How many belts do you have? - YouLookFab Forum

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How many belts do you have?

Gigi

Veteran

I have become more aware lately of the impact that a belt can have on an ensemble. It can really make the ensemble read dressy, or boho, or masculine, etc.

I have a relatively small belt collection of 8 belts:
6 skinny belts (black, black patent, leopard, b&w animal, white, gold)
2 wide belts (black, perforated cognac)

I am considering adding to my belt collection so that I have more options to tweak a simple outfit by adding the right style of belt. I feel kind of limited with my current collection. This got me wondering how many belts other YLFers have. Anyone want to share their numbers and any breakdowns as far as patterned/solid and widths?

General

76 replies

Latest reply was from Sonia Fielders

minimalist

Veteran

Yes, belts!

Currently have two, both black. One is wide with a large silvertone buckle, the other is narrower, wrap style.

I'm shopping for more. Lately I've been breaking in raw-denim black jeans, which means wearing them every day. A new belt or two would help create distinct looks.

Attached are photos of a few of the belts I'm considering. Though right now my shopping energies are more focused on boots and eyewear...

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Staysfit

Veteran

28 belts total, all colors: black, ivory, leopard, brown croc, black croc, cognac with brass grommets, plain cognac, perforated cognac, green, khaki, coral, snake skin, bronze,

The widest two are patterned and made of cloth, they are just over two inches
The next 4 are around 1.5 inches wide
Then I have a large number that are around 1 inch wide
I have 2-3 skinny belts
I have 2 belts that are shorter and meant to be worn around the waist when wearing a dress, all others are for jeans and slacks.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Too many, given that I don't wear them that much. I never used to wear belts and now I tend to wear them only with low slung jeans or pants - in other words at the hips or the fashion waist, not at the actual anatomical waist which I find uncomfortable, too confining and it never stays put. But most of mine were acquired cheaply and don't take up space so I rarely cull them unless they're falling apart.

Anyway, I've got a belt holder which probably holds 15-20, which is pretty full. A few are skinny, one is wide and elastic, and the rest are in the 1 1/2 to 2" range.

Gigi

Veteran

Amy K., I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one with very few belts! When I started on YLF over a year ago, I had one belt. So I guess I have progressed. I would think that the first belt you posted would look really neat with black denim, since it would really show off the metal circles.

Staysfit, it looks like your favorite belt width is 1". I don't think I have any belts that width. I need to add one or two! I have one belt that is short and for the waist also; everything else can work with jeans and pants.

Gigi

Veteran

Laura, I suppose that belts are like clothes: you have to amass quite a bit and play around with them until you really discover what you like and what works with your outfits. Maybe you've discovered what works and therefore don't use most of your collection?

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Uh. This is one area where I am a maximalist. I will do a count tomorrow. (Not close to my closet now....).

But it is lots.

And I wear almost all of them regularly, although favourites rotate in and out.

Windchime

Veteran

Gigi, prior to YLF, I was baffled by belts. I now have three--two black belts in different widths and styles and one white belt. I probably wear a belt now at least one out of three days. High on my want list is a cognac belt for fall.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

About 12 - 14. I have a pic of the rack I use from over a year ago. I've ditched 2 or 3 of these and picked up the silver one in pic #1. A few random pics of ones as I bought them as well (trying to photo catalog as I go now).
I have some belts that will adjust for either hip or waist, only a few true waist belts, and mostly hip (jeans/pants) belts.

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Adelfa

Veteran

1. black/reverse to cognac dressy belt, about 1", snakeskin texture, gold buckle.

2. Brown 1.5" cutout belt with rectangle pewter tone buckle, for all casual outfits

3. Black 1.5" belt with brass oval buckle for casual outfits that need black

These are the belts I have worn all summer. I have others that I've worn maybe once each in four months.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I have a lot, but rarely wear them, go figure.

Peri

Veteran

None! Not kidding, I don't own a single belt.

Gigi

Veteran

This is very interesting! So not everyone has much in the way of belts.

