Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Fashion & Style

Waist Management: A Guide to the Season’s New Belts

By

Nothing says “nice stylistic try but no cigar” like a pair of $300 Japanese selvedge jeans falling off your ass or a pair of crisp, custom-looking khakis held up by a belt that is so battered and ill-fitting that it is obvious that you’ve been wearing it since middle school. Guys have no problem updating their shoes and neckties every couple of seasons yet belts–those underappreciated accessories that actually serve a function–often seem to be relegated to “I will wear you every day and for a lifetime” status, which is really loyal of you and all, but doesn’t do much for your overall appearance.

Recommended Videos

(And, classic as they are, belts needn’t be just either black or brown leather, by the way.)

Related: 
Upgrade your daily routine with the best smartwatches for men

So perhaps it’s time to update that strip above your hips the next time you go shopping.

Here are some of the latest eye-catching belt options, from a wide variety of brands, and spanning a broad range of prices. Thin woven models are currently the most popular belt styles but if they are not your speed there are plenty of others to choose from….

Askov Finlayson

This Minnesota-based specialty retailer and brand collaborated with Smathers & Branson to create a snakeskin-looking fabric belt with leather and brass buckle in four colors (black, red, green, blue) that uses the outline of Minnesota as its pattern. ($165). It also sells a multi-color woven stretch belt by Anderson’s that is made in Italy and doesn’t need holes as the buckle slips right through the fabric ($135).

Beltology

This direct-to-consumer brand creates belts only and stretch woven styles are its signature. This season’s key styles include the rayon Monkey Run, the gray wool Cookie Duster and the bright red Big Burn with a nickel buckle (all $75 each).

Billy Reid

For those who are willing to spend $495 for the ultimate luxury, the award-winning designer has created this classic black belt out of alligator skin. It’s one style we actually do recommend wearing for a lifetime.

Camp Hero

This Brooklyn-based belt company offers some fun 1970s throwback with its hand-beaded models, some of which celebrate specific places such as Maine, Rockaway or Austin. They retail for $165 each.

Filson

The heritage company has created this American made Bridle leather classic, which is certain to be timeless ($88).

Levi’s

The jeanswear brand offers a slew of belt options that are as easy to wear (and look as good) as its denim. Prices range from about $38 to $54.

Patagonia

This web Friction Belt model comes in a wide variety of colors and is as suitable to the great outdoors as it is to the inner city ($29).

Christopher Blomquist
Christopher Blomquist
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Christopher is a native New Yorker who lives and works (mostly) in Manhattan. A longtime fashion journalist, he served as…
Saucony goes reptile mode with the new Progrid Omni 9 sneaker
Saucony announce a new bold sneaker
side of saucony progrid omni 9

As a faithful athletic brand, Saucony doesn’t often change up its design, even with its many collaborators. True to its traditional elements, Saucony’s overall look has remained relatively unchanged over the years, providing users with a consistent and reliable style and feel. While its latest launch isn’t entirely over-the-top, it does mix new elements that make it feel like an entirely different brand. Still included in this release are the many footwear performance features that users have come to know and love from Saucony. However, the design has decided to take a walk on the wild side with a new patterned print that’s sure to delight the bolder Saucony fans. For those yearning for a more style-forward sneaker from your favorite athletic brand, Saucony’s latest sneaker might be the shoe you’ve been waiting for. 

Saucony gets bold with the new Progrid Omni 9 “Glowaconstrictor”

Read more
Casio brings back its impossibly small ring watch
Second chance: Casio's miniature ring watch returns to American market
Casio Ring Watch CRW001-1

Casio announced the US restock of its Ring Watch CRW001-1 on July 1st, bringing back the small timepiece that sold out quickly after it came out in America in late 2024. The restock follows successful lottery sales in the UK and Japan, showing that people around the world want this digital watch that goes on a finger.
The Ring Watch CRW001-1 shows Casio's bold way of looking at wearable technology—it shrinks standard digital watch functions into a ring that measures only 25.2mm across and weighs 16 grams. Even though it is small, the timepiece keeps necessary features, including support for two time zones, a stopwatch that measures 1/100th of a second, and hourly flash alerts.
Casio US confirmed the July 1st restock on Instagram, saying the watch would only be available through the brand's online store, not in physical shops. Compared to the lottery systems in other places, American customers will buy the watch in the order they arrive—this might cause a lot of competition among people who collect things and those who like technology.
The small digital screen has a backlight so you can see it in different light. The stainless steel build makes it sturdy, even though it is small. The ring fits size 22 fingers (US 10.5, EU U), and you can adjust it down to size 19 (19mm inner diameter) or size 16 (18mm inner diameter).
The engineering needed to put normal digital watch parts into a ring shape shows how well they made it. The 1/100th second stopwatch is as exact as bigger Casio watches. Travelers who want to check the time without others knowing will like the two-time zone feature.
Casio did not say the exact restock time but told interested customers to sign up for email notifications about when it would be ready. That way may help manage the internet traffic while making sure serious buyers learn about buying chances in time.
The Ring Watch's appeal shows more people are interested in other types of wearable devices, not just ones worn on the wrist. Casio's good result with this unusual approach shows that people want new watch designs that question common ideas about what a watch should look like.
The quick sellout after the US launch, along with international lottery systems, suggests that collectors are very interested and that the watch might sell for more later. Casio has not said anything about more restocks in other places after the July 1st US availability, keeping the watch special.
This restock gives American buyers a second chance to get one of the most noticeable wearable technology releases of the year, bringing together Casio's history with digital watches and its push to make things very small.

Read more
From regatta to deep sea: The top maritime watches for serious collectors
From regatta-ready chronographs to deep-sea divers, these five luxury watches dominate the high seas.
The Rolex Yacht Master series, up close.

When navigating high society and the open seas, possessing a luxury sailing watch becomes a statement piece that opens doors, recognized as a masterclass in engineering. There is a wide range of exceptional maritime watches on the market today, but the best sailing watches are able to impeccably combine precision tide tracking, anti-corrosive robustness, and exceptional accuracy, all while retaining an elevated look of sophistication. No matter what your current status is as a sailor, sea explorer, or collector, these luxury maritime watches from top luxury brands have been designed to make a statement. 

Rolex Yacht-Master II: The regatta chronograph

Read more