If fashion is anything, it’s consistent in its ability to revive a trend once every decade. Designer belts are no exception. While the Hermés Constance Belt and Gucci's Signature G Buckle Belt will never really go out of style, there are other micro-trends that experience peaks and valleys. While the more-the-merrier sentiment is coming into favor in the footwear and hat categories, belts have shifted towards a preference for elusivity.
Personal shopper and designer sourcing extraordinaire Gab Waller explains that this year's top belt styles are not just difficult to identify; they're more of an "if-you-know-you-know" status symbol. As a fashion expert who uncovers hard-to-find designer goods for a roster of A-list clients like Khloe Kardashian, Lori Harvey, and Sofia Richie Grainge, she sees the trend as a continuation of people's enchantment with quiet luxury.
The appreciation for luxury belts with winking details is especially palatable for people who subscribe to brands like Khaite and The Row; Waller's high-level clients also seek out styles from the stealth wealth duo. The Row's inconspicuous Classic Leather Belt has been worn multiple times by Kendall Jenner and Jennifer Lawrence, while Khaite's leather studded The Benny Belt has sold out repeatedly and has inspired thousands of dedicated online reviews and styling videos.
With an increased demand for logo-free classics, less covert designers are also expanding their belt repertoire. Alongside Khaite—Ralph Lauren and Dion Lee participated in the studded belt category, leaning into the western trend resurgence, while Carolina Herrera and Christian Dior are backing narrow, barely-there styles that lend themselves perfectly to the double-belt look.
If you prefer a wider style to cinch all of your blazers and jackets, or you're comfortable somewhere between minimalist and maximalist accessories, Marie Claire, alongside Waller, can help uncover the best designer belts for you to shop right now.
Neutral Designer Belts
Models at The Row and Celine wear sleek leather belts with subtle gold hardware, while Jennifer Lawrence proves designer belts have real-life practical appeal.
Belts with classic buckles are the repeat-wear accessory to start off your designer belt collection. Jennifer Lawrence, who swears by The Classic Belt from The Row and wears it often, is proof. Nili Lotan's neutral belt is also a great option, recently styled by Gigi Hadid to break up an all-black outfit. "[A classic designer belt] can be styled in so many different ways, and it has a long lifespan in your closet," says Waller. Meaning, this style is the most sound investment when you break down cost-per-wear.
Hardware-Clad Designer Belts
Hardware-adorned belts were seen on the runways at Dion Lee and Ralph Lauren and on model Elsa Hosk. Depending on how you style them, they can tow the line between classic or edgy.
Call it the Cowboy Carter effect, but embellished, Western-style belts are popular once again. Options adorned with either gold or silver hardware are a go-to for their ability to add instant interest to an otherwise simple look. Elsa Hosk subbed in a small Gucci buckle belt for jewelry, paired with essentials like a wide-leg jean and a trench coat. Waller mentions Khaite's The Benny Belt that fits into this category, but there are tons of other options from iconic designers like Tom Ford and lesser known, but equally great emerging designers like Paloma Wool.
Wide Designer Belts
Wider belts offer more than just a chance to keep your trousers up. They're the perfect way to accessorize a dress, as proven at Alaïa and Ann Demeulemeester, and styled alongside a full pale pink look on Sydney Sweeney.
A signature from houses like Alaïa, known for their leather and laser cut styles, Waller says to think of a [wide] belt as a finishing touch that can add texture to an outfit rather than a full-out statement piece. Sydney Sweeney employed the waist-hugging accessory to accentuate a monochromatic look and like shoes, jewelry and handbags, Waller notes belts' have the instant ability to make or break an outfit.
Thin Designer Belts
Thin belts are the delicate way to incorporate a designer piece into your rotation. Slimmer belts with smaller logos make them more wearable than ever before.
Thin, delicate options are the perfect way to partake in the designer belt trend without shouting it from the rooftops. In line with Waller's clients' preferences, thin belts are a subtle designer accessory akin to a secret handshake that only astute fashion lovers with recognize. Unlike a wider designer belt style that strategically stands out, a narrow version adds just the right amount of depth to an outfit.
Meet The Fashion Expert
Gab Waller is an Australian entrepreneur, whose fashion sourcing service has fast positioned her on speed dial for celebrity clients and fashion fanatics around the world.
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