Suz, do you find that the "right" belt adds a lot to your outfits? I'm wondering if that's the case, because you said you wear them all regularly. Or is it just because you are very picky about color coordination?

Windchime, I used to be baffled by belts too, but I guess I am over it. I hope you find your cognac belt for fall. I love mine!

Mo, thanks for the pics. I'm thinking that 15ish might be a good number. Do you wear all of yours pretty regularly?

Adelfa, you are a belt minimalist. It sounds like you get a lot accomplished with your three belts.

Gigi

Veteran

Anna, do you generally not wear belts, even with your jeans? Or do you usually not tuck, so you can get away without one?

Peri, that's too funny!

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I should say I wear them sometimes. But not in proportion to amount of actual belts I have. I tuck and semi tuck all the time. A lot of the time I don't like how they cut a line in my outfit. Some people have a pathological fear of empty belt loops, I'm like eh?

ETA It's very hard to find good belts.

rabbit

Veteran

belts short enough to wear with a dress (rarely worn since only two of my dresses really are improved with belts, and I don't pair them with skirts much):

-narrow reversible soft silver and soft gold with silver buckle
-mid-width black leather belt
-mid-width vintage men's alligator dark brown belt, rectangle buckle
-wider cognac/dark brown belt with bronze buckle cinch which I need to purge (not leather)

belts I wear with pants/jeans (and pretty much all pants that aren't very tight skinnies tend to inch down without them), all worn often, especially the black and white one.

-medium width black leather belt, silver buckle
-" white canvas CK belt, silver buckle
- " silver belt, silver buckle
- narrow gray scale pattern belt, silver buckle
- medium width RATE espresso brown leather belt, rectangle pewter buckle

Anonymous

I have a million belts - and wear almost none of them (they were all from the days when we wore belts at or near our natural waists , so now none of them are long enough to wear with boyfriend jeans etc). I couldn't care less about empty belt loops on jeans but am now becoming more aware of how it adds to a finished look. ( a YLF lesson !)

So - I bought a new cognac one a cpl of weeks ago, and picked up another snakeskin print one last week. I agree with Anna that nice belts are impossible to find. I only see them in department stores, and never find anything very interesting. There is a big gap between designer prices ($350ish) and the rest of the offerings in and around the $50-$75 mark. I want something in between

And thanks for reminding me to toss out my million belts from the 90's . Lol.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

I have lots more belts than I generally wear, almost all thrifted.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I don't wear them a lot here in the heat. I do go through spurts but could live without belts if I had to.

Gigi

Veteran

Rabbit, I have one belt that has to be worn at my natural waist, which I bought to pair with some skirts. But I'm with you that I often don't feel like the look of the outfit is improved with a belt, so I haven't worn that belt a single time yet!

Lisap, yes, you and Anna are right: it is very hard to find nice belts. Even a lot of the ones at Macy's are not very good. Even some of the nicer stores, like AT, have almost all faux leather belts, which feel like plastic. I never used to wear belts before YLF either, and now I have the "pathological fear" that Anna mentions about seeing empty belt loops! Argh!

Shevia, thrifting can be dangerous! Maybe it is time for you to do a belt purge? Or do you like all your belts but just don't wear them?

Staysfit

Veteran

I wear all of my belts. I don't feel like I have too many of these at all. I wonder if use of belts may have something to do with body type, or maybe body proportion and therefore how clothing fits? Most of my jeans and pants will fall down if I don't wear them!

Gigi

Veteran

Staysfit, I bet you are right that body shape probably plays a role. I have pretty pronounced hips and fuller thighs, so my pants usually stay up without any help. In fact, sometimes a belt can be painful if it sits right on my hips. But you are very slender, so I can see how belts would be so helpful to you!

milehighstyle (Linda)

Veteran

Tons of belts, maybe 40, mostly skinny, but quite a few medium and wide too.
I wear mostly the skinny ones, although some only work with dresses or over cardigans because they are not long enough for jeans and pants.
A lot of my belts are from Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and Talbots. I picked up a few patent skinny belts from Target recently and have a couple from Ralph Lauren.

