Re-Inking Fashion...: Wide Cinch Belts

It all started with the gaining popularity of the ‘wasp waist’ phenomenon of the 19^th century, where the waist was narrowed to a 16 inch waistline, and the bust and hips were accentuated, by using corsets and girdles. Thankfully, it was soon discontinued as the medical traumas of this fashion statement were brought into the light, with a large list including respiratory problems, suffocation and broken ribs!


Dior's New Look, 1947

These corsets were later replaced by modern girdles and cinch belts that cinched the waist just enough to create an ‘hourglass’ silhouette in the early decades of the 20^th century.

A major platform for these waist cinchers was when Dior launched his ‘New Look’ collection in 1947. As Dior claimed, he designed clothes for flower-like women, with rounded shoulders, full feminine busts, and hand-span waists above enormous spreading skirts. And these hand span waists were achieved by the waist cincher (then famous as the ‘waspie’), which was thinner than the corsets of the Victorian era, and much lighter in weight.

Illustration of a Balenciaga gown by Guy Demachy

After the 1950’s where the cinch waist belts were largely used in formal wear, the trend kept going in and out of fashion. Lately, with the increasing regard for vintage looks, the cinch belts have made a total comeback. These belts are seen in leather and elastic, mostly wide, with a stylish clasp in the front or the side instead of a belt buckle.

Cinch belts, both wide and narrow, were seen in various collections of top designers like Gucci, Haider Ackerman, Oscar de la Renta and Prada in the new millennium. The latest sightings on the runway, however, were in the Balmain and Calvin Klien A/W 2013/14 collections amongst others.

With a little creativity, you can play around with the position of the belt, using it either at the normal waistline or higher up at the empire waist, depending on what suits your silhouette best. Be it with blouses, empire tops, dresses, gowns or over jackets, it’s an accessory that will complete your look, and give you that required ‘oomph’ factor!

Model: Harshita Shetty

Photos by: Nitin Raj

The Look -

Dress: Local boutique, Milan
Elastic Cinch Belt: Forever New
Shoes: Carlo Pitti, Milan
Clutch: Paprika, India
Watch: Guess
Earrings: Accessorize