-
ORDER OUR BOOK TODAY
Now available in paperback.
In praise of the reversible belt
Maybe I spent far too much time playing with my Transformers as a kid, but for some reason, I always get a kick out of flipping the buckle on my reversible belt whenever my shoe choice dictates that it’s necessary to change from brown to black (or vice versa). Despite the disapproving look my wife gives me, I refuse to stop making the Michael Bay sound effects during the aforementioned buckle-flipping.
A reversible belt saves space in your closet. They are perfect for travel and usually less expensive than buying separate belts in black and brown.
In particular, we like this men’s belt from Kenneth Cole:
And this women’s belt from Nine West:
more sharing
23 comments posted
Posted by plasticturtle - 03/16/2010
I use one everyday, it is part of the “pants transfer.”
Belt, wallet, keys, pen, laser pointer, and access badge. I never have to reach or look for another belt.
Posted by Jim - 03/16/2010
I used to have a reversible belt, except that after a little while the spring mechanism made a screeching scraping sound when I walked.
Posted by Erin Doland - 03/16/2010
@Jim — Do you remember what brand that was?
Posted by April - 03/16/2010
This only works if you use both sides fairly equally. I have a reversible belt, and since I use the black side most of the time, it’s got permanent creases. So, when I try to use the brown side, it doesn’t work very well/lay flat. :/
Posted by Suzyn - 03/16/2010
Orrrrr… you could buy only black (or brown) shoes!
Posted by Sean - 03/16/2010
I had one from Dockers. It fell apart after a few months; it split along the side where the brown joins the black. Classic example of taking something simple, complicating it, and having it fail.
Posted by Sarah S. - 03/16/2010
This consolidation works for me. I do not often wear belts so wearing out is not an issue but it is a quality brand and has been a silent part of my wardrobe for going on ten years.
Posted by Cara - 03/16/2010
I have the Calvin Klein reversible and love it. I finally killed my Nine West reversible – after like 4 years! Oh please post a sound bite so we can HEAR the Michael Bay sound effect!!
Posted by Kimberly - 03/16/2010
I just bought a reversible belt for my husband last week (from Gap). So far I haven’t heard any Transformers sound effects, though.
Posted by Brenda - 03/16/2010
My husband has one he has worn for years (at least 15, probably more) It is well worn. I bought him a dockers one a few years ago, hoping he would get rid of the old one. He now wears the new one only when he dresses up, and the old one goes with his everyday jeans. Oh and my husband has to make sound effects too, drives me nuts.
Posted by A. - 03/16/2010
I LOVE reversible items, and wish I had more. They really simplify things. I don’t wear belts, but if I needed a black and brown one, this would be awesome. I do have a pair of reversible tights (reverse from black to grey, but they also come in black to brown, from Spanx), and a reversible skirt that goes from black to navy.
Posted by Bill - 03/16/2010
I had one of these a couple of years ago. It had a buckle that kind of pulled up and twisted around. I’d only used the thing for a couple of weeks and the buckle popped off. I returned it for another and the same thing happened… Granted, mine was a cheapish (~$20) belt; but I’m a little skittish of them because of that.
Posted by ninjanun - 03/16/2010
I bought a reversible belt about a year ago. I rarely use it, because I rarely wear belts, so it hasn’t worn out yet. Come to think of it, I have a black belt AND a brown belt that I also haven’t worn in years. Maybe it’s time to get rid of them (although they are a bit wider and of a more casual style than the reversible belt) since the reversible belt can do the job of both.
Posted by rhombulus - 03/16/2010
I had one of these until the buckle just broke clean off. Bought another one (different brand) and the same exact thing happened.
I like my belts simple and durable.
Posted by Nathan - 03/16/2010
I have one black/brown AND one that is black/white that is a little more casual. I’m a HUGE fan of clothing that can be worn in multiple ways.
Posted by Scott - 03/16/2010
I had one of these for about 5 years or so – until the past few weeks I was ready to sing the same praises as in the post. The one I’d had for so long was stating to get a little worn looking in the buckle finish, so I bought a new one (Perry Ellis).
Within a month, it started cracking on one side from being bent both directions so much.
So I started wearing the old one again – and in one week the buckle popped off where the swivel was.
I still like the concept, and I did have a lot of luck with that first one. But I also realized maybe two belts isn’t THAT big of a deal after all.
Posted by Michael - 03/16/2010
As a frequent traveller, I am pleased to have recently purchased a reversible belt from Reiss which I absolutely love. It was a little pricey (US $90) but it’s stylish and doesn’t set off airport metal detectors.
Posted by Leah - 03/16/2010
I just wear a black belt with everything; I haven’t had a problem yet in terms of fashion. But I do like the reversible belts (and their fancy clickiness). I just bought one for my boyfriend’s brother as a birthday gift.
Posted by Mary - 03/17/2010
My husband has the Columbia version of this belt. He absolutely loves it. I have seen a travel version in the Magellan’s catalog and it has a plastic buckle so it doesn’t set off the scanner at the airport.
Posted by Denise - 03/17/2010
d^___^b!! for Transformers sound effects!
I finally ditched all my brown accessories…I don’t look good in brown at all.
–One last pair of brown shoes went to my mom–she looks great in brown, and we wear the same shoe size.
She took one look at them, said “Hold on a second…” and went to her closet, bringing back an almost identical pair in BLACK for me. It was a perfect trade!
Posted by Gin - 03/18/2010
I love my reversible Calvin Klein belt. I had it for many years until it finally broke recently. I’ll definitely get another one (probably the same model, too–I think I saw one in Macy’s a couple of weeks ago).
Posted by Elizabeth - 03/19/2010
This somehow reminds me of an episode of Third Rock From The Sun. It’s the one where the Lieutenant (a male alien in a young woman’s body) goes shopping and retruns having blown the squad’s budget on clothes, which s/he justifies by saying something like “but the outfit NEEDED the shoes!”. The Captain returns the clothes and returns with an outfit – for the Lieutenant – about which the best, and in fact only, thing that can be said is that it’s practical.
Posted by Adventure-Some Matthew - 03/21/2010
I love my reversible belt! Black and brown, so I only need the one dress belt to match my shoes.
Comments are closed for this entry.