Fashion Accessories

Belt serves both decorative and practical functions. They may be used to shape a garment
so it fits the body at, above, or below the anatomical waistline. They may also keep skirts
or trousers in place. They may provide a decorative accent. Sometimes they are worn
over one shoulder in military fashion.

A belt is a flexible band or strap, typically made of leather or heavy cloth and worn
around the waist that is usually of fewer circumferences than the hips underneath. Belts
are used to secure or hold up clothing, like trousers or other articles of clothing, in a
manner similar to suspenders and garters. Some trousers come with belt loops around the
waist, which the belt goes through. Belts can have many uses, but they are often used as a
fashion accessory, with many colors, styles, and finishes. Pouches to carry objects such
as coin purses, holsters, scabbards, etc. have been attached to belts in lieu of pockets.

American Indian Belt:

Leather Belt decorated with woven American Indian beadwork in bright colors and
motifs.

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Braided Belt:

Belt made by plaiting narrow strips of leather, vinyl, elastic, thong, or fabric that may
buckle or tie.

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Chain Belt:

Belt made of various sizes of chain. It made by a single chain or a series of chains looped
to medallions or imitation jewels at intervals.

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Cinch Belt:

Wide belt worn pulled tight, usually of elastic or fabric, either laced or clasped in front,
popular in 1940s and 1950s.

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Contour Belt:

Any Belt that is curved so that it conforms to the body’s shape. It may be wider in front
or the back and various versions have been fashionable periodically.

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Corselet Belt:

Wide belt, sometimes enclosing the rib cage, frequently laced up front in a manner
similar to peasant’s bodice.

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Cowboy Belt:

Wide leather belt, sometimes with tooled designs, worn at top of hipbone by frontier
cowboy to hold gun holster adapted for women’s and men’s sportswear.

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Cummerbund:

Wide fabric belt, sometimes pleated lengthwise, that is fastened in back and worn with
men’s semiformal dinner suit, also worn by women.

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Half Belt:

Belt that does not extend around the entire waistline. It may be used in the back only.
One such belt is the martingale belt, a half belt worn on back of a garment above or
below normal waistline.

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Kidney Belt:

Extremely wide belt worn when motorcycling to prevent injury.

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Money Belt:

Belt worn under or over clothing when traveling with hidden zipper compartment for
money.

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Mesh Belt:

Belt made of extremely small metal links fastened together to form a flexible fabric like
band.

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Polo Belt:

Wide leather belt covering the rib cage; it fastens in front with three small buckles on
narrow leather straps. Originally worn by polo players for protection.

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Safari Belt:

Wide belt with attached flap pockets in front.

Serpentine:

Belt made in wavy design, zigzagging around the body.

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Sash:

Any belt of soft material that loops over and ties in a knot or bow rather than buckling.

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Serpentine Belt:

Belt made in wavy design, zigzagging around the body.

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Self-Covered Belt:

Any Belt cut out of the same fabric as the garment, usually stiffened with a liner.
Available in kits for the home sewer. If tied, it is called a self sash.

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