I’m a Fashion Editor & I Can’t Get on Board with This Accessory Trend

It started with a photo of fashion influencer Nina Sandbech at Copenhagen Fashion Week. She was wearing a burgundy overcoat with exaggerated shoulders that she cinched at the waist with not one, not two, but four different belts. The sculptural effect was gorgeous, almost like a menswear-inspired spin on a corset, and immediately stood out from a sea of other street style photos. It even harkened back to Daniel Roseberry’s Schiaparelli 2024 collection, which featured a corset and jacket made of belts.

But then I saw multiple New York Fashion Week attendees rocking the look, too, most with a modest Crosby-approved two belts, but some with three or even four again. Over the past few weeks, in fact, I feel as though I’ve seen nothing but belts, more and more frequently worn in multiples, everywhere I look.

And I’ll admit, I see these gals and do have the thought, “wow, that does actually look very cool.” But the second I try to recreate it I inevitably turn into drunk Gary Oldman. I tried to look into whether these fashion month guests were perhaps wearing a singular belt simply designed to give the illusion of two belts—often the biggest names attending a runway show will be dressed by the brand to showcase the designs, making it easy to ID the various pieces of front row outfits—but alas, I’ve thus come up short. It appears these women really are strapping on a menagerie of belts and finding ways to make it look incredibly cool all by themselves.

So if they can do it, why can’t I?

I’ve worked in fashion long enough to be able to figure out the logistics of belt layering! I’ve tested enough questionable trends throughout the years that I should be fully capable of figuring out how to make this concept work for my wardrobe! And after combing through what feels like 10,000 images of street style stars wearing anywhere from two to five belts at once I think I may have finally cracked the code. And it all comes down to three distinct rules of styling.

The folks who opted for three or more belts looked coolest when they used those belts to mimic a corset creating an hourglass shape with the help of an exaggerated shoulder, puff sleeve or flared bottom. But they also followed the ever-important Three-Color Rule, sticking with only three hues to keep their outfit looking cohesive and not overly busy. This allows all the focus to be on your creative belt styling, giving your look an interesting shape without ever being too much.

Second is to focus on chain belts. Whether you opt for two different coin or chain styles, or combine one classic leather belt with some boho links, these draped designs give the feeling of a bag charm for your waist. They don’t register in the same way as a leather belt, making them much easier to layer while still looking intentional. That said, I’d avoid doing too many metallic belts at once, or you may risk looking like a bad Esmerelda costume.

Lastly, you gotta go big, folks. The outfits that tried to keep it simple with two plain black or brown leather belts worn at the hips with tailored trousers or a ‘90s-era maxi skirt just didn’t do it for me. These middle ground options, those that play it safe, are the ones that run the biggest risk of looking like you got dressed in the dark. Or while drunk on the set of a movie.

If you’re going to try a weird fashion trend, you must embrace the weird and know that this accessory will draw attention and will be the focus of your outfit. There are just some trends that are meant to be bold, and wearing multiple belts at once is one of them.