Gigi

Veteran

Milehigh, most of my belts are from BR, with one from AT and one from Target. So we are similar. I imagine that your Lauren ones are pretty good quality. I do need to find some belts that are wider than skinnies...I'm really in a rut!

Sal

Veteran

I had to count, 12.

4 black from wide to narrow, one old to wear over tunics on the hips
leopard skinny
blue and white checked fabric
cream and gold plaited
Leather - white with silver stars
fabric - white with black spots
fabric - floral
gold metal - skinny to wear with a belted dress
Green and bronze - to wear with a dress

I could do with a basic cognac or tan one for jeans.

I do wear them regularly with a couple of exceptions..

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I've always liked belts. Always. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I've never worn a ton of jewellery?

Then -- because I work from home and live in a very casual city, my style is quite casual and involves a lot of denim. And I love to tuck or semi-tuck. And I don't care for empty belt loops unless I'm wearing an untucked top -- and even then, I often need to wear a belt or else my pants will shift around. Boyfriends are at risk of falling down and even skinnies can do a creep thing if they are tucked into tall boots with no belt.

Anyway, I do find that the "right" belt adds interest to my outfits. Absolutely.

I don't wear them all, to be perfectly honest. There are a few that get little play (and might be "retired" after this thread, LOL!) But these ones are in extremely regular rotation:

1. Pewter Fossil belt (this summer's absolute workhorse -- purchased at The Bay)
2. Wider white belt with silver buckle (Cheapo -- bought at costume store)
3. Wider leopard print pony hair belt with silver buckle (Ditto)
4. Medium width Cognac leather with snake print belt (Made in Italy -- good quality -- consignment)
5. Narrow (but not super skinny) Michael Kors reversible black and snake print belt. (Nordstrom's)

Others that I wear several times a season but not every week:

6. Grey suede wide belt with unusual fastening (I'd wear this more but the way it fastens sometimes conflicts with belt loop placement.) (Bought at now defunct Canadian chain called Cassis)
7. Narrow taupe belt (Mexx)
8. Medium width blue belt (Smart Set)
9. Medium width raspberry belt (Gap)

Some I rarely wear but still keep for specific occasions:

10. Skinny silver belt
11. Wider red belt to be worn on true waist
12. Skinny green belt

I think I have others, too. I just gave away a faux suede obi belt to my stepdaughter, and a couple of others, because they went with clothing items I was also giving her. I would like to get a new obi belt at some point.

I agree with the comment that great belts are difficult to find. I see a lot around that I don't like at all. And very few that I do like, and even those I do like often have some problem -- they aren't the right width, or the buckle looks tacky.

deb

Veteran

Three, but I never wear them. For some reason I have never been a belt person.

Gigi

Veteran

Kiwigal, you have a nice, varied collection! I do think that a cognac belt is great for jeans, so I hope you can find one.

Suz, is the pewter Fossil belt the same one that Firecracker often wears? That's an awesome belt. I can imagine that belts are important to you, because your style seems so polished. I think empty belt loops would look out of place.

Deb, I'm not a big belt person either, but sometimes I do like the look of a specific belt on an otherwise-simple outfit. It seems like a relatively cheap way to change up the look.

thimblelina

(website)

Veteran

I have 11 belts, which is a lot for me! I wear about half of these weekly, the others are waiting for styling help.

When I first joined YLF I had one or two. Mine are all pretty down market: target, h&m, kohls, old navy, etc. I would definitely consider upgrading the ones I wear regularly.

They are essential for keeping up my jeans... Thanks, menopause! haha
But I like them too. They add another level of detail.

Gigi

Veteran

Thimblelina, I think 11 belts is a nice number. You can get some good variety in pattern and material and width with that size of a collection. Your menopause comment was funny! (But maybe I won't think so when it's time for me to go through "the change", ha ha!)

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