Belt It

In a nod to the 2010s, the statement belt has made a resurgence on the trend carousel, with runways during fashion month adorned with chunky, layered, corseted, and comically oversized belts. Recent years have been defined by looser silhouettes, yet this season designers are deliberately emphasising shaping, focusing on a closer (literally) relationship between garments and the body. While bags typically take centre stage as the primary accessory in collections, this season introduced several key looks where belting was highlighted as the main embellishment. Suggestive of a renewed focus on physical form and an enlightened vision aimed at recentering the wearer, belts in all their fabulous variations might represent another trend, or perhaps they signify a shift towards a more intimate approach to dressing.

NYC brand and newly Parisian transplant, Vaquera, elevated the belt trend. For Vaquera, fashion intertwines with pantomime through their exaggerated shapes and sartorial humour. Belts were blown up into supersized accessories, with giant belt buckles taking centre stage and hanging low on models' hips. Styled against a neutral colour palette, the belts were less about cinching a silhouette and more about serving as a whimsical addition to the looks. Schiaparelli adopted a similar approach, using belts as the collection’s principal accessory. Black leather belts featuring mismatched chunky gold buckles were layered up the model’s torso like a corset or slung low on gathered leather trousers. Exaggerated hardware appeared jewellery-like under the warm spotlights of the runway, elevating belts as worthy standalone accessories.

At Sarah Burton’s inaugural collection for Givenchy, belting was a thoughtful design choice. Fitted closely around the waist and structured with solid leather panels, wide belts cinched silhouettes and created seamless lines against the rounded shapes of jackets and skirts. For Dries Van Noten (another debut collection for new creative director, Julian Klausner), belting adopted a similar form. Wide belts, crafted from embossed leather in a tan brown, were embroidered with thick white stitching, styled over blazers and providing a beautiful textural contrast between the pieces. So, whether belts are about adding shape and defining silhouettes, or simply a playful accessory to elevate a look, experiment with the trend for yourself and shop our selection of statement belts below!