How the Gucci Belt Won 2019

It’s hard to say why a pair of interlocking Gs floating navel-height on a leather strap has the effect that it does. In a game of free association, you say Gucci belt, we say “model off duty,” “best of the early 2000s,” “understated perfection,” “timeless,” and “who is she?”

We know we love it, but why do we love it so much?

The celebrity fan list is long

Maybe it’s the design itself, or maybe it’s the unbelievable cast of icons who’ve been seen sporting the hip candy. Are you ready for it? Take a deep breath:

Jennifer Aniston, Chrissy Teigen, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Kendall Jenner, Miranda Kerr, Olivia Munn, Alessandra Ambrosio, Dakota Johnson, Kourtney Kardashian, Debra Messing, Vanessa Hudgens, Tara Reid, Cindy Crawford, Mary J. Blige, Janice Dickinson, Patricia Manfield, Taraji P. Henson, Ashley Tisdale, Lauren Pope.

And that’s not even including all of the stylish men who’ve pioneered the piece (we see you, T.I.!)

They're a staple in fashion history

More so than even the Louis Vuitton LV belt or the Chanel belt, this leather accessory has a place in Gucci’s — and all of fashion’s — history. The house has been making belts since its founding in 1921, back when it was basically just a luxury brand for bougie, equestrian types. At that point, the quintessential Gucci belt of the time was inspired by horsebits, a style they’re still producing.

Then, Harlem superstar Dapper Dan enters the game to totally turn over the brand’s “dusty” appeal. Though he started out making showstopping yet copyright-infringing creations using Gucci’s iconic monogrammed leather (and was sued into obscurity because of it), he’s now in partnership with the brand, evolving the legendary accessory with this belt bag.

Gucci belt sales are higher than ever

We all went a little gaga for the Gucci belt in 2019, and we’re showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, it has ranked amongst the top ten items on the Lyst Index — a data-based ranking of the fashion items we’re shopping for in a given time — for at least the last two years. Other “It” items come and go, but the Gucci belt is an undeniable fixture.

And the brand is feeling that love, too. Its parent company, Kering, reported that Gucci’s profits came in better than expected in the most recent quarter, with an 11.6 percent growth in sales.

Where can I get a Gucci belt cheap?

There’s not much use holding out for a discounted Gucci belt, as sales on these high-demand items almost never happen. On the high end of the spectrum, the Gucci belt snake design costs $750 — the equivalent of 37.5 actual pet snakes, or 30 Topshop belts, which you can easily find for as low as $25 at any given time.

Next up, the best-known interlocking G style on a leather strap commands $460, and the signature striped version also sells for about that amount. This skinny waist belt with a miniaturized monogram buckle is a bit cheaper at $350, and (if you can somehow squeeze your way in) the Gucci belt kids edition is both adorable and even easier on the wallet, coming in at $275.

If all else fails and you’re looking to save some cash, you can get a used Gucci belt on resale sites like Vestiaire Collective — which, at the time of writing, had 1,872 versions — or StockX, currently selling 176 authentic Gucci belts.

Shop now: $460; net-a-porter.com