Holy Grail of '30s Belts - FOUND!

[Marc Chevalier]

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Layyyyydies and gentlemen: after 20 years of my fruitless searching, two of the most elusive types of Golden Era belts have crossed my path: the 1930s WHITE LEATHER and the WHITE/BLACK SPECTATOR.


As you know, men in the '30s wore white shoes in the summer. Typically, they wore those shoes with matching white belts, which had white bakelite (or white enameled metal) buckles. And when men wore spectator shoes, their belts were often two-toned as well. Here are some from a late '30s issue of Esquire magazine:

For some reason, these particular vintage belts are nearly impossible to find today. And good luck nabbing a deadstock one in a decent size!

Well, in the space of a month, they "came into in my life". On eBay, where else? Size 34. (I'm a size 32, but for some reason the '30s belts labeled "32" don't fit me.)

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[Marc Chevalier]

And *ahem* there are more where these came from.


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[Vermifuge]

And *ahem* there are more where these came from.


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I need one of these.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'll PM anyone who's interested. You can then speak directly with the seller (who isn't me, by the way).


Is no one else keen on these? Think about next summer, folks.


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[AlanC]

What's the $$$ damage?

 

[tallyho]

just 34s?

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

The black and white is cool.

I'd be interested in a 36,...or maybe I should say 38 if they run small compared to today's sizes?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

You have to talk to the seller about price. I bought the two white belts from the seller via eBay's "Buy-It-Now" option. One was $15, the other was $10. The spectator belt was won via an open auction. There, I paid more than I should have.


Even so, an auction for a deadstock '30s white/green spectator belt (size 34) just ended without any bidders -- and the opening bid price was only 99 cents!!!

This seller has a variety of sizes.

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[scotrace]

And these men hung onto their white belts, and wore them to hold up their sky blue pants with the folded over waistband when they went to drool at the Haven of Rest Nursing Home....

Sorry, wouldn't be caught DEAD in those.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Wiiiide white patent leather belts from the '70s, with their giant buckles and crackled veneers -- NO!


Less than 1" wide, white suede or cowhide leather belts from the '30s with their elegant white buckles and smooth or stitched veneers -- YES!


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[Marc Chevalier]

Look at it this way, Scotrace: If you're going to wear white bucks and you don't want to wear suspenders with your casual trousers, what color of belt can you wear? White is pretty much the only option. Remember that belts and shoes look well when they're matched in color.

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[John in Covina]

The Full Cleveland!

Wiiiide white patent leather belts from the '70s, with their giant buckles and crackled veneers -- NO! .

THe White belt and white slip on shoes of the 70's especially when partnerd with a leasure suit was known as:

"The Full Cleveland" :eusa_doh:

in mens stores and tailor circles!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Yeah, that was awful. But a pair of cream flannel or linen trousers with white shoes -- and a white buck belt -- looks good.

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[Marc Chevalier]

So many things have been twisted out of context:



-- '40s and '50s Warner Brothers cartoons featuring '20s tunes, thus brainwashing generations of kids into thinking that Tin Pan Alley is "Bugs Bunny music".


-- '70s knitwear manufacturers making double-knit polyester "leisure suits" from 1940s gabardine "Ricky" jacket designs.


-- '70s suitmakers (even Levi's!) creating polyester belted-back suits.



Does this mean that I won't listen to Tin Pan Alley tunes without seeing visions of Tweety Bird, or that I won't wear a '40s gab jacket or '30s belted-back suit, lest I see Mr. Roper in the mirror? Certainly not.


Don't be afraid of '30s white belts and shoes, amigos. They're made of natural materials, and they don't crackle.


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[Maj.Nick Danger]

THe White belt and white slip on shoes of the 70's especially when partnerd with a leasure suit was known as:

"The Full Cleveland" :eusa_doh:

in mens stores and tailor circles!

I'm from the Cleveland area so I feel the full impact of that stigma. We were never known to be on the cutting edge of fashion here. lol

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I will be temporarily depressed (for about two minutes) if Scotrace doesn't change his mind about white belts.

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[Tomasso]

Full Cleveland, Ferragamo style.

 

[Happy Stroller]

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Wonderful photo, Marc.

What's the material for the white strips? I don't think they're suede, or are they?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Embossed cowhide. The green stripe doesn't seem to be an insert; it's painted or dyed.

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[Sefton]

That looks decent. I don't see any problem with that pictured outfit at all. I also like the belts that Marc found. Congratulations!