FB FashionBreak Text and Photos by Kelly Drobac , Associate Editor
Belts, Belts and More Belts
B
elts have been a favorite accessory with equestrian apparel for many years, whether it’s English or Western. The main purpose behind the belt is to provide a more secure fit for rider’s pants. Today, many wear belts not only to keep their pants up, but to show off their personal style as well. In fact, some say that no Western attire is complete without the addition of a belt. Western belts are influenced by the American Western style. They are traditionally made of fine leathers. Recently, manufacturers have been making belts with exotic leathers such as snake, crocodile and alligator. Belts with embossed, horse hair, printed or tooled designs are also very popular with cowboys and cowgirls alike. Fancier Western belts are studded with rhinestones and crystals to make them “bling.” Conchos are used to provide a bold look. The trend right now is toward wider belts with a “chunkier” look. Copper is also hot. Copper buckles and accents make these belts stand out from those with more traditional silver. English belts are worn primarily when riding hunter/jumper and dressage. The belts are skinnier in width and are generally made from leather. Solid colors such as black and brown are common. Lighter colors such as pink, blue and green are seen in casual English belts. Fabric belts are also a hit with riders because they allow more movement. Trendy patterns and designs on fabric belts are popular now. Belts are a great way to show off a rider’s personal style, whether they’re riding Western or English. The possibilities are really limitless, and the more belts a rider owns, the more they are able to accessorize their look.
Horse hair
Far left, top to bottom: Ariat tan leather men’s belt with silver circular conchos. Men’s San Juan belt with Southwest cut outs and fancy conchos in full grain black leather from Ariat. Big Trail belt with large iron cross conchos and diamond studs from Ariat. www.ariat.com Silver concho chain belt from Tony Lama. www.leeginleather.com
Diamond River belt from Tony Lama has basket-weave design with hair-on and antique silver insets. www.leeginleather.com Scalloped cross-motif Western belt from Cowboy Decor. www.cowboydecor.net
Left, top to bottom: Double J Saddlery’s brown roan hair belt with basket weave billet ends and crystal crosses. www.doublejsaddlery.com Durango men’s Brindle Hair belt has a brown leather border and a basket weave design. www.rockybrands.com Brown belt from Tony Lama has a studded inlay of horse hair and silver conchos with gold stars. www.leeginleather.com Brindle Dallas Crystal belt from Justin has horse hair with blue and white rhinestones. www.leeginleather.com Durango horse hair belt has silver studs and star conchos. www.rockybrands.com Wrangler’s Belle Star has a brindle center with floral embossed tabs and twisted border. www.chambersbelt.com Black horse hair belt from Roper has silver studs and conchos. www.gem-dandy.com
Concho 6
Chamber’s Belt’s Gypsy Gal horse hair belt has copper beaded edge and copper buckle. www.chambersbelt.com
Tack ’n Togs Merchandising
Western Motif
Ariat’s women’s Cloud belt has cut out scallops with silver conchos and matching concho buckle. www.ariat.com
June 2008
Fabric Top, left to right: The Vintage Cowgirl belt from Cowboy Decor is made from brown leather and features cowgirls and a floral filigree buckle. Cowboy Decor’s black belt features images of vintage cowgirls. The Vintage Running Horse belt features an image of running horses on the belt. The buckle has a barbed wire design. From Cowboy Decor. The company’s vintage belt is available in black or antique. www.cowboydecor.net
Bottom, back to front, left to right: Brown leather belt from YRI Designs has a navy ribbon with horse racing motif and a brass buckle. YRI Designs green horse blanket ribbon is on top of natural surcingle web. A matching green leather tab is also included. Pink hunter/jumper-motif ribbon on top of natural surcingle web and pink leather belt comes in a choice of five leather colors. From YRI Designs. www.yridesigns.com Chunky Diamond bit belt from Leather Goods of Spain has a green overlay on antique brown leather and bit motif buckle. www.LILOCollections.com
