How to put on a belt?

[Major-Tom]

Right handed, clockwise, I suppose. Never thought about this.

[Nouveau Quebecois]

Over the right shoulder.

Over both shoulders.

[Neanderthaland]

Over the right shoulder.

Over both shoulders.

If Mad Max has taught me anything, it's that there's no such thing as too many belts as we approach the apocalypse.

[New haven america]

Unless you actually need to be wearing a belt you should not wear a belt because belts are useless and needless obstructions.

[Narland]

Belts. They're long narrow strips of material, often made of leather, that wrap around the waist and clasp together in the front to complete the loop. When utilized correctly, belts help you keep your pants on your person, and avoid inadvertently displaying any undergarments or pieces of your anatomy that your pants normally conceal. Truly, belts are a staple of any pants-wearing society. (Some of us tried allowing our pants to start falling off, or sagging, circa 2010, but we've mostly come back to our senses as a society since then).

Now my question for you, oh wise belt wearers of NSG, stems from an encounter I had with my elderly grandfather. He, unfortunately, suffers from dementia, and he required assistance putting his belt on. My father and I both came to help, but being young and spry as I am, I arrived first. I began putting my grandfather's belt on just as I would my own belt: through the first loop to the right of the pants button, around his right hip, back behind, over to the left hip, and back to the front, essentially in a clockwise direction around his waist.

This perplexed my father greatly, who claimed that since my grandfather is right-handed, that his belt should start from his left side and loop around in a counter-clockwise direction. But I protested, because I also am right-handed, and have always gone clockwise.

So, NSG, although wearing pants is optional when posting to the forums, I come to you, trusting you to resolve this dispute between my father and I: What is the correct way to put on your belt?

***What Narland was taught Hygiene class (the part about dressing oneself) at grammar school***
Appx 90% of the population are right-handed (counter-clockwise top looking down). Putting on accessories right handed (counter-clockwise) shows that you did it yourself. Tying knots, bows, putting on belts (things that have chirality) are an indicator of if you are capable enough to dress yourself. As a leftie, I was kind of put off by this, and had to be told to put my belt on "proper" -- threading my belt right-handedly.
-----
I grew up on a ranch as a cowboy, and we wear relatively thick and wide belts, and do contorting labor. The cured leather stretches unevenly to the grain. We were taught to regularly change the chirality of the belt so the belt would wear (stretch) evenly. Blue jeans and a work belt were to be treated different than slacks and a dress belt which one changed into (after working hours or) especially when going into town. When wearing one's best work (cowboy) clothes at the Rodeo, the belt buckle (for show, a pancake size Silver Dollar) would be upside down if put on left-handed, so we would put it on right handed on that occasion. (But since a Cowboy belt can unsnap to put on a different buckle (even upside down if one desired), I suppose it shouldn't have mattered.)

Your father made an astute observation that is no longer taught as a matter of course in the public schools. Threading the belt with right handed chirality to the viewpoint of the wearer allows him the dignity of the appearance of being able to dress oneself. Contemporary society may not notice, but the WW2 generation will notice.

[Nouveau Quebecois]

Unless you actually need to be wearing a belt you should not wear a belt because belts are useless.

are you talking from experience

[Purpelia]

You do also need to wash or dry clean pants occasionally too?!

It occurs, true.

[Kathol Rift]

***What Narland was taught Hygiene class (the part about dressing oneself) at grammar school***
Appx 90% of the population are right-handed. Putting on accessories right handed shows that you did it yourself. Tying knots, bows, putting on belts (things that have chirality) are an indicator of if you are capable enough to dress yourself. As a leftie, I was kind of put off by this, and had to be told to put my belt on "proper" -- threading my belt right-handedly.
-----
I grew up on a ranch as a cowboy, and we wear relatively thick and wide belts, and do contorting labor. The cured leather stretches unevenly to the grain. We were taught to regularly change the chirality of the belt so the belt would wear (stretch) evenly. Blue jeans and a work belt were to be treated different than slacks and a dress belt which one changed into (after working hours or) especially when going into town. When wearing one's best work (cowboy) clothes at the Rodeo, the belt buckle (for show, a pancake size Silver Dollar) would be upside down if put on left-handed, so we would put it on right handed on that occasion. (But since a Cowboy belt can unsnap to put on a different buckle (even upside down if one desired), I suppose it shouldn't have mattered.)

Your father made an astute observation that is no longer taught as a matter of course in the public schools. Threading the belt with right handed chirality to the viewpoint of the wearer allows him the dignity of the appearance of being able to dress himself. Contemporary society may not notice, but the WW2 generation will notice.

Ah, a fellow cowboy.
I really have nothing else to add to this, I just wanted to acknowledge a fellow cowboy.

[Elgomeria v2]

I'm a lefty and I put a belt on clockwise

[Narland]

***What Narland was taught Hygiene class (the part about dressing oneself) at grammar school***
Appx 90% of the population are right-handed. Putting on accessories right handed shows that you did it yourself. Tying knots, bows, putting on belts (things that have chirality) are an indicator of if you are capable enough to dress yourself. As a leftie, I was kind of put off by this, and had to be told to put my belt on "proper" -- threading my belt right-handedly.
-----
I grew up on a ranch as a cowboy, and we wear relatively thick and wide belts, and do contorting labor. The cured leather stretches unevenly to the grain. We were taught to regularly change the chirality of the belt so the belt would wear (stretch) evenly. Blue jeans and a work belt were to be treated different than slacks and a dress belt which one changed into (after working hours or) especially when going into town. When wearing one's best work (cowboy) clothes at the Rodeo, the belt buckle (for show, a pancake size Silver Dollar) would be upside down if put on left-handed, so we would put it on right handed on that occasion. (But since a Cowboy belt can unsnap to put on a different buckle (even upside down if one desired), I suppose it shouldn't have mattered.)

