For today’s post, I wanted to answer some common questions I get on the ever popular Gucci double G belt and their mules (scroll to bottom of the post!). In addition to their soho bag that I wear way too much, this is another versatile small luxury. I love how it can elevate a simple outfit with jeans, especially now that I wear more black than ever! It also comes in very small waisted sizes that can be hard to find elsewhere. The numerous options can be confusing, though, so I’ve broken down width, sizing, and leather types below. The same measuring tips can apply to Hermes belts which are also sized in centimeters, except note those have 3 pre-punched holes while Gucci belts have 5.
Express jeans 00 short (my review), similar sweater, Sam Edelman rubber boots 5
Choosing a Belt Width
Narrow (0.75″) , medium (1″) , or wide (1.5″)
This completely depends on personal preference and how you plan on styling this belt. I have one in 0.75″ which I wear as a slim accent belt over dresses, and one in 1.5″ which is a statement piece. I’m about 5′ tall and assumed the wide wouldn’t be petite-friendly, but loved it when I tried it on! Please excuse how my sweater looks above – I just wanted to show the belt clearly for comparison.
Leather Type & Buckle Color
I’ve seen these belts in 2 types of leather: smooth vs textured. The textured is heat stamped, and looks + feels similar to some saffiano leathers. It’s only available in 1.5″ and is listed under Mens, however these belts are unisex. There’s also 2 buckle colors: brass (gold) vs palladium-toned (silvery), with the palladium also being listed under Mens.
To recap some current options:
Wide: 1.5″ width
Smooth leather (also at Nordstrom) in Black, White, or Dusty Pink (so pretty!) w/ brass buckle
Smooth leather in Navy with palladium buckle
Textured stamped leather in Black, Dark Brown, Cuir (cognac) with brass or palladium buckle
Medium: 1″ width
Smooth leather in Black, Dark Brown, or Cuir with either brass or palladium buckle
Narrow: 0.75″ width
Smooth leather in Black, Faded Brown, White, Dusty Pink with brass buckle
choosing a Size
Waist belt or hip belt?
Your size will differ depending on if you want to wear the belt at your waist, or around your hips (i.e. with low rise jeans). I suggest choosing just one! You can attempt to suit both by buying a bigger size to fit your hips, then get extra holes punched so it also fits your waist, but it’s not ideal. Unlike the Hermes belt, the tail end of the Gucci belt is not hidden / tucked in underneath, and there’s only one loop on the belt. So if you wear a long belt higher at your waist, the tail end with all the holes may hang loosely.
For me, I definitely favor waist belts for wearing with dresses and higher-rise bottoms!
Sizing system
- Sizing starts in a tiny 65 (like an xxxs)
- Numbers = centimeters, measured from the edge of the buckle to the middle hole (A to B)
- Each belt has 5 holes total, spaced 1 inch apart
I actually found the belt size guide on Gucci’s website to be pretty accurate! But to calculate the range that the smallest to biggest holes will fit, you can add and subtract 2 inches to each belt size. For example, size 65cm = 25.5 inches from the buckle edge to the middle hole. Factoring in +/- 2 inches, this means a size 65 belt has holes that should fit approx 23.5″ to 27.5.” A size 70 belt should fit approx 25.5 to 29.5.”
Double check your size
In addition to checking out the size chart, I’d put on some jeans and a dress that you’d wear the belt with and measure around the outside, where the belt would hit. Compare these measurements to the range calculated above. I also recommend at least an inch of wiggle room in case of weight gain, since these belts can be shortened by a cobbler from the buckle end, but not extended!
For reference, my denim size is currently 24 in most brands / Express 00 / Topshop 25. The measurement around my jeans waistband is 28,” and a size 70 fits me best with some room to grow into.
Where to Buy
I’d be extra cautious buying these secondhand since there’s a lot of fakes. I usually make Gucci purchases directly through their website which offers free US shipping and a free return label, and they package up the order nicely. There are also so many more colors and sizes stocked on their site compared to in store or at other retailers. Whenever I’ve gone into the Gucci store looking for shoes or a belt, I’m told my size has to be ordered online. Net-a-porter is another option with some smaller sizes in stock now and free shipping.