YRI Designs green hunter/ jumper-motif ribbon on top of tan surcingle web has a brown leather tab. Also offered in royal blue. Tan surcingle web, brown leather tabs and a royal blue ribbon with hunter/jumper images adorn this belt from YRI Designs. Adjustable belt has a navy surcingle web, brown leather tab and navy horse blanketmotif ribbon. From YRI Designs. www.yridesigns.com Leather Goods of Spain’s Beth Surcingle pink woven fabric belt has a leather buckle. Also available in turquoise and clay. www.LILOCollections.com
Fashion Break continued on page 8
7
FB FashionBreak Studded
Left to right: Brown leather belt from John Deere has a circular silver studded design with flower cut outs. www.gem-dandy.com Justin’s vintage belt has an aged black leather look, tiny silver studs and a silver cross buckle with crystals. www.leeginleather.com
Very Vintage rustic hand-tooled leather three-inch belt from Double J Saddlery has antique engraved studs and studded buckle. www.doublejsaddlery.com Black belt from Roper has silver-studded edging and a row of studs down the middle. www.gem-dandy.com Women’s Carrie belt has a tan leopard print overlay, silver studs and Ariat’s signaturedesign buckle. www.ariat.com
The black, silver-studded Poppy belt from Ariat is embroidered with flowers. www.ariat.com
Tony Lama’s Across the West belt has brown distressed leather, studs, crystals and a cross design buckle. www.leeginleather.com
One Tough Hombre tan belt from Wrangler has a nail head border. www.chambersbelt.com
Photo at left, left post—top to bottom:
Right post—top to bottom:
Floral tooled belt has antique studded edges and Westernthemed conchos. From Double J Saddlery. www.doublejsaddlery.com Cut-out filigree belt from Cowboy Decor has a pink inlay with a brown tooled leather overlay. www.cowboydecor.net Wrangler floral tooled-design belt has rows of rhinestones. www.chambersbelt.com Justin’s Denim Crystal Accent tooled blue belt has rhinestones in the flower design. www.leeginleather.com Roper’s brown belt has a leaf tooled design. www.gem-dandy.com
8
Huszar Designs’ Quadril Jeans belt is made from unique coredyed, non-fade leather. Huszar’s ladies’ belt is decorated with a design inspired by the Pazyryk “Horse Tombs” treasures in Siberia. www.huszar.com
English Leather
Leather Goods of Spain’s Margo 3 Bits black belt has shiny silver bits. www.LILOCollections.com
Brown belt with green and yellow stitching and studs is from John Deere. www.gem-dandy.com
Tooled
Clockwise, starting from top center:
Wrangler belt has a floral cross tooling with contrasting twist lace border and a cross buckle. www.chambersbelt.com Roper’s black belt with tooled design has a round silver buckle and a tan laced border. www.gem-dandy.com Wrangler’s Calamity Jane is a two-inch floral tooled belt with silver horseshoe buckle. www.chambersbelt.com Brown Heart of the West belt has a tooled design and a silver heart belt buckle. From Tony Lama. www.leeginleather.com Black and turquoise leather belt has a cut out filigree design and turquoise stone buckle. From Cowboy Decor. www.cowboydecor.net
Tack ’n Togs Merchandising
Petty Jeans unisex belt is a one- to 3/8-inch belt with subtle gold stitching accents to match the hardware. From Huszar Designs. Huszar’s Quadril Ladies’ belt adds a dressy, feminine flair to breeches and dress pants. The Kochis Jeans belt from Huszar is crafted with soft American leather and trimmed with inset ovals and multi-tonal sculptured crocodile. www.huszar.com The Deco Bit belt from Leather Goods of Spain is designed for side-zip breeches and can be worn with the bit facing the front or the back. www.LILOCollections.com Huszar Designs’ Quadril Ladies’ is a 3/4-inch belt with pink stitching in a unique geometric design. www.huszar.com
Photo at right, left to right, top to bottom: This belt is made from lizard skin and shows off its exotic print. From Tony Lama. www.leeginleather.com Roper’s tan belt is made from exotic leather and has a silver buckle. Brown leather belt from John Deere has a basket weave design and brown leather edges. www.gem-dandy.com The Fenced In belt from Justin has a brown leather “fence” design and silver engraved buckle. www.leeginleather.com
June 2008
Western Leather Wrangler’s Durango leather belt is reversible with brown on one side and black on the other and an understated brushed silver buckle keeper. www.chambersbelt.com
Black leather John Deere belt has green and yellow stitching and a silver buckle. Tan belt has stitched edges and features a green John Deere belt buckle. www.gem-dandy.com
Chocolate Caimen Classic in dark brown from Tony Lama is made from exotic leather. www.leeginleather.com Light tan, double-stitched belt from Tony Lama features dark brown stitching. www.leeginleather.com
9