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Men have been wearing belts forever (well, at least as far back as the Bronze Age). Primarily to prevent our trousers from falling down and thus sparing our blushes, but also, more recently, as a signifier of style and even wealth (the ancient Romans used decorative belts to display their social standing).
But when it comes to comfort, the classic leather belt hasn’t won any awards for innovation. How we dress has changed significantly in the last 200 years, but the leather belt? Not so much. So when Arcade Belts burst onto the scene with their performance stretch belts, we took notice.
Finally, the traditional belt was being dragged into the 21st century thanks to innovative sustainable materials and a modern design ethos that complemented every menswear genre, from casual tailoring to contemporary techwear.
Stretch, Comfort and Lightweight
- Arcade Motion belt in brown-nickel
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- Arcade Motion belt in black-black
Arcade’s standout product is the Motion Belt, which we’ve recently been test-driving on everything from cotton chinos and jeans to technical pants and tailored shorts. It’s made from a performance yarn that incorporates natural rubber and polypropylene made from repurposed, post-industrial plastic scrap, resulting in a satin finish and just the right amount of stretch for comfort.
The belt’s so lightweight that you barely notice you’re wearing it, even sitting down. My first outing with the Motion Belt was actually a pretty sedentary day, but unlike with a chunky leather belt that would feel restrictive, I forgot I was even wearing the Motion.
Purposeful Engineering
Everything about the belt has been designed for comfort, including the buckle, which has been purposefully engineered to be lightweight and durable. Its lo-fi profile won’t ruin your silhouette when you wear knitwear or an untucked top, and it closes with a satisfying click.
On one of the days, I wore the belt with wide-leg khaki chinos and a slim, knitted sleeveless sweater over a white tee. Where a bigger buckle would have filled out the jumper at just the wrong place, the Motion Belt went completely unnoticed. I also like to wear my casual pants low-slung, which suits the Motion Belt because it doesn’t unnecessarily weigh my pants down.
The belt can be easily modified to fit thanks to a micro-adjustable clasp, which is, as anyone who has ever tried to punch a hole into a leather belt will testify, a godsend. What’s more, the belt is machine washable, so no matter what you get up to in it, you can bring it back to ‘as new’ condition.
Less is More Style
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- Arcade Motion belt in black-nickel, charcoal-gunmetal, brown-nickel and black-black.
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- Arcade Motion belt in black-nickel, charcoal-gunmetal, black-black and brown-nickel.
So, if the technical credentials check out, how about the style ones, you might ask? From a design point of view, the Motion Belt follows the principle of ‘less is more’, with a minimalist aesthetic that lends it a tonne of versatility.
The charcoal and gunmetal style I tried was adept at pairing with everything from black technical pants to khaki chinos. Curious to know if it would work with tailoring, I wore it with a charcoal grey suit and cream fine-gauge crew neck for a day in the office, and it didn’t disappoint, offering a modern edge to the ensemble.
That said, it’s definitely more at home in a casualwear wardrobe, especially if your daily life demands that you’re active, always on the move, sat down all day, or like the occasional 10-course tasting menu! The Motion Belt is a game-changer for active people who like to dress casually and don’t want to compromise on either comfort or style.
Availability
The new Arcade Motion Belt is available at arcadebelts.com and select retailers. It is available in four colorways: black, black-nickel, brown-nickel, and charcoal-gunmetal. The MSRP is $54.95.
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