Too often belts are a serious business that must meet the daily requirements of understatement, sobriety, or at least a degree of conformity. The good thing is that when you sit back and take a look, there are many occasions when you can loosen up your wardrobe choices, put away the earth tones, and have some sartorial fun.
ntandy makes great belts for those times. Especially in the warmth of summer, these colorful and simply designed belts add some unmistakable personality while still holding up your pants. The great thing about them, at least from an OTC perspective, is that they happily straddle the line between outright fun and preppy functionality.
While they clearly reference a purposeful and utilitarian past, they also are just plain cool belts that speak to founder Napper Tandy’s laid back California lifestyle. It’s like Ivy League guy meets surfer dude, and they totally get along.
The belts come in five colors and are all made from old-school nylon board short material wrapped around 1000 pound test nylon climbing webbing. The simple contrast stitching adds just the right amount of vintage charm.
As Napper describes his belts, “I like to think they’re aesthetically part Birdwell Beach Britches, part 70’s Patagonia with a little nip off the flask of the old prep school ribbon belt”
Worn traditionally, the belt’s loose end hides ntandy’s cool minimalist label. However, Napper’s got you covered; click here to learn the “triple fold” and let your inner preppy beach bum shine.
Seriously, we test out all sorts of stuff here at OTC and without question, this simple, fun, functional, and plain old cool belt is a hands-down favorite.
Just one question before I go pick up some of these to add to my wardrobe… what kind of metal is used on the link?
I am forever having to replace or re-locate my belts due to them being stolen by the wife, or they just break from being bent one too many times, but I have this silly metal intolerance unless it is stainless steel, tungsten, titanium… you get the idea.
Before I jump in and get one, was just curious to see if you already knew the answer for me.
I like the look of these- without sounding too condescending they’ve got a childlike, relaxed image that many of us blokes can easily get away with. We’ve always been able to add that “fun” element into what we do.
Brett, I believe the buckle is made from nickel coated brass.
Aaron, I understand your point completely. These belts are relaxed and fun, but also have a technical, functional quality that works very well with a casual outfit.