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Be it a corset-like cincher or a thin version for a finishing touch, belts are more than capable of making impactful changes to the ensembles you love. And like any cult accessory, designer brands provide benefits, from great quality to timelessness. So, we took it upon ourselves to curate the best belts from the most popular and reputable brands.
Here, you’ll find our list of best designer belts available as well as styling advice from lifestyle expert Preston Konrad.
Meet the Expert
Preston Konrad is a lifestyle expert and founder of Preston Konrad Home and Kennett Creative.
Read on for the best design belts to shop right now.
Best Overall: Loewe Anagram Belt in Soft Grained Calfskin
Net-A-Porter
Who else recommends it? Rank & Style also picked the Loewe Anagram Belt.
Loewe’s reversible anagram belt has been made by the Spanish brand’s skilled artisans from supple leather. The buckle is shaped in the house’s iconic emblem, complete with a push-stud fastening. For under $500, not only is it chic and versatile, but it also costs the minimum you can expect to pay for a belt by a heritage brand.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: 2.8 centimeters (approximately 1 inch) | Colors: Warm Desert/Light Oat/Bronze, Black/Tan/Palladium, Tan/Black/Gold | Size Range: 65-115
Best Value: Anderson’s Croc-Effect Leather Belt
Net-A-Porter
A slim leather belt in a neutral tone is a fail-safe addition to your everyday wardrobe, as it can add polish to virtually any look. And for less than $200, Anderson’s version in croc-effect leather and gold-tone leather does just that, making it the ultimate value accessory.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: Approximately 1 inch | Colors: Black, Tan | Size Range: 65-90
Best Splurge: Hermès Kelly 18 Belt
Hermès
Hermès is the crème de la crème of luxury, so it should be no surprise that the brand takes this category. The Kelly 18 belt is sophisticated in that it has a low-profile sliding system, rather than traditional construction with holes, for a one-size-fits-all belt that can be worn at the waist or on the hips. Snag it with rose gold, gold, or silver hardware, depending on your taste.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: 0.71 inches | Colors: Terre Battue, Havane, Ébène | Size Range: OS
Best For Everyday: Khaite Bambi Leather Belt
Net-A-Porter
American brand Khaite specializes in high-end basics that are so well-crafted, they’re not basic at all. The gleaming hardware on this skinny belt from supple leather will add just the right amount of polish and sophistication to your daytime looks, though we can’t see how you’d go wrong with sister styles Bella and Robbi, either.
Material: Lambskin leather | Width: Approximately 2 inches | Colors: Black, Black With Silver, Caramel With Silver +more
Best Vegan: Nanushka Horace Vegan Nappa Belt
Nanushka
Nanushka is well-known for its commitment to veganism and the environment, which emanates through its thoughtful approach to design. This waist-defining double-buckle belt with gold hardware is made from supple vegan leather, so it’s free from animal skin and animal derivatives commonly employed in the manufacturing process.
Material: 60% polyurethane, 40% polyester | Colors: Brown, Creme | Size Range: XS-S, M-L
Most Classic: Celine Small Triomphe Belt
Celine
It doesn't get more classic than Celine, a fashion house whose history dates all the way back to World War II times. This belt is made from smooth black leather in a slim silhouette and features the heritage brand's classic Triomphe symbol—a logo that was originally created by the label's founder, Céline Vipiana and that nods to the age-old Parisian monument, the Arc de Triomphe.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: Approximately 1 inch | Colors: Black | Size Range: 70-90
Best Logo: Fendi Logo-Buckle Leather Belt
Fendi
You can seldom go wrong with a logo-stamped belt to finish a look, though this one by Fendi is as refined and elegant as it comes. “This screams designer without going over the top,” says Konrad. “I'd love to see this belt paired [with] a relaxed, oversized suit for that oh-so-Italian vibe.”
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: 3.5 centimeters (approximately 1.4 inches) | Colors: Brown, Black +more | Size Range: 65-105
Best Chain: B-Low The Belt Cora Chain Belt
B-Low The Belt
For a timeless chain belt, accessory brand B-Low The Belt has you covered. This style has an adjustable chain with oval links and a clasp closure to add a bit of luster to your jeans, trousers, and dresses.
Material: Metal | Width: Less than 1 inch | Colors: Gold | Size Range: OS
Best No Buckle: Isabel Marant Lecce Belt
Net-A-Porter
Parisian fashion designer Isabel Marant knows how to capture the nonchalance for French street style in the form of billowy dresses, cozy shearling toppers, and fuss-free cinchers like the Lecce belt. It fastens with a wraparound knot for easy adjustment and wears well with everything from structured blazers to relaxed knitwear.
