During the 2000s, simply no outfit was complete without the addition of a big, honking belt. You know the ostentatious kind that I’m talking about: An extra-wide style that instantly makes its presence known. The brazen accessory was never really there to hold up anything, either—it was designed for fashion not function, and you got bonus points if it was fastened just below the bust, not even remotely near your waistline. All of the It girls of the decade rocked the look, from Beyoncé and Rihanna to Paris Hilton. (That’s hot.)
If you’ve long moved on from Y2K style, we’re sorry to report this: The big belt is slowly creeping its way back into fashion once again. Although, it looks a little different in the present tense. On the fall 2025 runways, designers put forward a fresh new crop of big statement belts that felt decidedly more refined. (For starters, they are no longer being paired with skintight Hervé Lèger bandage dresses.) At Balmain, Olivier Rousteing paired his plushy faux fur coats with thick burgundy embossed belts. At Chloé, designer Chemena Kamali accessorized romantic billowy blouses with wide, low-slung belts—a fresh take on bohemian dressing.
Even celebrities are slowly beginning to partake in the trend. Snow White star Rachel Zegler, for one, recently stepped out in a sequin top and high-waisted trousers, the latter of which was punctuated with a wide belt with circular buckle. Rose Byrne also styled her white lace dress with a thick brown leather obi belt in Paris. Compared to the Y2K styling of wide belts, both stars took an approach that feels much more subdued; The belt added dimension to the look, without totally overpowering it. (If this were 2008? The whole outfit would revolve around the belt.)
Photo: Getty Images
Photo: Getty Images
So, does this rising movement mean you need to delve back into your closet, and dust off your most enormous belt of the 2000s? Not necessarily. Like any cyclical trend that comes back into the fashion fray, it’s less about replicating the exact look. Instead, the trend’s newfound presence is here to remind us that, sometimes, a hefty statement belt is just the thing your outfit needs to feel complete. Don’t discount the power of it, but don’t necessarily pair it with a bandage dress either. Do as the runways did, and style it with more refined pieces instead.
Below, shop six wide belts that feel modern and fresh.
