I feel guilty even saying this, but I used to think that belts were a waste of money. Until two years ago, my entire belt collection consisted of one ancient black leather number that I found in my childhood dressing-up box, with extra holes punched to accommodate its myriad previous owners. Why would I want to cinch anything, I would think dismissively, when a tiny teenage waist was as much of a given as a furrowless brow. Belts are for old ladies.
Well, former self, let me tell you this: it is not old ladies who cinch things, but clever ones. Using a belt has been my most transformative sartorial discovery. I have come to realise that accessories are not just the icing on the cake, but the baking powder of the entire look. In the same way that a fantastic bag can make an outfit look expensive, a carefully chosen belt can elevate a bog-standard outfit to excellent.
The benevolence of the belt lies in two key features. First, it has the ability to transform a shapeless sack into a flattering, waisted dress. Remember the pillow case you wore as an angel in your nativity play? Instantly covetable when cinched with a piece of rope — and there was born a lesson for life. Second, it instantly turns an outfit from mundane to marvellous. Style’s head of fashion, Claudia, upscales her long-line sweater and midi skirt with a skinny patent crocodile Hermès belt, which she has owned for 10 years and has no intention of relinquishing (H&M does a faux-leather snakeskin version for a pleasing £5).
That’s the thing about a great belt; they’re worth spending the shekels on because they don’t date and they stay immaculate. I still wear that old one I found in the dressing-up box. Unlike shoes, which scuff, or silk blouses, which go mardy around the pits, it’s nigh on impossible to ruin a belt. They may outlast trends, but you should capitalise on the current season’s generous spread of belts and replenish your stock.
“Accessories are not just the icing on the cake, but the baking powder of the entire look
Remember, belts — like people — come in all shapes and sizes, and serve very different purposes. For daytime, a fabric belt is brilliant worn high on the waist over a padded jacket or tweed blazer (leave the button undone). My Isabel Marant Etoile woven belt (£55) comes in useful whatever the season.
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The logo belt meanders in and out of fashion, but there’s no denying that Gucci’s interlocking Gs always look pretty fabulous with straight-leg jeans and a plain knit. If you find the Gs too much, the fashion blogger Lucy Williams recommends Frame Denim, which has the perfect circular-buckle belt, in black, cognac or ecru leather (£150; net-a-porter.com). “I live in low-key staples, and this never fails to tie together simple pieces,” she says. For those on a budget, Topshop has a near-identical black belt for £24. Equally proficient at zhuzhing up an all-black outfit is a leopard-print belt, such as the skinny faux-suede version by M&S Collection (£9.50).
For the evening, try a gold chain belt over an LBD (very vintage Liz Hurley). I have and love one by Asos, which is still in stock for £30, while Rosantica has multistrand gold and pearl ones worthy of their own velvet-lined tray. A skinny belt with a gem fastener is also pretty — Uterqüe has some expensive-looking ones for £60. I dream of Lanvin’s bicoloured tasselled cord belt (£380) to add a slice of colour to a black jumpsuit. Or do as Balmain does and cinch a tunic over wide-leg trousers with a dramatic obi belt such as Mango’s suede offering (£30).
Joyfully, unlike a fedora or a pair of leather gloves, the belt is relevant all year round. Moving into the summer months, if you’ve succumbed to this season’s penchant for a slip dress, then a soft braided belt, such as Saint Laurent’s nutmeg one (£235), is just the ticket. It will also work well with your summer-holiday denim cut-offs and a ribbed vest.
For the blogger Camille Charrière, a belt takes on the guise of, if not life-saver, then outfit-saver: “[They] are the only thing that give definition to my otherwise boxy outfits. My favourite Acne Studios belt has a built-in silver hoop so you can tuck the end as if it’s been folded over. It gives the simplest of outfits a high-fashion twist.”
For the bold, why play it safe? The designer women’s wear buyer at Selfridges, Katie Rowland, craves one of the harness- and belt-maker Zana Bayne’s architectural belts, to wear with high-waisted black jeans and a simple white tee.
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In my history of belt-buying, last week was the most triumphant. I secured a pristine white leather waist-cincher from Céline that fastens at the front with three tiny gold claws. It cost just £80 from the preowned-fashion website Vestiaire Collective (new, it would have cost up to £600) and came in a little red Céline box. Carefully, I added it to my now 20-strong collection.
In short, I cannot live without a belt. And neither should you.
Photographs: Katja Mayer. Styling: Olly Paron . Stylist’s assistant: Sophie Bertenshaw. Model: Aneliese at Profile Models