Fashion Belts

A Fashion Belt is a flexible band, typically made of leather or heavy cloth, and worn around the waist. Belts are an integral part of every Western outfit - be it jeans or dresses or trousers. Belts support trousers or other articles of clothing and serve as style and fashion accessories.

Belts are made of leather, cloth, jute, velvet, velor, silk, plastic, etc. They are adorned with rhinestones, beads, metal chains, tassels, studs, rivets and patches. The belts are available in many shades and styles.

Materials Used for Fashion Belts

Leather
Cloth
Jute
Velvet
Velor
Silk
Plastic
Elastic

Belts: A Necessity or Adornment
Since the Bronze Age, belts have been documented as being used for male and female clothing. Both males and females used them off and on, depending on the current fashion. However, it was a rarity in the female wardrobe and was not used so frequently by them. In the early Middle ages, belts were used by women to hold together clothing.

In the late 17th century, in Mantua, belts were used by women involved in the ranching work to hold their clothes together. Trousers were worn by some women and they were also held together by belts. Belts were an adornment in this period. During this time, wide and narrow belts were studded with beads etc. and tasseled. They were wide or narrow and usually looped inside the belt hoops. Between 1900 and 1910, the skirt and blouse combination was designed and was adorned with belts. There were many variations in designs of belts. The belts that were used with skirts and blouses were either of the same cloth or had a contrasting design.

Before the 1920's, belts served a decorative purpose, and were usually associated with the military. Thus, modern day belts are said to have actually become a fashion necessity in the 1900's.