It started with a belt

This is the motto of OUAB since we experienced the awakening to just how wonderful ladies belts are. We’ve always appreciated good quality in a classic ladies leather belt but researching belts for OUAB we found ladies belts in exquisite leather in stunning designs that made us swoon, made us covet, made us want to find clothes that recreate the great belt looks inspired by what we saw in the fashion magazines and on the catwalks around the world.

Choose your outfit to match that fabulous leather belt – with belts this gorgeous they should be the start of deciding what to wear to look fab today.

The 10 belt styles every woman should own

How to get a great wardrobe

1. Good quality leather or suede jeans belt in black, brown, tan, grey or navy to match your favourite boots or handbags where you can see the natural beauty of the grain in the leather. At least 4mm thick leather if you want it to last and last. Either with a simple all purpose buckle or a belt strap where you can add different buckles. Romantics will be lost if they don't have some sparkle on their buckle. If you don't have a long enough waist to feel comfortable with a jeans belt go for a 1 inch/2.5cm trouser belt. Skinny girls can wear a skinny belt as a jeans belt and really rock that look.
2. An elasticated belt either for a cinched look (wide or narrow for the short waisted) or for comfort worn lower down (which you can do with our elastic belts with interchangeable buckles).
3. A smart narrow belt, preferably in interesting colour or print so you can make a statement and for the less brave not go over the top. Plus your fitted dresses are just crying out for a skinny belt. If you love skinny belts get a basic colour too. Wear patterned belts with plain clothes and on floral or print clothing a plain belt. Skinny belts are best suited to 'loud' outfits i.e. bold patterns. Feel free to mix and match plain clothes with plain belts - what looks amazingly chic is wearing one basic colour top to toe plus accent of a coloured belt that matches either your handbag or necklace (this doesn't work as well with a wide belt as can make you look wide too). Skinny and short waisted girls should go with a skinny belt but larger ladies may want to try a 1" trouser belt if a skinny will look too lost / too out of proportion on them.
4. A tie belt to cinch looser clothing or add interest to fitted dresses plus a host of other uses. Short waists should choose a narrow tie belt, average ladies can go with 3" obi style sash tie belt (also pear shapes wearing it slightly lower than the waist or better still a long length narrow belt double wrapped loosely a bit like an obi), taller torsos can choose 3 or 4" wide obi. Get a basic colour that matches most of your accessories and also one that makes more of a statement if you don't already have a wide belt in an exciting colour but we have an amazing colour choice in obi belts. Visit our special obi belt website to learn how to tie an obi belt plus much more. If you are a classic clothing personality that cannot live without structure the obi belts won't feel right for you but a narrow tie belt tied in a neat bow could do it.
5. A smart waist belt to join separates, preferably wide but if shorter waisted choose a jeans belt/1.5"/4cm (or jeans belt strap plus buckle to create one). If a larger lady go for a Sandra belt as it is soft leather and is best worn slightly lower than the waist in a gentle V shape (larger sizes of it make it a hip belt).
6. A casual hip belt which you can wear with a host of items including over the top of your hipster jeans if you are a slinky malinky and apple shapes or larger ladies should go for a style which is asymmetric or V shaped plus get smart ones too as this style is their best friend in belts. If you want to lengthen your body choose colours that match the colour of the garment worn underneath.
7. A metallic belt in a colour that matches the jewellery colour you most wear - this could be a gold skinny belt (so wonderful on a little black or brown dress etc), silver jeans belt (great look even for day wear, especially in the summer), wide belt, hip belt, pewter or vintage gold obi belt (popular choice for women wanting to add that extra oomph to make the dress they have chosen to wear to a friend's wedding really special). It's great to match belts to a cuff bracelet too.
8. A chain belt is a lovely belt to own. Don't be scared of trying one as you can always return it if you don't like it. That could also count as your metallic belt but the metallic leather belts are so useful it is worth having a chain belt too.
9. An invisibelt for when you want to hold up your jeans or trousers and wear a long top or sweater over them. The invisibelt has a flat buckle so it doesn't look lumpy under your top and there is no pin buckle to wear a hole in your sweaters!
10. A textured belt in suede or leather is a must have - it will be imprinted with a snake or mock croc design and maybe in one shade or a few which makes it great for matching with tons of stuff. It adds wonderful interest and class worn over plain smooth knit solid colour fabrics or simple outfits such as t-shirt, jeans and jacket - don't team it with textured clothes though as that will be too much. We don't like real snake as that's becoming more and more unethical due to their limited numbers. Hair on belts look wonderful with blingy buckles, particularly black, but note the hair does shed over time and it's part and parcel of these belts. Italians and Spanish tend to be the only ones brave enough to mix bling buckles with mock crocodile leathers etc so think exciting belt strap but plain buckle or a buckle that is covered in the same material or is the same colour.

Some of your belt stash may be patent finish too - not only does it match with patent details on clothing or other patent accessories (even if not in same colour) but high gloss jewellery etc. Again it adds subtle interest to an outfit e.g. a black patent belt on a little black dress. Natural clothing personalities will shy away from anything with a high sheen and for their interest factor choose a leather weave / woven belt / plaited belt instead.

Why buy a quality belt?

Buying a quality belt is like investing in good luggage - it will last longer and weather better, not needing several replacements which when added up you'd have been better off buying a good quality belt. There's an old Armenian saying that goes "There's nothing as cheap as the most expensive"! Plus it makes you feel and look good too - invest in a great belt and it will make the most inexpensive items look fabulous.

Our belts are seriously good value

Most of our belts are UK or European made by skilled leather craftsmen using lovely hides. Good quality belts take time to make and finish. The workers are paid a fair wage and work in good conditions. Many are made for us by a UK factory so we don't have to factor in a middle man's wholesale price and can offer you excellent value. It's also important to us to see when we visit that the people making our belts our jolly - we put love into our collection and meeting our customers' needs so it's only right we have belts made with love too!

Belt love – it’s a wonderful thing

There’s always room in your wardrobe for another belt

Reasons to go shopping for ladies belts:

1. Timeless investment – belts, whatever the style, don’t date with very few exceptions. If they are good quality leather belts you can wear them for decades which makes them a great wardrobe investment.
2. Instant touch of class – adding the right women's belt propels you into the league of the best dressed. If you want to make a good impression, wear a good belt. A simple outfit bought in a cheap shop on the High Street can look a million dollars when teamed with the right good quality accessories.
3. Joy to own – because it feels so good to own a belt that is beautifully made in a stunning design from quality materials. A pleasure to look at, feel and wear, plus you don’t need to take it to the dry cleaners.
4. An injection of confidence – wearing a belt completes an outfit giving you that polished look and when you look great, you feel great and ooze confidence.
5. Budget conscious magic – they have magical powers to transform a women's existing wardrobes and inspire new outfit combinations. You don’t have to buy new clothes – buy a new belt and get more from your closet!
6. Dignity with panache - they stop your clothes from falling down as well as looking good.
7. Fabulous gift - a belt makes a gorgeous gift for any woman, that is both functional and beautiful.

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