A Good Time for Belts
By Karen Giberson
The waist is back. Belts are suddenly everywhere. But this revival isn’t being driven by fashion alone. As American bodies change, fashion and function are colliding — and an often-overlooked accessories category is having a very good moment.
For years, the belt was one of fashion’s quieter accessories. It held up a pair of pants, defined the waist of a dress and maybe matched the shoes. Useful? Absolutely. Exciting? Not always.
That has changed.
Today, belts are impossible to miss. Oversized buckles, chains, Western influences, decorative hardware, fringe and suede are all in the mix, while belts are layered over jackets, sweaters and dresses, worn low on the hips or cinched at the waist. Scarves and charms are joining in, too. The belt has become jewelry for the body — and increasingly, the piece that pulls a look together. It’s a very good time to be in the belt business.