Studded Belts Go Mainstream

Belts have been in use since the Bronze Age. It was mainly male clothing item until around the middle ages even then it was not until the early 20th century that belts became a common item for women to wear. For men also belts were generally associated with uniforms such as the military and police uniforms.

Belts are usually made out of leather and sometimes cloth and it helps in supporting articles of clothing. Sometimes belts are used for decorative purposes or to make a fashion or style statement. It basically depends on who is wearing them and when. If you are a women and you wear a belt it is probably to follow a certain fashion, if you belong in the "punk' or "gothic" culture then it is most likely to make a statement.

As mentioned before belts original intention was to be part of military uniform. It was not unusual for military personnel to wear belts extra tight so as to give the fit and trim appearance that is associated with the military. When the 1920's hit, there were some changes in men's pants designs. The waistline was lowered and the pants were made to be more lose fitting, this is when the use of belts became wide spread.

There are many variations and uses for belts other than just holding up clothes. As mentioned before it became and remained a staple of women's clothing starting in the 1950's. Police and construction workers use what's known as a utility belt, to hold the tools of the trade. A trend some say that started with the cowboys.

Today there are a huge variety of belts available and belts have become something that people notice especially if it is worn with a specific reason in mind. During the 1980's such trends as the "gothic' and "punk" came into fashion. For such folks wearing what is known as a studded belt is the norm. It is a belt that is generally a little bit wider and will have metal studs to make it look coarser.