That was the message from designers earlier this month, though it’s not weight control that was on their minds. A return to skinny belts was evident all over the runways of New York and Europe. Designers put thin strips of leather around suits, shirtwaist dresses and snug little pullovers, through the loops of jeans and slim trousers, even around the waists of slender evening gowns.
And it was the only accessory in Calvin Klein’s entire collection.
“It’s the single most important accessory update of the season,” comments Barbara Atkin, fashion director of Holt Renfrew. “It takes you from 1990 to 1995.”
Most of the narrow-minded new waist-cinchers close with an equally scant buckle, though some of Donna Karan’s, like the one shown on this page, have a more dominant closure.
It’s no coincidence that such a strong belt trend should return to fashion in tandem with a modernized, Lycra version of the corset. The two signal a revival of the hourglass silhouette that has not been seen with such force since the high glamor days of the ’40s and ’50s.
The best news is, you don’t have to wait until spring to enjoy this trend.
“We already have skinny belts in the stores,” Atkin says, admitting, “they haven’t been selling yet but they will now.”
