Are all imitation leather belts created equal?

I was at Ann Taylor yesterday and bought a white skinny belt. I had been looking for a white belt for some time, and the belt I saw there seemed to have most of the features I was looking for. Anyway, I didn't bother to check the fabrication, since Ann Taylor is generally considered a somewhat higher-end store. So I just assumed it was leather, especially since the price was over $30 (though I got it on sale for a little over $20). I got it home only to discover "100% imitation leather" printed on the back, ugh.

My experiences with imitation leather belts have not been good. But all of these belts have been from, say, Target, or have been the cheapie belt that came with a pair of jeans or a skirt. My last experience was with a Target faux patent leather belt that I got last year. I have worn it maybe 15 times, and the back of it is cracking badly. The front is starting to show a lot of very small cracks, probably unnoticeable to bystanders, and some of the holes are getting ragged looking. The belt was maybe $15. My BR real leather belt, on the other hand, which I bought at the same time as the Target one and which I have worn at least as many times, if not more, is still in good shape aside from being less than perfectly straight due to the fact that leather stretches out. (I'm sure this would not affect its appearance when worn.) The BR belt cost $28.

So my question is: Are all imitation leather belts created equal, or is the Ann Taylor belt likely to last longer than my Target cheapies? Or should I take it back and resume my search for a leather one if I want it to perform as well as my BR leather one? I had sworn off all nonleather belts based on my past experiences; should I give them a second chance?

11 years ago

rabbit

Veteran

Generally I look for a leather belt for something I'm planning to wear a lot with jeans or heavier pants, since I think there is more stretching and wear they have to put up with. I do have a silver metallic faux leather belt I'm wearing with pants now and I'm not sure how long it will last, but it was the exact look I wanted and its CPW is already low.

For narrow belts with dresses, I'm fine so far with going cheap and having more variety in color in my closet, since they tend not to get stretched out as much and sit on a less mobile part of my waist. (of course the super, super cheap like the ones that you buy already in the belt loops of a dress are usually only good for about three wears imo.)

I feel like patent is one of those things that cracks on the front side (outside layer of the belt), where I have some older faux-leather belts that crack in the back (inside layer) a bit as they stretch, but still are going strong in the front.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

I was thinking the same thing as rabbit; faux patent tends to crack really easily ás does any other kind of special finish.

I have noticed a difference in how different faux leather belts wear, but I'm not sure if I could predict it ahead of time.

Gaylene

I think the quality of imitation--or, if you prefer, vegan--leather is actually quite variable, just as is the quality of leather. I bought a Nat and Matt tote a few years ago thinking it was leather; it has seen a lot of rough use, but still looks good. On the other hand, I bought a $50 leather bag that barely made it through a year of light use before looking scratched and worn. The same goes for my belts--an imitation leather one from H&M has been a workhorse while a $40 leather one is coming apart at the edges where the two pieces of leather have been glued together. But I have a harness-quality leather belt that is almost 20 years old and still in great condition so I think it depends on the quality of the product, and, unfortunately, price doesn't seem to offer much of a guide.

Gigi

Thanks, everyone! I think I will try the AT belt with some outfits and see how it goes. If it looks great, maybe I will give it a chance. If it's iffy, I'll probably take it back and resume my search.

Rabbit, it will be used to hold up jeans, so it will see some wear and tear.

lyn*

If I'm going to hold up jeans (heavy) then I'd get a real leather belt. Not all real leather belts are created equally either; so look for a nice solid one

I only use the imitation ones as "accent" pieces and I've had ones bag out from even hanging something as light as a pager on them.

Thanks, Lyn! I haven't played around with the belt yet. If it's not going to look really fantastic, back it will go! It may have to be a placeholder for me while I find a real leather belt. But I know that as soon as I decide to settle, a really nice belt will pop up in my life. (Ha ha, I'm making belt shopping sound like a dating service.)

Good point about not all leather belts being up to par also.

Haha, belts are more important to me than dates! I keep them around longer than boyfriends, and heck, they last longer too...

Also, my dad always tells me to buy nice leather belts because he thinks they will one day save my life. I think he bases this on watching too many TV action movies. I think James Bond uses his leather belt to slide out of a burning building or something... sigh...

Wow, Lyn, one of those wide Anthro belts would work great for sliding out of a burning building!

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