I ordered a belt that is one size larger than the standard waist measurement. Turned out to be the perfect choice. HARD leather belt with beautiful stitching, either black or brown facing outwards. The leather was thicker than I expected and the belt is quite stiff but like any leather it will soften with use and in the end a dress belt is designed to stand up and look good in the belt loops! Buckle a little lighter than I was hoping for , largely due to the thickness of the leather, but it looks good, pivots, retracts against a spring, and locks securely in place. The size (width) of the belt is RIGHT for the loose dress as it fills the belt loops but does not require the belt to be slipped through the loops. EXACTLY what I wanted. If you want "FLASH" then look elsewhere. If you like nice practical everyday belts, then this is your choice.