i will be the first to admit that i squirmed a little before deciding to recommend a belt to you all that can range in price from $250 to $350.  i mean, i loved the look, and they were definitely the hippest belts i’d found, but $250? for a belt?

then i tried one in person, and it all made sense.  beryll really does make a divine, splurge-worthy accessory.  each of their belts is retooled from an incredibly thick, rich vintage leather belt (usually military-issue, so we’re not talking soft here…we’re talking indestructible).  they refinish them, enhance the natural distressing, add some highly cool details, and send them off with the phrase “worn by good people” tooled on the back.  and every last bit of that detailing is done by hand.

i’ve always been sort of an anti-belt person, as the hubs would undoubtedly attest.  but it turns out that i’d just never really loved a belt before.  the truth is that a chic belt really can make your look…and your figure.  even in jeans, it just sort of creates a silhouette where there wasn’t one.  lately, i’ve taken to wearing my loose, summery dresses with a belt, covered by a long cashmere cardi.  add tights and boots, and it’s winterwear perfection.  i’ve styled my beryll a million different ways, and it always manages to feel perfectly unfussy, and works just as well to dress up jeans or dress down a jersey frock.

so, all of this to say: if you’re a belt newbie, try a cheaper model first, of course.  but if you’re a long-time devotee of the belt, a really cool, versatile version that you absolutely love is definitely a worthy splurge, and a must in your closet.

if there’s a down side to beryll (besides the pricing), it’s that these are nearly impossible to track down online.  personally, i love the vintage silver ($335), but i have scoured the net high and low, and simply cannot find one for you to buy (but their showroom people are absolutely lovely to chat with, and will happily send anything you want).  for versatility, though, i do love the brown, and it’s on the lower end of the pricing scale for beryll ($256).  whichever you choose, you might consider sizing up so that you can choose between a hip-slung look or a more fitted at-the-waist look.  these have plenty of holes to work for both.

ps…while you’re looking, don’t miss those amazing studded leather cuffs, which are just crazy cool!

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