cordovan belts

[mg428]

Some questions about cordovan belts...

Do you pair your cordovan shoes with matching cordovan belts? Do you wear your cordovan belts even if you wear calfskin shoes? What are the pros ad cons of cordovan belts? Do you find substantial differences between a high-quality calfskin belt and a cordovan belt? Do you think that cordovan belts justify their price tag?

I have never seen a cordovan belt but am considering buying one, due to its relatively cheaper price tag, on Brooks Brothers website.

 

[lee_44106]

Yes I have cordovan belt (color #8/burgundy). Mine is also from Brooks Brothers.

Yes I only wear it if wearing shell cordovan shoes, but only because I wear the cordovan belt sparingly, because I have so many other belts.

I have paired shell shoes with calf belts and vice versa.

I try not to fuss too much with exact color match or exact material match between shoe and belt; it's too fussy.

the relative scarcity and durability of material justify the price of the belt, that's all.

 

[JLibourel]

Originally Posted by mg428

Some questions about cordovan belts...

Do you pair your cordovan shoes with matching cordovan belts? Do you wear your cordovan belts even if you wear calfskin shoes?

I don't have any shell cordovan shoes, but mine (#8 shell) is an excellent match with burgundy/merlot and even dark brown calfskins.

What are the pros ad cons of cordovan belts?

Shell cordovan belts have to be made from two or three pieces of shell, and the joins look a little funny if you're not wearing a jacket. Shell is too thin to make a good belt and needs to be laminated to calfskin or horsehide to make a satisfactory belt. Shell is elegant and distinctive looking.

Do you find substantial differences between a high-quality calfskin belt and a cordovan belt? Do you think that cordovan belts justify their price tag?

I have never seen a cordovan belt but am considering buying one, due to its relatively cheaper price tag, on Brooks Brothers website.

Be aware that a lot of burgundy horsehide belts are sold as "cordovan" at comparatively low prices. If the belt is of one-piece construction, it is not true shell cordovan. I don't know about the Brooks offering.

I am not sure if there are any functional differences between belts as long as they keep my trousers from falling about my ankles!

Whether a shell belt "justifies" its price tag would depend a lot on the price tag.

 

[zjpj83]

I have all the different colors. I pair them with calf and cordovan shoes - doesn't matter IMO.

I have Brooks Brothers and Ben Silver.

 

[cassanova]

I have one from Alden which matches the color of my Alden shell cordovan monkstraps. I'm hoping that it's more durable than a high quality calf belt but that hope is not substantiated. The fact that it is pieced together doesn't bother me and I sometimes wear withot a jacket.