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Wrangler is a Classic

Posted on February 21, 2008 by admin Filed Under Articles, Fashion, History | 1 Comment

I wrote about the Wrangler/Marc Jacobs connection last month but thought the classic jean company was worth another visit. A 2007 NY Times article explains the history of Wrangler–early days competing with Lee Jeans to modern day styles sold at Barneys–and outlines a few of the features that make Wrangler’s Cowboy Cut Jean so popular: “The pockets are positioned high in the back so that riders don’t sit on their wallets, and the belt loops are set a little wider in front to accommodate a championship buckle.”

Sweet Belt Buckles For Your Sweetheart

Posted on February 14, 2008 by admin Filed Under Articles, Fashion, History | Leave a Comment

So, today is Valentine’s Day. The champagne is chilled and the reservations have been made. Women are preening and men are making their annual last-minute pilgrimage to the jewelry store, florist, chocolate shoppe and/or boutique for the gift that says “I love you”.
But how many boxes of chocolate or bushels of roses does a woman need to receive in a lifetime? And, for him, a tie or a bottle of Scotch isn’t nearly personal enough. I say, buy your partner a hot belt buckle instead.
You don’t have to be a rhinestone cowboy to don a western belt buckle. A recent SanLuisObispo.com article posted photos of contemporary belt buckles–a few are straight shooting enough to be worn on Wall Street.
Men are, after all, very limited when it comes to gussying up an outfit. The only accessories my husband wears are a scarf and his wedding band. On occasion he carries a murse (a man purse)–we live in New York and morph into pack mules when we must go from work to dinner without a visit to the home front. I know it’s wrong but I can’t help but laugh when I see him head for the door with what kind of looks like a woman’s handbag. He pulled it from my closet one day–he’d rather die than go shopping–and has been using it ever since.
Anyway, when I got to thinking about a gift for my sweetheart, I got to thinking about one of the sweet belt buckles I’d seen on the site. It’s between the first one, simple and classic, and the fourth, a little edgier. I’ll keep you posted after I’ve made my choice. Until then, Giddy-up. Only six more shopping hours left before dinner.

Eastern Belt Buckles

Posted on February 3, 2008 by admin Filed Under Articles, History, History of the Western Belt Buckle, Special Buckles | Leave a Comment

Ciao Canada! We’re heading East for a brief lesson on the origins of belt buckles. According to the Encyclopedia Brittanica, belt buckles were an indispensible part of the equipment worn by Roman and Greek warriors. Metalsmiths took great pride in ornamenting them with intricate designs.
An incredible specimen ca. 400 was found in the tomb of a mercenery soldier in Vermand, France. Though Romans considered those living outside the Empire to be barbarians, they often relied on these exiles and foreigners to protect the Empire’s borders. This particular soldier is suspected to have been very high-ranking; his set of belt buckle and three spear shaft mounts is gilded and richly inlaid with patterns of scrolls and rosettas.
The buckle, in particular, resembles many modern western belt buckles. Its careful metalwork and geometric design alongisde two eagle-like creatures, most likely Phoenixes, resting on the buckles clasp, mark it as an obvious precursor to the belt buckles that would later develop in the West.

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