inexpensive dress belt/strap similar to Ben Silver

[tdecast]

I was given a Ben Silver sterling silver etched buckle and black calfskin leather strap in this link for Christmas a few years ago from my parents http://www.bensilver.com/fs_storefront.asp?root=138&show=396&display=5394&g roup=1

I am looking to eventually add a brown calfskin strap, a brown lizard strap, and a vermeil (18kt gold plated over sterling silver) etched buckle matching the one I was given as a gift. Looking at Ben Silver’s prices, I would have to spend well over $500 for all this.

I was wondering if anyone could point me as to where I could find these items for a significantly smaler price. I’d ideally like to spend no more than $100 on a lizard strap, $80 on a calfskin strap, and I’m not really sure how much less the buckles go, it seems as if they are usually $200.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[phyrpowr]

Most larger dept. stores will have calfskin straps, for around $35 or so. Exotic skins are gonna cost ya.

[godan]

It happens I was looking for the same thing earlier today. An Ebay search for 'mens silver belt buckle' turned up several in the $50 - $60 range that look pretty good. I was seeking just buckles, not the belts, but many listings include both.

[tdecast]

Most larger dept. stores will have calfskin straps, for around $35 or so. Exotic skins are gonna cost ya.

The ones in that price range are stiff and not of very good quality. My Ben Silver strap is very soft. Looking for something of simliar quality but at a lower price.

I remember finding a guy on eBay selling lizard straps for $80 total but I just wasn't sure about the quality and wanted to see one in person or at least purchase from an online store with some kind of return policy.

[tdecast]

It happens I was looking for the same thing earlier today. An Ebay search for 'mens silver belt buckle' turned up several in the $50 - $60 range that look pretty good. I was seeking just buckles, not the belts, but many listings include both.

i've looked on ebay, there aren't very many straps (as opposed to belts) and the belts they sell on there are very questionable in quality. also, i have never seen a gold plated sterling silver buckle turn up on there yet.

thanks for the tip though.

[Tomasso]

Go to the big seasonal clearance sales at Barneys, NM, SFA, Bloomies etc....where you can pick up belts of all kinds at near 70% off. There will be lots to choose from in the bigger sizes. Then take them to a cobbler or luggage repair shop to have them sized and fitted with snaps to use with your buckles. Easy as pie.

[Checkerboard 13]

You might try Trafalgar. They will be less expensive than Ben Silver. I can not vouch for the quality of the straps, though I have one of their belts and it is reasonable quality and was reasonably priced.

I doubt you will find similar quality for a significantly "smaler price" unless you happen upon seconds or an extremely deep markdown.

[Earl of Ormonde]

Point of Order Gents. A belt is a belt with or without buckle. It's not a strap!

A belt is a belt a strap is a strap.

A strap by definition is used for carrying, lifting,holding,binding, suspending luggage,goods etc.
Or for holding on to, the passenger straps for example, on buses and tubes.
Or for holding in the hand, the strap on a torch or a baton.

Let's not start calling belts straps.

[Tomasso]

Let's not start calling belts straps.

too late.

[Checkerboard 13]

too late.

Late, indeed.

[Earl of Ormonde]

Yes, well obviously it's because of such adverts that I'm making the point.

The word strap after belt, as in "bent strap" is superfluous.
Those companies are only doing it, I would imagine, to cover themselves against any law suits from people claiming they thought there were buying a complete belt! The world has gone mad!

Everyone knows what a belt is. I honestly didn't know what the OP was referring to when he wrote strap!

I thought, "here we go, some other new unnecessary item of attire, like sock braces and waiscoat slips "

[tdecast]

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strap

"1 a : a narrow usually flat strip or thong of a flexible material and especially leather used for securing, holding together, or wrapping"

the strap i am referring to wraps around my waist and secures the buckle in place. i don't see anywhere that limits it in the way the earl says.

a belt without a buckle in my opinion is not a complete belt becuase it is non functional. just like a car without an engine is not a complete car

yes you can still call it a belt, but it is not, in my opinion, improper to call it a strap or belt strap when you are referring to the strap (as opposed to the buckle)

much like you can call a car a car with or without the engine. but when you are referring to the engine itself, you call it a car engine or engine.

don't be that snob at starbucks who acts like he doesn't know what i'm referring to when i ask for a medium house coffee.

[tdecast]

Go to the big seasonal clearance sales at Barneys, NM, SFA, Bloomies etc....where you can pick up belts of all kinds at near 70% off. There will be lots to choose from in the bigger sizes. Then take them to a cobbler or luggage repair shop to have them sized and fitted with snaps to use with your buckles. Easy as pie.

interesting advice, i may have to look into that.

thanks!

[tdecast]

You might try Trafalgar. They will be less expensive than Ben Silver. I can not vouch for the quality of the straps, though I have one of their belts and it is reasonable quality and was reasonably priced.

I doubt you will find similar quality for a significantly "smaler price" unless you happen upon seconds or an extremely deep markdown.

thanks for the suggestion of trafalgar, met my price points almost exactly!

lizard strap for $110!

I am looking at the Cortina calfskin strap $75 (half as much as Ben Silver's calfskin) and the Glove leather strap $60. just based on price, i'm guessing the Cortina is nicer/dressier/softer? can anyone provide any insight to this? (with or without trafalgar experience)

thanks,

[attilahun]

Tdecast is exactly right in referring to a buckleless belt as a strap.
This is common usage throughout menswear and is far more accurate and descriptively appropriate than using belt as the earl suggests. This was a strap question. Why anyone would wonder what the OP was thinking is inane. To replace "strap" with "belt" would confuse and obfuscate the post entirely.

[Tomasso]

Tdecast is exactly right in referring to a buckleless belt as a strap. This is common usage throughout menswear

Yep, buckles and straps is the nomenclature we collectors use.

[attilahun]

Very impressive collection Tomasso!

[Earl of Ormonde]

Pray tell then, how do you use your strap then when it doesn't have a buckle?

Do you tie a knot in it? Or does it have hooks or tensioners on each end?

No, because it's not a strap. It's a belt w/o a buckle!
A belt w/o a buckle does not automatically convert to a fully functional strap. It simply ceases to be fully functional belt and that does not suddenly make it a strap!

You can twist definitions asm uch as you want. But the fact remains a strap is a strap and a belt is belt.

Let me ask you this then, why is it that the belts on many trenchcoats (that are fastened by knotting) are not then called trech coat straps?

Yea, exactly! QED

[Blueboy1938]

. . . uses "strap" to describe the part of a belt that is not the buckle. This is admittedly a bit slippery, but essentially what's left of a belt without a buckle (or some other securing device) is a strap.