Your father made an astute observation that is no longer taught as a matter of course in the public schools. Threading the belt with right handed chirality to the viewpoint of the wearer allows him the dignity of the appearance of being able to dress himself. Contemporary society may not notice, but the WW2 generation will notice.

Ah, a fellow cowboy.
I really have nothing else to add to this, I just wanted to acknowledge a fellow cowboy.

Thank you.
May you never have to tighten your belt in another notch while waiting for the next auction; and may you find a woman who recognizes you for who you are, not just for your horse.

[Albrenia]

Head-first.

[Cekoviu]

Ah, a fellow cowboy.
I really have nothing else to add to this, I just wanted to acknowledge a fellow cowboy.

Thank you.
May you never have to tighten your belt in another notch while waiting for the next auction; and may you find a woman who recognizes you for who you are, not just for your horse.

Is that a euphemism?

[Narland]

Thank you.
May you never have to tighten your belt in another notch while waiting for the next auction; and may you find a woman who recognizes you for who you are, not just for your horse.

Is that a euphemism?

Just a toast (technically, two toasts) -- one that he may not go hungry until the cattle get to auction. Cattle, cattle everywhere and not a steak to eat! And the other one for personal happiness. Having a female friend because she likes it that you have horses, is one thing, but having a woman who loves you for who you are is all the difference.

[Treadwellia]

Right-handed. . . counter-clockwise.

[Kathol Rift]

Is that a euphemism?

Just a toast (technically, two toasts) -- one that he may not go hungry until the cattle get to auction. Cattle, cattle everywhere and not a steak to eat! And the other one for personal happiness. Having a female friend because she likes it that you have horses, is one thing, but having a woman who loves you for who you are is all the difference.

And I do greatly appreciate those toasts. Thank you.

[Thermodolia]

Counter clockwise is how I’ve always done it.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

I thought you'd all gone mad. Then I realized I'd clicked on the wrong thread!

To the left first I guess. I think my dad taught me that way and I've never considered doing it the other way.
(Counter-clockwise as per poll)

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Unless you actually need to be wearing a belt you should not wear a belt because belts are useless and needless obstructions.

Ah, a braces man.

[Pax Nerdvana]

I rarely wear them, but when I do, I just make sure the buckle is right side up and facing out. I've never really paid attention to how I do it. I'm a rightie, and I think I put it on counter clockwise, but I'm not sure.

[UniversalCommons]

After you put it on your forehead, you take another one and loop it under your left armpit and over your right shoulder, then hang things from it.

[Albrenia]

After you put it on your forehead, you take another one and loop it under your left armpit and over your right shoulder, then hang things from it.

Finally another person who understands.

[Pax Nerdvana]

After you put it on your forehead, you take another one and loop it under your left armpit and over your right shoulder, then hang things from it.

I thought you were supposed to strap one belt around each ankle and put holsters on them.

[Forsher]

Being essentially anti-trousers, I rarely use a belt. When I do, I go clockwise. Although, usually, I put the belt on the trousers, roll the trousers up and change later on in order to minimise the time wearing the, incredibly impractical, trousers.

Now, in principle, there are lots of shorts that are designed to be worn with trousers, but these are typically more expensive than the old elastic waistband requirement and so...

n.b. Forsher lives in a mild climate that tends to alternate between sunny and wet (think London but full of hills, much much wetter and much much sunnier... so nothing like London at all). Trousers thus have a tendency to induce overheating and wet legs in the same day. I am not particularly successful at convincing people of the folly of trousers, but they agree that wet legs are a worthy enemy.

[Nobel Hobos 2]

Being essentially anti-trousers, I rarely use a belt. When I do, I go clockwise. Although, usually, I put the belt on the trousers, roll the trousers up and change later on in order to minimise the time wearing the, incredibly impractical, trousers.

Now, in principle, there are lots of shorts that are designed to be worn with trousers, but these are typically more expensive than the old elastic waistband requirement and so...

n.b. Forsher lives in a mild climate that tends to alternate between sunny and wet (think London but full of hills, much much wetter and much much sunnier... so nothing like London at all). Trousers thus have a tendency to induce overheating and wet legs in the same day. I am not particularly successful at convincing people of the folly of trousers, but they agree that wet legs are a worthy enemy.

When your legs grow ugly you'll discover the joy of trousers. At least I hope.

[New haven america]

Unless you actually need to be wearing a belt you should not wear a belt because belts are useless and needless obstructions.

Ah, a braces man.

If you're wearing properly fitted pants then you shouldn't need a belt because the pants aren't gonna fall down.

Now, if you have pairs of pants that don't fit, then a belt and is doing its job, but if the pants are properly fitted then the belt is just being pretentious staying in a place where it doesn't belong.