Cotton summer suit and button-down shirt by Michael Andrews Bespoke (custom made). Pocket square is a restaurant napkin. Photography by Clark Shaw.
If you’ve read a men’s fashion publication in the past year, you know that the beltless look is in. A clean waistband, especially on a suit, is sleek, modern and most importantly, creates the illusion of verticality which can make you look taller and slimmer (which the majority of us men could use).
A belt is a great accessory to add an interesting element to an outfit, but sometimes less is more – minimalism is refreshing.
Going beltless, however, is not as easy as simply leaving your belt at home – it looks a little goofy walking around with useless empty belt loops on your waistband. Instead, your pants should be engineered so there is still a system in place to hold them up, enter: side adjusters.
Trousers with adjusters can be a little hard to find. If you’re not in the market for custom pants, a really good tailor can create adjusters out of the excess fabric under the hem. Or, if you’re the creative type, you could head to the fabric store and have your expert tailor create them from any complimentary fabric. Don’t forget to have the belt loops removed.
In addition, a hook-and-eye extender tab at the front will optimize the clean waistband look.
The best part is, you save time getting dressed in the morning and no more searching for the perfect belt for those tough-to-match shoes.
Thanks for reading.
Yours in style,
SB
I recently saw a black Polo suit by Ralph Lauren at Marshalls and in my size, which is a 40L, it’s a single breasted with wide notched lapels, has three jacket pockets,one is a ticket pocket, all three are on a slant, the coat is fitted and is made in Italy. I think the normal price of the suit is approximately $1,600.00 Marshall is selling the suit for $500.00
I like Polo suits and have two MTM black labels that I ordered from Saks several years ago.
My concern is the wide lapel and slanted pockets on the jacket forgot to mention the pants are flat front. Is this an older model suit or are newer suit lapels becoming wider. I really like the suit and it fits really well. Several gentle commented on how well the suit looked on me. Is this style considered to be continental?
Can you provide some insight on the wide lapel and slanted jacket pockets.
PS. would this be a black label suit. I asked that the suit be held for 24 hours so I have to go back to the store today.
Thanking you in advance for your advice. Irv
So cool ! It’s good content I like your site.
I’ve been thinking about trying out a suit with side tabbed trousers recently, and this cinches it! Also thinking of having buttons sewn inside the waistband for braces whenever I feel like it.
I think my favorite part of this is the restaurant napkin pocket square.
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – 03:44 PM
Mirror Mirror…Who Is the Greatest of All!!!
Handsome Bloke He is.
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – 03:46 PM
Why not just use suspenders?
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – 07:09 PM
I still find a nice belt adds class and character lol
Gmoney
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – 09:37 PM
Just kidding lol GOOD LOOK BRO!!
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – 09:42 PM
Does MAB offer alterations to outside garments that you bring in? For example, creating working cuffs? Or do they only offer that as a custom option on their own line of suits and VIPs?
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – 11:11 PM
I love the shot of the belts in the garbage can! I actually didn’t even know about these side adjusters!
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Wednesday, June 9, 2010 – 11:59 PM
you also need a flat stomach for the beltless look which disqualifies most of us.
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 12:12 AM
I think that side adjusters are a pretty cool alternative to belts or suspenders, and not one I’ve tried much except on a slightly older pair of Armanis. Great tips here for putting them on to an existing pair of pants. As for whether they are only for a flat stomach or not, I’d say you can get away with them if you’ve got a dozen extra pounds, but if you’ve got a lot more heft in your middle then you’re probably best off with suspenders to get the beltless look.
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 12:21 AM
Agreed on the fact, that the beltless look is much better without the belt holes.
Great work as usual.
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 12:26 AM
Good tip. About to get my second custom suit made and wanted to go for the beltless look this time. Now I know exactly what to ask for.
Question: Does this style look fine with 3 piece suits as well?
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 03:26 AM
it`s true.I think the beltless look is very good proposition for summer, more “light” look. I never like wear belt.
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 06:50 AM
I dont know… I think i still like a belt for all my pants. it still looks incomplete to me. Like, where is your belt?
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 09:32 AM
Hey Sb,
I feel like this is especially a great look for the summer and early fall. Do you know of any designers that have this style of pant as a staple in the collect or is it hit or miss?
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 02:18 PM
collection* (minor typing error).
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 02:19 PM
Your pants are too wrinkled, almost as if they were linen. This makes your suit more informal than it already is. I have a suit like yours and I always battle with those wrinkles in cotton.
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Thursday, June 10, 2010 – 08:01 PM
Good point about wrinkles.
Shoulders look too wide…and perhaps a little less shoulder padding.
Shouldn’t armhole be higher?
Sleeves looks too wide.
You say custom suit, area around pocket square looks a bit crumpled…is it a fused suit?
Otherwise, I love the look.
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Friday, June 11, 2010 – 08:52 AM
Cotton suits do wrinkle more than wool it could probably use a press but doubt he cares. Otherwise i think we are breaking down the suit a little too much, considering the posture/stance he is in the picture. A structured cotton jacket is always going to show wrinkles an come off the body in that position. Question (for SB) is there a way to stop a pocket square from bunching up the breast pocket area? even when i fold mine flat it can still be “seen”. thank you and keep it coming!
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Friday, June 11, 2010 – 11:22 AM
LET ME GET A PHOTO CREDIT!
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Friday, June 11, 2010 – 04:48 PM
duh,
I remember reading a tip about keeping the pocket square perky from Sb’s original blog. Here is the link I think will help with you problem http://mensstyleblog.blogspot.com/2009/10/tip-of-day-perky-pocket.html
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Friday, June 11, 2010 – 10:32 PM
Going beltless is a smart look when wearing your pants at the waist (which is the way pants are intended to be worn, and as SB seems to be doing in this photo) instead of at the hips. The belt makes the pants top-heavy and tends to give you that “grandpa” look of wearing your pants up to your armpits. You can avoid it by wearing a belt that matches your shirt color, but then you have to match your shoes (and wristwatch strap, and briefcase…).
Suspenders are tacky.
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Saturday, June 12, 2010 – 02:48 PM
Hi Dan loving the blog. greetings from Dublin Ireland! personally i dont like the adjusters on a trsouser as most rental suit shops use these. i dont tink u can beat the look of a slim leather belt with understated buckle.
Keep up the good work tho!!
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Thursday, August 12, 2010 – 04:17 AM
Most vintage suits have the side adjusters, not sure why they ceased adding them really?
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Sunday, August 22, 2010 – 05:56 AM