A History of Belts 1920-1960

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This article will explore a history of belts 1920-1960. Here I will showcase popular styles, materials, and the way in which belts were generally utilized and included as a fashion accessory.

For a history of belts 1920-1960, read on!

A History of Belts 1920-1960

Whilst belts can be an integral element to an outfit, on the whole their history has remained unexplored. Entire books exist exploring the design history of various accessories: handbags, shoes, costume jewelry. Whereas belts seem to have escaped this scrutiny. Perhaps this omission is due in part to the categorization of this item. Although belts seem to be classed as a fashion accessory, they may also in some cases; due to their decorative nature be considered costume jewelry.

Belts started to feature as prominent fashion accessories from the 1930s onwards. This example is from Harper’s Bazaar, 1948.

Centuries ago, belts were used for their practical nature. Purses and fans would hang from belts, and during conflicts they may have been used to carry weaponry. Of course, belts would also serve the important purpose of keeping an outfit in place; whether that be by holding a waistband securely to the body, or by keeping robes together.

1964 coordinated accessories with a metal trim belt

Belt Styles of the 1920s

During the 1920s, belts were usually made from the same material as the outfit it was intended to be worn with. As the waistline dropped to the hips, women wore belts on this new low waistline. Belts could be fashioned from fabric, ribbon, cloth, suede, or decorated with elaborate beading.

Often during the early years of the 1920s, belts were worn with sporting attire.

Buckles were small, and could be made from various materials including early plastics, glass and paste.

1922 leather belts

1922 metal chain belts

In the autumn of 1926, Good Housekeeping declared: ‘Belts are as important on morning and sports models as girdles and sashes are on afternoon ones’.

A selection of belts and sashes from the mid 1920s.

As illustrated in this statement, for the early years of the 1920s belts were normally reserved for more casual occasions or styles of dress – sportswear and morning attire. Alternatively for occasions requiring more formality, sashes were often utilized in place of a belt. However, towards the end of the decade, belts started to be included in evening ensembles and more formal modes of dress.

This illustration from Good Housekeeping 1926 shows how belts were utilized to draw attention to the low waistlines of the period.

Belt Styles of the 1930s

In the 1930s, belts were frequently included as an important finishing touch to an outfit. With the waistline returning to its natural position, this allowed belts to become integral fashion accessories.

Belt styles of the early 1930s were narrow, with delicate decorative buckles.

During the 1930s, belts may feature feminine design details such as the pom-pom trim on this belt from 1937.

During the early 1930s, belt widths were slim. The key component of the belt was the buckle, which was frequently used as a decorative feature. Buckles came in many shapes and sizes, from diamond shapes to two-part rectangular clasps.

A selection of buckles and clips as advertised in British Vogue, March 1935.

Designers embraced the show stopping appeal of the buckle, creating unusual shapes and styles. Indeed, Diana Vreeland wrote in her ‘Why Don’t You..’ page for Harper’s Bazaar – “Why don’t you.. order Schiaparelli’s cellophane belt with your name and telephone number written on it?”.

This 1934 evening belt by Schiaparelli demonstrates the increasing importance of the belt buckle. Image via The Met Museum – click to view the original entry.

Towards the end of the decade, belts increased in width. For daytime, suede and leather styles were common. For evening wear, belts became more elaborate as befitting the occasion. Buckles were highly decorative, made from early plastics, glass, brass, silver and paste. Popular shapes of buckle include geometric shapes – squares, diamonds, and rectangles. Belt fastenings were not limited to the centre front, belts were also seen buckled at the back of evening and afternoon gowns.

Belt styles of the 1930s began to become more utilitarian towards the end of the decade. This example is from Stitchcraft magazine, 1937.

1937 wide buckle suede belt avilable in white, tan, green or navy blue.

Belt Styles of the 1940s

By the 1940s, belts became more utilitarian in style. Whilst day dresses often featured matching fabric belts, increasingly tougher materials such as leather and suede were employed. Due to leather shortages due to WW2, alternative materials were sought to create a similar effect.

Alternative materials were sought to fashion belts during the 1940s. This example shows decorative belts made from fabric.

This belt is made from hand knitted stripes, mounted onto a canvas backing. Featured in Stitchcraft magazine, 1949.

Wide petersham ribbon was a durable substitute. Belts were also made from tough canvas material, covered either with decorative fabric or crocheted/knitted designs.

Although belts had become wider and more practical in appearance, they may also feature unusual design details. This example from 1948 Harper’s Bazaar features a chain loop fastening.

