I'm So Sorry, But We've Reentered the Era of the Unnecessary Belt

If the old-school 20-year trend cycle is to be believed, then we're looking at a rewind that will take us all the way back to 2003. By now, it should come as no surprise that all manner of early 2000s fashion items have come roaring back onto the scene in recent years, but no matter how many of the era's controversial trends reemerge—from low-rise jeans to thong heels—we can't help but feel shocked whenever fashion reaches back into the archives for yet another Y2K style element. So when I deliver the news I'm about to share here, don't get mad at me if you're personally triggered. I'm only the messenger after all! 

Well, I'm so sorry, but we've once again reentered the era of the unnecessary belt. Of all the early aughts trends many of us lived through, the useless belt is perhaps the most pervasive of all in the collective consciousness. Up to now, it was the butt of every joke. Low-rises may be coming back, but at least random belts aren't. Controversial as they may be, nothing defined the half decade's chaotic approach to accessorizing quite like useless belts did, and the most memorable celebrity looks of the era, from Sienna Miller to Paris Hilton to Beyoncé, all feature one.

Sienna Miller in 2004 and Beyoncé in 2003

On the runways:

This year, useless belts are heading for a rerun, and the recent runways are proof. At Tory Burch, Michael Kors, and Blumarine, belts were slung low on the hips atop jersey dresses, knits, and miniskirts.

Tory Burch spring/summer 2023

Michael Kors fall/winter 2023

Blumarine fall/winter 2023

How to wear it:

To provide some inspiration, I looked to fashion people to see how they're styling their Y2K-inspired looks. Whether a belt is layered over a sleek maxi dress or thrown on with basics like jeans, the following outfits will have you seeing the throwback accessory in a whole new light.

Take a page out of the early 2000s styling book and wear a belt over a low-rise miniskirt. It's what Beyoncé and Hilton would do.

If you told me last year that I'd be suggesting that you wear the combination of a long tunic over jeans and a belt on top, I wouldn't have believed you. On paper, the look reads like a 2003-era time capsule, but done in a streamlined way like the outfit above, it really can feel fresh for 2023.

If you're feeling especially bold, try belting a pair of hot pants for the ultimate downtown feel.

Pictured: Khaite Benny Studded Leather Belt ($550)

One outfit trend I've been noticing a lot involves a wide belt like the kind you'd normally loop into jeans or trousers slung over a simple dress. The belt may serve zero purpose in the outfit, but it adds the right amount of oomph to an otherwise plain dress.

Double the belts, double the fun. While the top belt may actually do some work holding up your bottoms of choice, the addition of the second belt is purely aesthetic and a fun twist on the classic accessory. Since it's a lot of accessorizing, keep things streamlined by opting for two styles on the simpler side.

Pictured: Netta Ruched Catsuit ($340)

Catsuits are the ideal canvas to showcase a statement accessory like a funky belt. Here, the quirkier the better.

Matching skirt sets rarely need any further styling, but adding a cool belt will make one instantly feel very 2023.