Quality belts

[forwardpleated]

Does anyone recommend Alden belts? What do you think of cordovan belts versus calfskin?

 

[imageWIS]

Quote:

Originally Posted by imageWIS,Jan. 25 2005,14:24
Cartier American Tank. Simple, refined, reversible black / brown. Jon.
Jon, Can you post a picture of your belt? I've never actually seen a Cartier belt, and I've been curious since you mention it from time to time. Thanks. Ryan
It looks like this, minus the two extra black / brown loops which have been added to the newer versions.

Jon.

 

[matadorpoeta]

I've a Brioni reversible in brown and black, and a Mark Cross in black lizardskin and brown smooth leather.

okay. so my question is, if reversibles are just as good, why doesn't everyone buy them? 2 belts for the price of one. or at the very least you take up less closet space.

 

[j]

I don't have a good reversible belt, but from what I can tell, belts get 'worn in' in a certain direction. They get a bit bent (U-shaped), develop a crease where the buckle goes, curl in the usual direction of wrap. Reversing them would cause these things to make the belt awkward (e.g. the end would stick out away from one's body). Also, all the reversible belts I've seen are very boring looking, at least the strap, as they have to be symmetrical.

I await the inevitable corrections of my generalizations.

 

[Renault78law]

I agree completely with J. If you tend to wear, say black, much more than the brown side, the belt will stretch unevenly. It results in a weird, downward pitch in the buckle when you're wearing the brown side.

Similarly, if you buckle the belt at the smallest loop, the long tab tends to stick straight out when you switch sides, rather than hug the side of your body.

Finally, the swiveling buckles are prone to breakage, whereas a regular buckle will almost always last a lifetime.

 

[LA Guy]

Finally, the swiveling buckles are prone to breakage, whereas a regular buckle will almost always last a lifetime.

And that, my friends, is the truth. A belt is not the most expensive thing to buy, nor the bulkiest to carry on trips. I'd rather have 2 good belts than one mediocre one

 

[Horace]

For more fashon belts:

Baltazar
Hollywood Trading Company (a little ubiquitous)
Red Monkey

There are lots of indie companies in LA I'll write about tomorrow, time permitting.

re: indy companies. Interesting. Do write if you have time.

In general, I've been following the fate of leather manufacturing in this country of late. Their seems to be a resurgence in tanneries in the USA after a lot of stuff going to Mexico and Indian and Pak. I don't know if the tanning methods have changed because of OSHA and environmental laws or what, but this rather surprised me, the resurgence, that is.

 

[Horace]

Does anyone recommend Alden belts? What do you think of cordovan belts versus calfskin?

No -- but I will order one at some point.

I've bought some of their leather goods and have been very impressed.

 

[iroh]

Originally Posted by LA Guy

And that, my friends, is the truth. A belt is not the most expensive thing to buy, nor the bulkiest to carry on trips. I'd rather have 2 good belts than one mediocre one

do you mean 2 mediocre ones instead of one good one?

 

[johnapril]

Wana Designs on Bond St.

 

[misterjase]

Pickett has been mentioned before on The London Lounge - www.pickett.co.uk. Does anyone know who the beltmaker is for Pickett?

 

[Siggy]

I have an Alden cordovan belt size 34. It is a very well made and high quality belt from what appears to be three pieces of shell cordovan stitched together, with a simple brass buckel. I can recommend it but it is quite expensive, I think about $150 or so.

 

[singlechange]

Had some luck on ebay with these dress belts. For dress belts I mostly prefer smaller width at 1.25 inches. Going clockwise from the right: Valextra, chocolate brown suede, Italy; David Yurman, black calf, U.S.A.; RDM, brown crocodile, sterling, U.S.A.; Jaguar, black snake skin, France; Tiffany, brown alligator, sterling, U.S.A. The David Yurman was acquired at an outlet store and rest on ebay. Good luck.

 

[audiophilia]

Plain and quality and relatively inexpensive. Allen-Edmonds.

I received a very expensive Ferragamo belt as a gift and the quality is just awful. If you want to go more expensive, try JM Weston. Amazing leather and tanning.

 

[misterjase]

Does anyone know who the English artisan beltmakers are out there?