Material: Leather | Width: Approximately 1 inch | Colors: Black, Burgundy +more | Size Range: OS
Best Skinny: Christian Dior Saddle Belt
Dior
When it comes to skinny belts, Dior’s Saddle Belt is our top choice because it is as iconic as it is versatile. “There's a bit of a '90s, Princess Di sensibility about this belt,” says Konrad. “It’s perfect to wear at the waist of a chic polka dot dress or a wide leg trouser and an oversized sweater.”
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) | Colors: Black, Latte | Size Range: 70-95
Best Wrap: Isabel Marant Lonny Belt
Net-A-Porter
For an ultra-laid back look, there’s Isabel Marant’s Lonny belt, a wrap belt with an adjustable slip closure that makes it easy to lightly cinch an otherwise roomy waist. The long and pendulous belt is offered in a small palette of neutrals for maximum versatility.
Material: Leather | Width: 0.80 inches | Colors: Black, Tan | Size Range: OS
Best Reversible: Valentino Reversible VLogo Signature Belt in Shiny Calfskin
Valentino
Valentino recognized all of the best qualities one could want in a belt—the classic nature of the logo belt, the transformative quality of a statement belt, and the versatility of a reversible belt—and created this reversible V-logo style. Layer any of the classic color pairings with neutrals for a monochromatism or jewel tones for a more dimensional look.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: Approximately 1.5 inches | Colors: Black/Pure Red, Saddle Brown/Black, Smokey Brown/Black +more | Size Range: 65-105
Best Corset: Altuzarra Corset Belt
Altuzarra
Corset belts are the most waist-defining belts because of their widths. Wider than the average wide belt, they create an hourglass figure by cinching several inches of the waistline length-wise. Altuzarra’s take, in calfskin, has a sculptural shape that’s great for adding shape to a boxy blazer or an easy shirtdress.
Material: Calfskin leather | Colors: Chestnut, Black, Cognac | Size Range: XS/S-M/L
Best Embossed: Saint Laurent Maillon Thin Belt in Leather
YSL
Saint Laurent’s Maillon belt combines glossy lizard-effect leather and a sleek bronze-tone chain for a distinctly sophisticated sensibility. It’s so versatile that you can slip it through the loops of your favorite jeans as a finishing touch or don it over a slinky sweater dress to emphasize your waistline.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: 0.70 inches | Colors: Black, Blanc Vintage | Size Range: 65-100
Best Wide: Bottega Veneta Medium Horsebit Belt
Bottega Veneta
Before you enter corset territory, there’s the realm of wide belts, where Italian label Bottega Veneta lives and thrives. Wide belts like this one from leather and metal are great for cinching the waist dramatically to show off your curves. For this effect, wear it around the waist of a loose-fitting dress or boxy blazer.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: Approximately 3 inches | Colors: Black, Almond, Clay, Raisin | Size Range: S-L
Best Streetwear-Inspired: Off-White Mini Industrial Web Logo Belt
Nordstrom
Off-White's Mini Industrial Web Logo Belt stays true to the multifaceted, Milan-based label's streetwear-inspired ethos. The fabric silhouette is freshly designed to resemble yellow construction tape with an adjustable black matte buckle at the center and contrasting black logos. Balance a polished blazer with rugged accessory for a true high-street appeal.
Material: Polyamide, polyester | Width: Approximately 1 inch | Colors: Yellow, Black, Fuschia | Size Range: OS
Best Western-Style: Isabel Marant Djola Studded Leather Belt
Net-A-Porter
On the runway, Isabel Marant’s Djola belt was paired with a panoply of outfit styles, showing off its versatility. The piece is made from leather and silver hardware. The decorative studs are reminiscent of a Western aesthetic.
Material: Calfskin leather | Width: Approximately 1 inch | Colors: Black, Natural | Size Range: 70-105
What to Look for in a Designer Belt
Style
Belts run the gamut in terms of style, so determine which outfits need an added belt and why. Corset belts and wide belts are feminine and figure-shaping, while skinny belts are great for final touches on business attire or more subtle cinching. Chain belts, on the other hand, are very delicate and have a vintage feel circa the 1960s and '70s.
Sizing
Different brands will have different sizing ranges—meaning just because you're a medium belt size in one brand doesn't necessarily mean you will be a medium across the board. Be sure to confirm your waist size (noting whether you're measuring in centimeters or inches), and check each brand's sizing guide to find the perfect fit. Need help measuring your belt size? More on that below.
Why Trust Byrdie
Hayley Prokos is a freelance writer and editor focused on fashion and lifestyle. She contributes regularly to Byrdie’s commerce section and has a passion for sourcing chic and practical luxury pieces with long-term wearability. After hours of researching and chatting with our expert, she’s gathered enough insight to determine which designer belts are worth investing in.
According to our Diversity Pledge, 15% of products in our newly-published market roundups will feature Black-owned and/or Black-founded brands. At the time of publishing, we were not able to find enough designer belts from Black-owned and/or Black-founded businesses to meet this percentage. If you know of one we should consider, please email us at contact@byrdie.com, and we will evaluate the product ASAP.
