Military Belts have been documented for male clothing since the Bronze Age. Both sexes used them off and on, depending on the current fashion, but it was a rarity in female fashion with the exception of the early Middle Ages, late 17th century Mantua, and skirt/blouse combinations between 1900 and 1910. Art Nouveau belt buckles are now collector's items.
Men's belts should be fed around the waste in a clockwise direction so that the tail is pointing to the right. The convention for women is reversed. This follows many tailoring conventions where by the left side of the item of clothing overlaps the right hand side.
It is thought this convention arose in Medieval times such that Knights may fasten their buttons with their left hand while still holding a sword right-handed. |