Our Favourite Belts Right Now

I used to view belts as purely functional – the accessory you reached for when you needed something to keep your trousers up. Purchasing a stiff, shiny budget-option belt for an interview eight years ago changed my opinion somewhat. Every time I sat down, it creaked. Not squeaked – creaked. The woman interviewing me for a job obviously heard it. Belts were never an afterthought to me again.
A belt serves two purposes – keeping your clothes up, but also telling anyone who looks that you put as much thought into the rest of your outfit as that belt. A good belt feels weighty. Real leather that’s been allowed to breathe and soften rather than vinyl trying to pass itself off. Buckle that doesn’t look like it will crunch if you sat on it, drop it, or tug it through its loop vigorously. Belt width matters more than most realise.

Slim belts holding up tailored trousers speak to a different audience than thick belts cinched over coats, and knowing when to wear which is half the battle.
Style-wise however, treat your belt less like a functional afterthought and more like the detail that finishes the outfit. Belted over a shirt dress and suddenly there’s shape where there wasn’t any. Belted at the waist of an oversized coat and you’ve taken something shapeless and made it look intentional. My sister did this with one of my old wool coats and I’d never seen her look more put together wearing it. Threaded through those wide-leg trousers with a plain tee? Now the belt is the only detail, so it needs to be loud enough to do its job. Think extra buckle, extra width, extra presence.

Occasions? Belts are one of those accessories that can go anywhere. A nice leather belt can take you from the office to dinner, pick something a touch dressier and you can wear your jeans and suddenly you’re looking good enough to be SMART CASUAL with minimal effort. Weddings? Nine times out of ten the belt holding your dress together is going to be more important than the dress itself. Trust me. If it feels weighty in your hands, you know it’s going to feel weighty around your waist. Buy it. You’ll wear it.