Wearing a belt is an unspoken rule for formal wear and jeans ensembles. There are times that rule should be challenged and broken.
Three times wearing a belt harms you more than it helps you.
Date
Skip the belt any time when it comes to going on a date. This does not mean that you shouldn't wear dress shirts, formal pants and formal shoes. On the contrary, rocking a formal look without a belt lends you an air of confidence.
Put together, but open to trying other things, gives bonus points on a date.
It also widens the base for shoe options. You can wear sneakers, suedes or stick to the dress shoes.
You can easily untuck your shirt if the night progresses wonderfully without having the belt showing through the fabric. Do this for both fitting pants and loose-fitting pants.
Moreover, a belt will look sloppy in loose-fitting pants. Like it is supposed to hold them up but is not doing a good job.
Wedding
The same thing applies to weddings. Opt for suspenders or nothing at all. Tuxedos and some tailored suits render belts useless, but if you are looking to rock in pants with belt-hoops, simply iron well and skip the belt.
Tuck in the shirt loosely so that it falls around the waist line casually.
When it comes around time to dance, toasts and all the other activities, simply untuck your shirt and drape the coat or jacket over your shoulder.
Family time
Jeans and belts are a classic. It is very hard to find jeans without belt loops. However, there are jeans that are intentionally made loose-fitting. These are the ones when a belt is used, look strangled and plain fashion police arrest warranty.
The all-american look of lumberjacks wearing boots, flannel, undershirt and jeans is completed with a brown textured belt.
It has a "working man" feel which makes sense because jeans were originally made for that man. Today, the options of accessorising jeans for any casual hangout are many.
A belt, however, should rarely be an option. Especially if a coat or jacket is not involved.
The difference between a weekend working man and a family-time, relaxing working man is only a belt throw away.
If you choose to tuck in your shirt or t-shirt, put more effort in your shoe choice to complement the vacant belt loops.
Takeaway
Depending on style, wearing a belt is very subjective. However, there are different versions of masculinity it displays at different times when it is worn and when it is left out.
That's the tricky part but what also affords mens wear, that is usually restrictive, more room to become 'more'.