, 1 3/8 inches wide, with a solid stainless steel buckle, made by hand in Vancouver. What changes from belt to belt is the buckle, the weight of the strap and the finish.
All nine are shown above, from US$149. Every one comes in every even size from 26 to 58, ships free with tracking, and arrives with a travel bag and buckle sheath.
02
Why a black belt works with jeans and dress pants
With grey dress trousers and a jacket.The same belt with light denim.
Black is the colour of tailoring, and a smooth black strap disappears politely under a jacket. With jeans, the same belt adds a clean line at the waist that looks deliberate rather than casual.
What makes one belt do both is the width. At 1 3/8 inch (35 mm), every Variani belt is slim enough for most dress trouser loops and substantial enough for denim. More on that in belt width for jeans vs dress pants.
With a suit or dress trousers: black shoes, black belt, simple buckle. Keep the belt tucked through every loop.
With chinos: black works with grey, navy and olive chinos; switch to tan with stone or khaki.
With jeans: anything from dark indigo to light wash. Black boots or sneakers are an easy match.
Fit: the prong should sit in the middle hole, with the tip reaching the first belt loop past the buckle.
05
Why these do not peel
Most black belts are black because they are painted. The paint hides a lower split or bonded leather, and it flakes behind the buckle within a year or two. A Variani black belt is full-grain leather with no painted coating, cut from one piece, so there is nothing on top to peel. Read why leather belts peel or crack for the full story.
Can one black belt work with jeans and dress pants?
Yes, if it is the right width and finish. A smooth black full-grain belt 1 3/8 inch (35 mm) wide with a simple stainless buckle fits most dress trouser loops and still has enough presence for denim.
Which Variani black belt should I buy first?
#VAR007, the best seller, at US$149. If you prefer no decoration at all, #VAR020 is plain black with only the maker's stamp. For the heaviest strap, #VAR012 is 10 oz full-grain.
Will a black leather belt fade?
Full-grain black leather softens and develops a gentle sheen with wear, but it does not peel or flake because there is no painted coating. A light conditioner once or twice a year keeps it rich.
Should a black belt match black shoes?
With tailoring, yes: black belt with black shoes. With jeans, a black belt also works with dark brown boots or sneakers.
What sizes do Variani black belts come in?
Every even waist size from 26 to 58. Measure a belt that fits from where the leather meets the buckle to the hole you use most, or add 2 to your jeans size.
Written by
Bian Variani
Designer and leather artisan. Trained in fashion in London and Milan, dressed clients for black-tie events, then spent years in mechanical engineering and metalwork before turning everything he learned to one object: the belt. He has bought his leather in person from the same Italian tannery for about thirty years and makes every Variani belt by hand in Vancouver. About the atelier
Full-grain Italian leather, cut from one piece by hand in Vancouver. Every even size from 26 to 58, solid stainless steel buckle, free tracked shipping.
