A Little History About Mens Belts
Mens belts have been around since the Bronze Age, later on they were used by women as well but mainly for fashion. During the 19th century, belts were made fashionable by the military and were worn strictly as a decorative part of the uniform. Thanks to the Eastern European armed forces such as Crimea and Prussia, it was standard for officers to wear tight wide belts around the outer coat of their uniforms. This was done to bring in the waistline, thus giving the soldier a slim statuesque physique.
During the 1920s fashion designers began to make men’s trousers that fell low on the waistline. This is the time period when belts became more of a must in order to keep the trousers up. Once the new fashion design caught on among men it also ended the era when belts were worn for fashion purposes only.
Today, belts for men come in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes, and they are used for several purposes. For example there are specialized utility belts such as a police duty belt, which has pockets and loops for carrying job related equipment. This type of belt is also used by repair personnel, construction workers, and soldiers for their equipment and utilities.
In certain cultures a mens belt can symbolize status, for example in martial arts the color of a belt can indicate such things as rank or a skill level. Among rodeo cowboys, mens leather belts are a symbol of manhood. The same applies with mens leather belts among some African cultures such as the Moors. The different emblems and notches on the belts of the Moorish people stood for various things such as bravery, manhood, and even identified which tribe they were from.
Mens leather belts were commonly used among the Native American cultures to symbolize manhood, rank, and bravery. Even to this day many Native American cultures still use the leather belt as part of their dress regalia during their ceremonies.
What about the shoestring belt buckle? That was not a misprint. Shoestring belt buckles have been fashionable among skateboarders who discovered that the traditional buckle on belts would dig into their stomachs when trying to skate and do various tricks. The shoelace was found to be more flexible, as well as fashionable.
Although it is unpredictable to say what the future of mens belts has in store, it can be guaranteed that it will be innovative and exciting. Rumor has it in the fashion world that companies are already designing an iPhone belt buckle that is sure to be a hit among the technology enthusiasts.
Buying a Mens Leather Belt
There are many different types of mens leather belts. Some are formal wear, suitable for the office or meeting a client, whereas others are studded and perfect for a night out on the town. Prices vary a lot depending on what brand name and type you buy. You can purchase a cheap mens leather belt for less than $3 or spend over $300 for one made by a well known designer.
If you are looking for a belt to wear to work, then a brown or black leather belt is a good choice. Choose a plain one that does not have studs or other patterns. You can either buy the belt online or at a department store; if you prefer the latter option then Sears and J.C. Penney are both good places to shop. The ever popular J.C. Penney department store sells a number of affordable leather dress belts for less than $25 such as the Dockers Leather Feather-Edge Belt, Men’s Stafford Reversible Leather Dress Belt and Men’s J.Ferrar Glove-Grain Reversible Belt. Sears’ belts are slightly more expensive; they usually cost in the range of $25 to $35 for more affordable models such as the Dockers Leather Belt and Canyon Ridge Reversible Belt.
Buying a belt online can be a lot more affordable than purchasing one from a regular store. Some online retailers offer very good deals on belts for men and it is not difficult to find and purchase a good looking leather belt online for less than $10. You can buy a Black Leather Men’s Dress Belt with two buckles for around $4 or a Basic Dress Leather Black or Brown Belt With Silver Buckle by Executive Collection for $6 at Amazon.com. Online retail site, The Men’s Warehouse, sells a Black Smooth Belt made from leather for just under $10 and Sheplars.com currently sells a Wrangler Men’s Reversible Leather Dress Belt and Men’s Brown Leather Dress Western Belt for around $10 each.
If you have the budget for it, there are some brand name leather belts for men that are quite good looking. A Hugo Boss men’s belt can cost between $75 and $140. A Ralph Lauren men’s belt can be purchased online for around $70, although some models cost quite a bit more. Versace, Prada and Gucci all make men’s belts; these cost at least between $100 and $150; in many cases you would need to pay between $300 and $500 for one of these high end belts. Designer leather belts can either be bought online or at a Neiman Marcus or Saks Fifth Avenue store. The next time you hit the town with friends, go out in style with a designer leather belt.
A Basic Introduction to Men’s and Women’s Belts
There are many different types of belts on the market today. Prices vary depending on the brand name and type of belt you buy and what material it is made from. With the many variations available, it can be confusing when you are trying to choose a belt for yourself. Lets take a look at the many different styles of belts available for men and women today.
Women’s Belts
There are several different types of belts for women. Some are made to be worn on the outside of a shirt or dress; others are made to be worn with jeans. Cowgirl belts and some other styles of belts are more ostentatious while other belts are not particularly noticeable. Some belts are wide and gaudy, featuring rhinestones or stud jewels, others are plain with standard colors.
If you are looking for something suitable for work or when meeting a client, then you would most likely want a belt that is not too flashy or over the top. A plain black belt would most likely be your best option. The Silver Jeans Womens Sketch Basic Black Leather Belt selling for $30 at sheplars.com would be a good choice. Other suitable belts include the Plain Black Webbing Belt sold for under $10 at beltme.co.uk and the Ann Taylor Women’s Black Perfect Skinny Belt for sale at anntaylor.com for $30.
A scarf belt can be great for going out with friends. These come in different colors and are not expensive. They are made in satin, silk or chiffon and cost under $10. These are either plain colored or printed; choose one that matches your outfit well and suits your tastes.
Men’s Belts
Mens belts also come in many designs. You can get WWE belts that are quite flashy. Wal-Mart and Amazon.com both have a selection that includes autographed belts. However, it should be noted that these belts usually are not suitable for day to day use. They are more of a novelty or collectors item that can be showcased in your home if you are a WWE fan.
If you want something suitable for the office, then choose a plain colored black or brown belt. Leather belts are good looking; you can buy one made by Belt Masters at Amazon for only $3. Online retailer Rhinomart sells a large selection of leather belts for $2.60 each. Higher end options include the Guess Silver Plaque Belt selling for a bit under $40 and the Levi’s Men’s Leather Belt selling for $28.
There are also men’s studded belts that are flashy and well suited for a night out on the town. Some good looking options include the Mens Colby Studded Black Leather Belt and the Nocona Mens Studded Leather Belt selling at sheplars.com for $30 and $45, respectively. Higher end brand names, such as the Hugo Boss Studded Black Leather Mens Denim Belt and the Christian Dior Black Leather Stud Detailed Belt, are sure to cost at least over $100.
As you can see, belts can get very pricey depending on what brand and style you are looking for. If you know your size in a specific brand, you can go online and probably find a better deal that in department stores. Don’t limit yourself to only buying from one store. Start your search today to find the right belt to suit your lifestyle.
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