Belts Aren’t Just for Holding up Your Pants

Okay, yes, belts can be used for this reason but if your trousers are going to fall down because you’re not wearing a belt, you need a different size…not a belt. But that’s not the point of this post, I love belts…they are definitely one of my favourite accessories and I will add one to any outfit I can. Belts can be worn with so many outfits, trousers, dresses, shorts…around the hips, around the waist…day wear, night wear…the belt world is your oyster. I have a a huge collection of belts, but there are a select few favuorites that I wear on a regular basis that I now couldn’t be without and this is going to be the topic of this post!

I’m going to start with my favourite brand Mackenzie and George, and must say from the get go that this is in no way an ad or promotional post, I just really love their belts! I came across M&G on the equestrian circuit when I visited their stand at a show and have been hooked ever since! My first purchase and the belt I wear most often is the ‘Badminton’ in chestnut. This is a skinny belt (25mm wide) and features 3 little brass snaffle bits, perfect for equestrians! I also went for the embossed detailing and had my initials stamped in gold (because I’m worth it, duh). I wear this on a regular basis, probably because it literally goes with anything at any time of day! I usually wear this with jeans but it is one of the few belts I have that can also cinch a dress in at the waist. This belt comes in chestnut, a rich tan, a darker chocolate brown and black…all are beautiful (heart eyes emoji) and this is definitely one of my favourites. The Badminton currently retails at £65 and can be found here.

After loving my Badminton belt so much, I went on to purchase the ‘Drayton’ which is a wider,(30mm), thicker leather belt and features two pen panels containing real pheasant and guinea fowl feathers. I love that this is such a classic looking belt but with a little country twist. The feathers are protected so you don’t need to worry about it falling apart, I’ve had mine for at least 3 years it still looks perfect! I have this in chestnut, but it also comes in chocolate and can be personalised with your initials in plain embossing, gold and silver (which obviously I chose to do). The Drayton retails at £89 and can be found here.

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It wasn’t too long before I decided two Mackenzie and George belts were not enough and I added the ‘Fox’ to my collection. This belt would be simple if it weren’t for the incredible centerpiece in the form of a chunky brass fox head (it also comes in silver). This is a wider belt than the others at 35mm, and the leather is beautifully soft and flexible. This is a bit more of a statement belt as the fox head really stands out, you cannot help but notice it, but if you want a more understated look, M&G also do a ‘cross fox’ belt which is very similar but with a mini fox head instead. I decided to go for a bit of a change and went for the chocolate brown, but it also comes in chestnut and black and can be personalised (you guessed it, I went for it). The Fox retails at £59 (although currently out of stock) and can be found here.

Do you think three Mackenzie and George belts were enough? Absolutely not! I had lusted after the ‘Marlborough’ from the beginning and finally decided I had to have it. The Marlborough is made from the usual high quality leather and has four brass cartidges dotted around the length as well as a brass buckle. It is the same width as the Fox (35mm) and as always, soft, buttery leather. This is another belt that is super simple but with a beautiful country twist and perfect for day or night. I went for the Oak (not dissimilar from the chestnut offerings), and it also comes in mahogany as well as the option to personalise. The Marlborough comes in at £79 and can be found here.

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Nope, I’m still not finished here…when I found the newly released ‘Clifton Cinch’ at Burghley horse trials a few years ago, I fell in love and threw my money at the staff on the stand (disclaimer – I did not do this). This belt has a suede front and leather back and can be worn around the waist as well as with jeans etc. The cinch section can come away completely and so you can wear with a contrasting colour if you opt to buy a separate section. I bought the camel and chocolate shade as I felt it would go with more but it also comes in a dark navy. I love this belt, it goes with everything and fits perfectly around the waist with dresses as well as looking super smart with trousers, jeans, skirts and shorts…did I mention it goes with everything? It also has two gold fittings on either side of the cinch which look like little golden stirrups, perfect for the equestrians out there. You do have the option of personalising this belt but only with plain embossing, not the gold and silver options with the leather belts. The Clifton cinch retails at £69 and can be found here.

Okay, I actually only have one Mackenzie and George belt left, but it’s just as fabulous as the rest. The ‘Chatsworth’ is probably one of the more subtle belts, but it is beautful. Made with soft suede and gold stirrup detail, it is simple, with a slight nod to the equestrian theme. It is a wider belt at 35mm and is really soft and flexible. I’m sure nobody will be surprised to know that I went for the camel shade (a light tan) but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! However, it does also come in black, navy and chocolate and can be personalised with plain embossing. The Chatsworth retails at £59 and can be found here.

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I know I have focused a lot on Mackenzie and George but that just shows how much I love their belts. The quality is amazing and I love the little country and equestrian details as it makes them a bit different. If you want to get in on the action you can get £5 off with the code http://i.refs.cc/s59qfJZZ?smile_ref=eyJzbWlsZV9zb3VyY2UiOiJzbWlsZV91aSIsInNtaWxlX21lZGl1bSI6IiIsInNtaWxlX2NhbXBhaWduIjoicmVmZXJyYWxfcHJvZ3JhbSIsInNtaWxlX2N1c3RvbWVyX2lkIjo1MzgxNTE5MDl9

Now, I do have a few belts from other brands that I also regularly wear. One brand I’ve come across just this year is Ox and Snake. This brand don’t have a huge selection but what they do have are a range of beautiful hair on hide leather belts. I came across them on Instagram and immediately fell in love with the designs! My first purchase was the ‘Lorcan’, a lovely animal print, 30mm belt with brass buckle. It is so soft and flexible and it came beautifully packaged. There isn’t much more I can say about it other than it’s amazing and I would fully recommend you go and buy one! The Lorcan retails at £125 (although at the time of writing is on sale for £59) and can be found here.

I was so impressed with the Lorcan that I immediately went and ordered the Soren (no word of a lie, I genuinely bought this a couple of days after the first one arrived) which is another hair on hide animal print belt. It is more spotty than splodgy (the professional terms I’m sure), which is how I justified them both…there is a clear difference right? Anyway, it is just as beautiful and I bragged about it so much that a number of family and friends also bought their own and were equally impressed! The Soren also retails at £125 but is currently on sale for £59 so I’d be quick if you want to snap one up! You can find the Soren here.

Ox and Snake also do a small range of phone cases which I would definitely have purchased but my phone is too old so there wasn’t one to fit…don’t worry…I am currently waiting on my brand spanking shiny new phone arriving so I’m sure I will waste no tie in finding a pretty phone case!

The last belt on my list is my very spenny, investment…the double G Gucci belt. Yep, I am that girl and I am not ashamed. I love this belt and yes it is very expensive, but the quality is amazing. The leather is ridiculously soft and luxurious and the brass G’s are really bloody heavy. I wear this on many a night out (unlike a designer bag which I undoubtedly lose when pissed), as well as during the day, it’s a classic and goes with almost anything. I LOVE IT!

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So there we have it, that’s my not so shortlist of my favourite belts at the moment. Obviously Mackenzie & George seems to be my go to shop but I am always on the lookout for new brands and was very excited to discover Ox and Snake earlier this year. I’m always open to suggestions so if anyone has any belts they love please send some recommendations my way…belts are like bags and shoes, you can never have too many!

Until next time,

Kirsty x