Oh, I think it totally depends on the individual! Body type, clothing preference, lifestyle, etc. I know some people here rarely wear belts and only need one. Others love and look great in belted sack dresses and cardigans, so they need a variety.
I like to have a variety, but I find that very few get frequent use. I often tuck my tops into my jeans and pants, so belts feel necessary for me to feel "finished."
Another timely post for me, because last night I tried on a few belts to replace some of my old ones that are now too big. I was ridiculously excited to find a couple that work not only as "jeans belts" (that fit in belt loops of mid-rise jeans) but also fit at my natural waist, so they can do double duty.
I ended up getting a new black leather belt that's 2" wide -- like Angie, I like belts to fill the loops, and newer jeans seem to have wider loops. I prefer slightly wider belts -- i guess im tall enough that really skinny ones just seem a little lost on me.
My most worn belts are the ones I wear with jeans -- approx 2" wide, in black, gray, and brown, and some with interesting detailing, studs, metallic finish, etc. I have also gotten a lot of wear out of lighter color neutral belts this summer, with my tan shorts and tucked tops.
I've bought some colorful belts over the years, and I do wear them sometimes, but not often. I've also picked up belts that I thought would look good with skirts and dresses, but it seems they rarely get worn.
Ive found that certain things make or break a belt for me when it comes time to wear it:
- double duty, fitting either at waist or below-waist
- not too long! Even if more holes can be punched to make it fit, a long tail on a belt drives me nuts.
- the right finish on hardware - I am a silver girl, so gold tone hardware will often languish in my wardrobe.
