After a long period of Siberian style, the belt has re-emerged. Here, our fashion expert group discusses when, how, why, and whether you should start wearing your belt again...
Perhaps this is related to the current New Country Music Revolution (thanks to Lil Nas X), or thanks to Ms. Prada and her belt for the AW19, but after a long walk in the fashion hinterland, the belt returned to the proceedings. On the agenda. Is there a problem? Not everyone thinks that the belt will return like Ms. Prada and her group of little boys. Here, to help you decide which belt (if any) is right for you, we invite some of the most important fashion critics in the country to discuss which belt is suitable for AW19, and which belt should fit the road in the old town...
Raven Smith reporter
I like simple belts, not gorgeous or luxurious things. The belt as an expression makes me feel like I am on Saturday. In my 20s, I wore skinny jeans, stuffed my shirt into my trousers, and tied a belt as a comma between the two. My belt is now basically invisible; I no longer wear clothes that I can only wear when I stand. I have a favorite belt that mimics my stepfather. He is a sailor in the western United States. This belt makes it easy for me to live that life without the need to shake the mast and seasickness. It is woven from brass buckles. It says nothing except "I am a person with no bad eyes" or "I want to eat Cornish pies." My advice? If you don't want cheap dyes to get on your clothes, buy the most expensive belt you can afford.
Bill Prince, Associate Editor, GQ Magazine, UK
I always think that a fitted pair of pants doesn't require a belt. Having said that, the reason why I wear a belt today is why I have always had doubts. My favorite belt is the work belt of a former San Francisco police officer bought in a thrift store in the 20th century. It's my life partner (I almost got a heart attack when I thought I had lost it), but now I prefer to rely more on Charvet's woven belt. They are easy to adjust and come in a variety of colors, so you can even pair them with your linen shorts.
Nick Foulkes UK GQ Magazine Luxury Editor
I like the belt and I found it to be a source of personal decoration. My favorite style is the western buckle - the deeper, heavier, the more gorgeous the better. The belt is not suitable for a suit (I prefer the strap of a suit). I think, Oscar Wilde said that pants should start from the shoulders, and when it comes to formal dressing, I agree. Picking pants is a crucial thing, but the belt is also a decoration and a personal statement. I like the belt of Clint Orms, the master of the Western belt.
Tom Stubbs GQ Contributing Editor
I don't wear a custom belt (because it makes me a pagan), but I adjust the belt button. But I like practical woven belts and military belts, with loose jeans or military-style wide-leg pants, khaki silk pants or military shorts. Lift them with a belt and pull them in, and the belt doesn't look obvious. For example, I really like Tod's Greca belt and a unique leather v-shaped belt buckle. The Greca belt is vintage, practical and lightweight, perfect for summer.
Luke Day GQ Lifestyle Editor
I like the belt. I almost always wear a pair, even with shorts. I always remember someone telling me, never trust a person who doesn't wear a belt. I like to wear accessories, and a belt can really add a touch of color to any atmosphere. I am not a well-behaved person - all the rules and regulations are used to break - but I like to assemble Western belts. In addition, I wear the trousers higher, so the joints will be obvious, so the belt is essential. Decoration is also important because it makes me look more personal. I have a belt from Boot Star in Los Angeles. I also like the belts of Saint Laurent and Gucci. There is a Mexican brand called Nada, I am fascinated by it - really a very cool belt. Sometimes I wear two more belts.
Teo van den Broeke Beauty Director, GQ Magazine, UK
From my notes, I have opinions on the waist. It was only during the minimalist revolution that I resonated with this fashion, when Jil Sander, Margiela and Cos were very sexy because they tried to reduce the extra decoration, but I was instilled in such a concept: if you Pants are for you, so you can still straighten your waist without the need for a belt. It is these two experiences that have made me choose not to wear any belts in the past five years or so. Recently, however, I feel that I am more inclined to wear a belt. It all started when I saw Prada's belt for the AW19. In January of this year, Prada launched this belt, which brought an elegant waist effect to the models walking in Milan. Since then, I have tried RM Williams' woven buckle belt and Margaret Howell's cordovan belt, and I am pleasantly surprised by its effect. Maybe this is related to age, but I found that now I am in my 30s, and the belt shape is suddenly more suitable for me than when I was in my 20s. This kind of dressing also makes me look more elegant and mature, and I finally know how to match is better.