BELTED UP

Utility and technical clothing trends have been in for a while. Starting with bomber jackets and cargo pants, streetwear lovers have been wearing this trend for some time now. But throughout the years it has taken a new form, and things like harnesses, complex belts and buckle detailing has been popular within the streetwear community and also other communities like goths and cyberpunks. Sometimes this almost like bondage looking attire doesn’t come as a surprise, since lingerie has been worn for many years now as normal everyday attire too, and the utility/technical clothing trend has been in for a while.

 Especially generation x and y are driving this trend forward and being experimental with it. And even though the trend (especially things like harnesses and bondage details on pants) have been seen more on men, women are definitely becoming more familiar with it too. Streetwear influencers like Aleali May and Elyanna Sanchez are showing the way forward for women for sure.

Some brands have been playing around with these pvc or leather belts and silver hardware for a few years now, and for young brands like A-Cold-Wall and Heliot Emil it’s almost expected to see these details in all of their collections. Bigger brands, who are inspired by the streetwear/goth trends and younger generations a lot already, are most likely to hop on this trend soon enough, even giving it a more high-end or interesting twist. Some brands like Alexander McQueen, Helmut Lang and especially brands in Asia have done something similar in the past (and now), but in high fashion it hasn’t been a very popular trend yet. But just like chunky sneakers, only time will tell when every brand will be combining belts and buckles to their looks. This trend will definitely not slow down any time soon, but most likely just take different, even more interesting and surprising forms, especially if bigger designers are going to take inspiration from it and take it to the next level.