I Wear-Tested 15 Viral Belts and Honestly Think These 5 Are Worth the Hype

Though practical in nature, belts of all shapes and sizes have always been played around with and utilized in the fashion space. Looking back, it’s hard to find an era that prioritizes the traditionally utilitarian accessory quite as much as our current one. Now, practically every one of the top brands is experimenting with them, utilizing unique buckles, materials, and styling to elevate individual looks and collections as a whole. But seeing a chic belt in a runway show or viral TikTok video isn’t the same as actually wearing one, and since some of today’s buzziest styles cost hundreds of dollars, I thought I’d take it upon myself to do some digging and find out which hold up IRL.

My determination? If you were under the impression that all belts are created equal, I’m sorry to break it to you, but you’ve been led astray. After trying out 15 in total—at home, at the office, for a night out, and just in random stores around NYC‘s dressing rooms—I can say with absolute certainty that the difference between a really good, worth-buying belt and the opposite is vast and not easy to tell from an e-commerce image. Lucky for you, I’m ready to share all of my findings, including the five best belts that I tried on, from a $58 Madewell option to a $720 style from Khaite. Scroll down to read all about them ahead of your next belt buy.

B-Low the Belt Jordana Mini Moto Belt

The studded-belt look has been making waves in and around the fashion space for about a year now, mostly because of the success of Khaite’s Benny Belt. The style I’ve seen talked about most online is actually B-Low the Belt’s Jordana Mini Moto Belt, which features the same studded details but with a larger, more Western-inspired buckle. Plus, it’s a lot more affordable at $209. The Jordana belt was sold out for what felt like forever, but it recently was restocked at Bloomingdale’s and on the brand’s website in the Bone Silver colorway. I, of course, had to put it to the test.