Belts

The belt has been an indispensable part of the man’s suit for generations, though its purpose has varied. The basic utilitarian belt has been around since the Bronze Age, typically for warmth and as a way of prevented outer garments from flapping too much. Military uniforms in the 18th and 19th centuries added an obviously decorative element along with the practical value of supporting a sword and later a sidearm.

But even then there was an aesthetic overtone. Particularly in the later part of the 19th century, tightly cinched military belts served to give the wearer a trim physique, emphasising a trim waist, wide shoulders and a pouting chest.

The modern notional role for the belt – basically, holding up the trousers and preventing them from slipping down from the position deemed appropriate by the tailor or by society – is also a 19th century invention, though from the lower classes rather than the gentry. The less well paid could not afford to have perfectly fitted garments tailored specifically to fit their shape. Crudely made trousers needed real assistance to fit the wearer’s form – and the buckled belt was the solution, often adapted from a military weapons-carrying format to provide a narrower support with a different function.

As a result, today the man’s belt is an accessory which adds a disproportionate amount of style to menswear and a man’s look.