• Home
• About Us
• Contact Us
• RSS
• About MicroShops.com

Big for Boys, Thin for Girls: Summer Belt & Buckle Trends

Posted on May 30, 2008 by admin Filed Under Articles, Fashion, Fun, Vintage Belt Buckles | Leave a Comment

Shoulder pads are back. High waisted trousers are back. Even grunge is back. Ugggh…remember grunge? Growing up, my family didn’t have a lot of cash so I’ve never understood looking intentionally broke and dirty. But that’s another story. The point is retro, old-school, whatever you dub it, is in and belt buckles play a big part in the revival. Fashion mags and style blogs are touting vintage belt buckles for men and slender, waist-accentuating belts for women this summers go-to accessories.
I’m a believer. Memorial day weekend was the first actual summer-like weather we’ve received in New York and I got a glimpse of what summer fashion will look like. A friend hosted a BBQ wherein I counted no less than 17 uber-cool belts/belt buckles on attendees. Most of the gals wore cotton floral dresses with gladiator sandals (I don’t get this combo but, again, another story) and cinched their waists with multiple thin belts. The fellas–surprise, surprise–diversified. One cool cat paired madras shorts with a pewter “Don’t Mess with Texas” buckle and white polo, a la Anthony Kim (see previous posts on the PGA/western belt buckle connection). Another went Williamsburg ironic with jeans, tee and and an “I heart Jesus” buckle. When I asked him about religion he told me he was Jewish. I heart New York.
Whatever your take, sift through Mom and Dad’s closets, stop by a stoop sale or log on to my personal fave, amazon, for second-hand belts and belt buckles with patina and a past.

**photo courtesy of Stevenspwns at Flicker.

Resin: Another Reason to Love Belt Buckles

Posted on May 29, 2008 by admin Filed Under Articles, Collecting Belt Buckles, Fashion, Special Buckles | Leave a Comment

Anyone into collecting belt buckles must see those by Brooks Salzwedel. What was, at first, a fluke–Salzwedel was working on an art school project when one of his assignments looked very much like a belt buckle–has turned into a full-fledged business. His buckles are now carried in stores from New York to LA.
Salzwedel’s buckles are, indeed, art. Reminiscent of the plastic buttons and baubles that adorned the lapels of well-dressed women in the 40’s and 50’s, the resin buckles range in design from bold and graphic to cloudy and scenic and can be worn with equal ease by guys and gals.

What a Waist!

Posted on May 28, 2008 by admin Filed Under Fashion | Leave a Comment

Click it, wrap it, buckle it, cinch it. Whatever form your belt takes this season, tie one on for maximum trend effect. The spring/summer collections from designers like Marc Jacobs, Celine and Ruffian highlighted the waistline with belts and belt buckles made of everything from leather to legos.
The looks ranged from hippie chic to clean classic, proving once again that the right belt can diversify your wardrobe and take a few basics–crisp white blouse and wrap skirt for women, jeans and button-ups for men–in a variety of directions.
Check out one style.com readers fave belts and buckles for inspiration.

Pick of the Week: A Belt Buckle to Memorialize

Posted on May 26, 2008 by admin Filed Under Collecting Belt Buckles, Pick of the Week, Special Buckles | 1 Comment

In honor of Memorial Day, this week’s Pick of the Week is a WWII vet belt buckle. Solid pewter with incredible 3D detailing, the buckle depicts the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima and the three facets of our military–air, land, sea.
If you’re lucky enough to be relaxing at the beach or throwing some steaks on the grill today, say a prayer for our troops and thank a vet. War may be ugly but service is always honorable.

Riddle: What Do Belt Buckles and Belvedere Vodka Have in Common?

Posted on May 22, 2008 by admin Filed Under Articles, Fun | Leave a Comment

Answer: Both are products representing a “luxury lifestyle”. Of course, to buy that line of thinking you’d have to define luxury as drinking red bull and vodka and performing public fellatio. Perhaps Paris Hilton is the target audience? It would probably not be the definition of luxury if you were a reader of Wired, the magazine in which the ad first appeared–seriously flawed marketing, as Freddy Nager points out in his Cool Rules Pronto column.

But ad placement and overtly sexual innuendo are not the problem with this ad. The problem is in the styling. Seriously, folks. The “satisfied” chap with the belt buckle is not a jet-setting hipster, he’s a cowboy and when have you known a real cowboy to drink Belvedere? And how do I know he’s a cowboy? Well….
1. His shirt is bright white and entirely tucked in. Hipsters buy withered second-hand shirts and tuck them in only behind the buckle for that disheveled, “I’m not trying too hard” look.
2. His denim is crisp, lacks stretch and pulled taut around the family jewels. No low-rise, skinny jeans for this guy.
3. He’s erect…er, standing up straight. Hipsters slouch.

So, I’ll ask again. What do Belt Buckles and Belvedere Vodka Have in Common? Answer: Aside from the fact that they’re both nouns, nada. Long live cowboys who work a full day, tuck in their shirts and respect women. I’m off now for a quick game of tennis and a relaxing shiatsu massage…just as soon as I finish drinking my Schlitz on the rocks.

Other sites and blogs by