Some styles of this era incorporated additional decoration in the form of metal charms, looped and hanging from the belt or as part of the buckle.

Leather belt with decoration featured in British Vogue, 1946.

By the end of the decade although belts were worn on the natural waistline, their function was not wholly to nip in the waist. By creating a slender waistline, in contrast the hips may appear rounder – a silhouette that Dior championed through his New Look of 1947.

A nipped-in waistline helped to create the popular rounded hips silhouette of the later 1940s.

A model draws attention to her belted waist in British Vogue, 1946.

Elle magazine showcases the dramatic contrast of a black belt against a canary yellow backdrop. Elle, 1948.

1947, wide Belts for Dior’s New Look

1948 Wide Leather Belts

1950s Belt Styles

Belt styles of the 1950s were wider than previous decades. The function of the 1950s belt was to nip-in the silhouette like a corset in order to enhance the hips.

A variety of belts are featured here in Glamour, 1951. Notice the belts are very structured.

Belts were worn with practically any outfit – from day dresses to pants and sweaters, even outwear echoed the nipped-in waist line of fashion.

A wide belt nips-in the waist in this Harper’s Bazaar feature, 1959.

While fashion designers had realized the potential of creating matching accessories to compliment their designs, the price commanded was often too high for the masses. However, Claire McCardell worked to bring affordable designs to the fashion conscious consumer. McCardell focused on practicality, comfort and function. One of her key accessory designs was a wide belt made from sturdy, yet stretchy elastic. They were given the name cinch belts and were made of wide elastic or fabric that either laced or clasped in the front.

Shop 1950s style cinch belts

1953 Ribon, Elastic and Leather belts

1958 classic cinch belts- most repro belts are in this simple design

1955 beaded evening belt (L) and elastic Cinch belt (R)

By the 1950s, belts were recognized as an important fashion accessory. As such, they started to gradually feature more prominently among the pages of fashion periodicals.

1958, thin matching belts or wide statement belts appeared in most women’s wardrobes

1950s style cinch belts are plentiful this year. Shop them here.

1960s Belt Styles

In the 1960s, we see the waistline position alter. During the early years of the decade, the fashionable waistline was worn on the natural waist. However, as the decade progressed, the waistline dropped to the hips almost in a recreation of 1920s styles.

The early years of the 1960s saw the belt continue to nip-in the waist, as with previous decades. Image from British Vogue, 1964

1964 Belt styles in thin and wide styles

A new silhouette featuring a dropped waistline started to become fashionable from the middle of the 1960s. Image from British Vogue, 1964

1967 dropped waist belt for teens

Towards the end of the decade, belts fashioned from various metals were popular. Belts may closely resemble costume jewelry during this decade, with gilt chains of interlocking loops worn low on the hips. These were called Bikini chain belts and were usually worn over a bikini swimsuit or hip hugger pants in the late 1960s.

Styles of chain belts, as illustrated in Harper’s Bazaar, 1966.

1961 Belt styles were quite diverse

Leather and suede materials were still popular, with buckles often large rectangular styles. The Gaucho belt of the late 1960s and 1970s was made of medaillions of leather and metal joined with a chain. It had a southwest or Spanish flair to the design.

1960s boho/hippie belts

This belt featured in Harper’s Bazaar, 1968 shows the drop of the waistline to the hips.

A History of Belts 1920-1960

1920s

• First half of the decade belts were usually worn with day wear or sports dresses, with sashes replacing these for evening wear
• Belts were slim, made from fabrics, ribbons and cloths.
• Buckle styles were small – early plastics, glass, paste. Shapes include ovals, half ovals, circles, diamonds, small rectangles

1930s

• Belts gradually begin to increase in width
• Buckles become more elaborate and decorative
• Geometric shapes – squares, rectangles, diamonds, circles, ovals
• Buckles could be made from glass, early plastics, brass, wood, paste stones, mother of pearl

1940s

• Belts become more utilitarian, less decorative
• Tough, durable materials are utilized – leather, suede, canvas, petersham.
• Afternoon and evening wear often included a belt of matching material

1950s

• Belts were worn wide to further enhance the waist and hips
• Materials included leather, suede, elastic, canvas, fabrics
• Buckles could be covered in coordinating fabric to match the belt material

1960s

• Belts were still worn wide
• The position of the waistline lowered to the hips
• Belts became decorative, with gilt metal being employed to create jewelry-like designs

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