Statement Belts Are Having a Moment—But Don’t Call It a Y2K Comeback
.jpg)
Fashion is obsessed with all things 2000s at the moment. But if we’re talking about Y2K style, one can’t ignore the big—no, huge—belt. In the early-aughts, Hollywood stars rarely stepped onto a red carpet without a honking statement belt. They would wear chain belts with jeans (very Britney Spears), overtop shirts at the waist (very Cameron Diaz), or even with evening gowns (very J.Lo). Often, the belts were extra-wide with comically ginormous or bling-y buckles. They also weren’t functional, most of the time. It’s easy to figure out why the bold fad went out of style; The accessory hardly screams timeless. In 2022, like it or not, it seems the flashy belt is having a comeback—though the new crop are a lot more sleek.
This summer, the statement belt has been re-emerging. Just last week, model Bella Hadid emerged in New York wearing a crop top and jorts, punctuated by a huge “Gaultier Supreme” belt buckle. The logo buckle is also a hit with Jennifer Lopez, who wore Valentino’s “V” belt buckle with jeans while celebrating her honeymoon in Paris. Whereas the 2000s belts were extremely flashy, these belts are a little more discreet for everyday. In the front rows at the couture shows earlier this month, we saw even more big belt moments. Model Winnie Harlow wore a golden chained belt to attend Schiaparelli, while Emily Ratajkowski wore an extra-long belt at the Balenciaga show. Both stars paired their statement belts with all-black outfits, making them feel more refined and subtle.
