Vintage belts

[rue]

Hi ladies

I'm wondering if anyone knows where to buy belts for vintage dresses that are missing or if anyone has a pattern to make them. Most of my dresses either didn't come with one or the belt is rotting. I've searched the internet and can't seem to find anything that looks like the ones made in the 40s.

Thank you!

 

[Miss Slapstick]

I am taking one of my coats to a good seamstress soon to "steal" some of the inside of my coat to make a belt, it must match or else it just looks totally off.
This could be done with any outfit as long as there's enough fabric/trim on the inside to take some off without ruining the outfit. This way you'll have a perfect match. Finding buckles is no problem. Matching fabric is a nightmare ! One would only need matching fabric for the outside of the belt - inside can be anything, preferably matching color/texture obviously.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Hi ladies

I'm wondering if anyone knows where to buy belts for vintage dresses that are missing or if anyone has a pattern to make them. Most of my dresses either didn't come with one or the belt is rotting. I've searched the internet and can't seem to find anything that looks like the ones made in the 40s.

Thank you!

You want a "bac-a-belt" kit. These were easy to find at notions counters until about fifteen years ago -- they consisted of a length of belting material, and an aluminum buckle frame. You covered the belting material and the buckle with your own fabric, stitched it together, punched some holes with an eyeleting tool, and you had your belt. These came in all sorts of widths and buckle styles -- the most common were 3/4ths inch and 1 inch wide, but they were available in widths up to three inches.

The last ones I bought new were Dritz brand, but that was in the late '90s, and I haven't seen them anywhere but eBay since. If you have an old fabric store nearby you might get lucky and find some old stock there.

If you don't have any remnant scraps from making the dress to cover the belt, you might be able to take a strip out of the hem. I've done this successfully with old dresses that had long ago lost their original belts.

 

[rue]

I am taking one of my coats to a good seamstress soon to "steal" some of the inside of my coat to make a belt, it must match or else it just looks totally off.
This could be done with any outfit as long as there's enough fabric/trim on the inside to take some off without ruining the outfit. This way you'll have a perfect match. Finding buckles is no problem. Matching fabric is a nightmare ! One would only need matching fabric for the outside of the belt - inside can be anything, preferably matching color/texture obviously.

Thank you Miss Slapstick! I plan on making it myself if I can

 

[rue]

You want a "bac-a-belt" kit. These were easy to find at notions counters until about fifteen years ago -- they consisted of a length of belting material, and an aluminum buckle frame. You covered the belting material and the buckle with your own fabric, stitched it together, punched some holes with an eyeleting tool, and you had your belt. These came in all sorts of widths and buckle styles -- the most common were 3/4ths inch and 1 inch wide, but they were available in widths up to three inches.

The last ones I bought new were Dritz brand, but that was in the late '90s, and I haven't seen them anywhere but eBay since. If you have an old fabric store nearby you might get lucky and find some old stock there.

If you don't have any remnant scraps from making the dress to cover the belt, you might be able to take a strip out of the hem. I've done this successfully with old dresses that had long ago lost their original belts.

I went on ebay and there they were. To think I'd been stressing over this for years and never said anything! You're a lifesaver Lizzie. Thank you

 

[Miss Sis]

I am positively obsessed with buying 1930s/40s leather belts and have quite a collection, which is very helpful when dresses have lost their original belt.

Being that I am tall, there is NEVER enough fabric in a hem for me to steal and make into a belt without spoiling the line of the dress.