Belts 101

What always adds interest and polish to a simple jeans and tee/sweater look? Psst - it's a four letter accessory. That's right! A belt.

Belts are definitely having a moment in the spotlight lately wether you're looking at quiet luxury trend or the western wear resurgence.

Why I think belts are fabulous is you can choose one that as simple classic or one bursting with fun groovy personality. Belts are also a relatively less expensive place to addition to your closet that can have a real impact.

And it doesn't cost tons more to purchase a real leather belt that with just a little TLC will last you a lifetime. Where a synthetic faux leather material will crease, crack and show signs of wear quickly that leave your outfit looking less than polished, a real leather can be cared for and conditioned to keep looking great for decades.

You can also thrift unique and vintage belts, shop secondhand for the vibe or designer look or buy one new. Here are a few of my current favs:

Polished Slim Belt

Simple 1" Belt

Elevated Detail Belt

Wide Belt

Western Croco Belt (I found this one on Etsy and it's mens sizing so measure carefully and if you're smaller than a size small/medium you may need to hunt for a women's version instead.)

Braided Leather Belt (You can use code: ALEXDAVIESLIVING20)

Some of my favorite places to hunt for cool vintage or secondhand belts are Poshmark, eBay and Etsy. And for shopping new belts, I love PoppyBarley, ABLE, Feda Salvador and Nisolo.

If you have a belt that doesn't fit quite right, you can use one of these inexpensive tools to punch a new hole right where you need it. If you don't want to buy one, check with your horse friend to see if she has a leather hole punch you can borrow.

I like to store my belt collection on S- Hooks in my closet so that they don't get too bendy or erased rolled up or folded in a drawer.