# Guys wearing their belt buckle off-center **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 10, 2011, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688 "2011-12-10T01:50:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2020, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/81 "2020-02-29T02:12:43Z")
I stopped wearing a belt back in August of '15… I kept reading this thread, and I started to worry that people were staring at my belt. (Oh, and I too remember the Trying To Be Cool Guys in middle school wearing their belt buckle to the side… for some reason they wore tan corduroy pants… and they did play guitar and work on cars) ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2020, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/82 "2020-02-29T02:50:45Z")
What a weird and wonderful little thread! However, it was really interesting to me to see that **beltman** grew up in Culver City at about the same time as I did. I was a bit closer to MGM, though. I lived about 2 and a half blocks south of the Thalberg Building. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2020, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/83 "2020-02-29T18:13:23Z")
Funny how stuff lurks in the back corners of a brain. There was a short-lived TV show in 1995 called _Double Rush_ starring Robert Pastoreli\* as a former musician turned manager of a New York City bicycle messenger service. Amazingly cruddy [YouTube copy of the show’s pilot.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmWmTCx9-6I) Robert comes out of the office at about 1:15. Bright pink shirt and belt buckle over his left pants pocket…hard to miss even with the fuzz and blur. - Probably better known for his role as _Murphy Brown’s_ cranky house painter, Eldin. ---
**Author:** ![LLCoolL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/llcooll/32/3596_2.png) [@LLCoolL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LLCoolL)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/84 "2020-03-01T23:01:37Z")
> [@Omar\_Little](#): > > I’m from the future. In year 3 of the zombie apocalypse, most of the clothes have worn off all of the zombies. I was able to make my way to New Mexico from Texas, and take advantage of the North American time machine to travel back to the 1980’s. I’ve been here for the last 30 some odd years. Much better than what awaits humanity in the future. How much time have we got? C’mon, give it to us straight… ---
**Author:** ![Moris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moris/32/2846_2.png) [@Moris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moris)\ **Post date:** [March 1, 2020, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/85 "2020-03-01T23:16:55Z")
Somewhat off topic, this reminded me of automotive trend in Europe in the 80s (particularly some French cars, such are Renaults and Citroens) sporting their emblems off-center on the grille. [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Renault\_21\_front\_20071031.jpg](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/Renault_21_front_20071031.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![beltman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@beltman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beltman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/86 "2020-03-06T00:25:39Z")
REPLY TO Beckdawrek It’s good to know there is some interest in this subject, which is a favorite of mine. My link to the photo worked okay when I tested it in my Yahoo Email environment, but when I posted it on Straight Dope, the message board apparently altered the link, causing it to fail. I’ve posted a fair number of photos on another forum without any problems. I generally locate the photo using Yahoo’s Search. Then, I do a right-click “copy image address”, which I then paste on the forum. If anyone thinks they can help me, I’ll be glad to Email them my link to the Jan-Michael Vincent photo. I’m interested in solving this problem as I’ve gathered together a number of photos from the Internet of guys wearing their belt buckle off-center, which may be of interest to some subscribers to this thread. I don’t want to turn this thread into a photo swap site, but I thought it might stimulate some discussion of this topic. ---
**Author:** ![FJRQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/82dd89/32.png) [@FJRQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FJRQ)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/87 "2020-03-06T00:28:04Z")
I wear my belt off center, only because don’t like the excess belt strap just hanging so, I slide the belt over so the excess fits in belt loop. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/88 "2020-03-06T00:33:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I tend to line the right side of mine up with the zipper line, which is a holdover from my military career, where that was required. This. It’s been over 20 years since I was in, and I STILL get a physical anxiety reaction when I see an improperly aligned belt buckle. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/89 "2020-03-06T02:00:22Z")
> [@Inigo Montoya](#): > > This. It’s been over 20 years since I was in, and I STILL get a physical anxiety reaction when I see an improperly aligned belt buckle. I’ve never been in the service, but I can appreciate a proper gig line. I’ve actually had people ask what branch I was in, based on how I was dressed. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/90 "2020-03-06T04:27:06Z")
I recall wearing my buckle off-center when I was young and foolish. Now I’m old and foolish, but not so much as to devote hours to researching old videos for buckle locations. In the Army I was told not to wear shiny buckles or cap insignia because those provide aiming points for snipers. So the best buckle location is probably on one hip. ---
**Author:** ![beltman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@beltman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beltman)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/91 "2020-03-06T23:18:53Z")
Reply to carrps Well, it is indeed a small world! One slight correction. Technically, I grew up in the city of Los Angeles, about halfway between Marina Del Rey (which was a dairy farm then) and downtown Culver City, in an area called South Mar Vista. I went to Venice High School, which was the location for the movie “Grease”. Interestingly, in that movie, the actor Jeff Conaway wore a heavy leather jacket, blue jeans, and a wide black garrison belt with its large rectangular buckle worn on his left side. If you do a Google Image Search on “jeff conaway and john travolta”, you’ll find a photo of Jeff Conaway attired as described. He appeared “so cool” (read macho). Did you ever wear your belt buckle to the side or have any interesting thoughts about guys who did? ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/92 "2023-02-18T21:36:53Z")
I came across the photo below and remembered this thread: ![781 votes and 59 comments so far on Reddit](https://preview.redd.it/9pgsscx6o0ja1.jpg?auto=webp&v=enabled&s=ce4028a628a1509411aa37f0e5b22fa4e52ddaff) Link with comments: [My dad & his pals, 1950’s in St Johnsbury VT : OldSchoolCool](https://old.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/115jcu3/my_dad_his_pals_1950s_in_st_johnsbury_vt/) ---
**Author:** ![Latimera](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/latimera/32/497_2.png) [@Latimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Latimera)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/93 "2023-02-18T21:55:14Z")
Great photo! I have worn my belt buckle to the side for a good 40 years. The funny thing is how rarely anyone notices. I have had people that have known me for many years ask me why I started wearing my belt that way. They are surprised when I tell them it isn’t something new… ---
**Author:** ![Retzbu\_Tox](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/retzbu_tox/32/11829_2.png) [@Retzbu\_Tox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Retzbu_Tox)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2023, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/94 "2023-02-18T22:49:20Z")
My dad was a teen in the 1950s and was heavily into cars and motorcycles. He later worked for decades as a mechanic. However, I never saw him wear his buckle off-center. Instead, he wore a smooth leather-covered belt buckle to avoid scratching the paint on vehicles. I inherited a batch of his tools a couple years ago, and found that buckle in the toolbox. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2026, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/95 "2026-07-09T02:26:51Z")
Just saw this discussion on Facebook, reminded me of this thread. > **[Celebrating The Dick Van Dyke Show | Was it a style choice back in the day to...](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1949701288523449/permalink/3531032487056980/?rdid=j8iVVEgyo1rq7UQV&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2Fp%2F1EXtATEf7K%2F)** > > Was it a style choice back in the day to not have your belt buckle in front? It looks too tight to have drifted over accidentally. This is from “Sally is a Girl” but I have noticed it in other... ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2026, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688/96 "2026-07-17T14:07:22Z")
> [@mbh](#): > > I have done this on occasion. Usually when I have a belt that is way too long, and I [del]am too lazy to[/del] have not had a chance to trim it. If I center the buckle, the tip ends up poking out at an awkward place. If I put the buckle off-center, the tip ends up underneath one of the belt loops, and stays put. This is exactly what I was going to post. Didn’t realize this was such a multi-zombie, though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/guys-wearing-their-belt-buckle-off-center/605688.md?page=4)