Please Sir, I Want Some More… Belt Loops

Belt loops shouldn’t really require their own article. Maybe you haven’t really given it much thought either, but I’d like to help steer you in a direction where you are more likely to enjoy your pants and feel more handsome wearing them.

Unfortunately, I have found that the number of belt loops on a pair of pants is one of the major deal-breakers for me. I realized this only recently when I discovered the two pairs of jeans I bought back in 2012 were starting to wear out and a refresh felt justifiable.

Those two pairs of jeans were purchased from Eddie Bauer and had seven belt loops (two in front, two on the sides, two on the back just above your butt pockets, and one directly in the center back). When I set out to buy some new jeans I found almost all of them from practically every manufacturer had only five belt loops (missing the two above your butt pockets).

This doesn’t seem like that big of a deal. However, the problem with only having five belt loops is that there isn’t sufficient support, so the waistband will sag under your belt between the side belt loops and the center back belt loop. There’s just too much distance between the loops where the belt isn’t attached to anything.

Surprisingly, I couldn’t find any Google Images of this phenomenon. I find it surprising because now that I have taken note of it, I see it everywhere.

This is what I mean… Seven Belt Loops (below). Notice how the two extra loops secure the belt so that the waistband of the pants stays up.

Five Belt Loops (below). Notice the waistband of the pants slipping below the belt.

This gets very uncomfortable very quickly. And frankly, it just looks sloppy. But I see it on so many people, regardless of body type.

I am not sure why it’s so difficult now to find jeans (or any pants for that matter) with seven belt loops. L.L. Bean has some (their Double L line). But Gap, Levi’s, Eddie Bauer, Lands’ End, Brooks Brothers, and others all show five loops (on waist sizes under 38 inches, anyway).

I imagine it has to do with costs. Why add the extra fabric if people don’t care?

Well, I am encouraging you to care. Why are we settling for droopy, saggy pants? It’s not flattering and all it takes are those two extra little strips of denim.

So from now on, when you set out on a journey for some new pants, opt for the clean look of seven belt loops.

You deserve it.