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A belt is a flexible band, made of either Leather or a type of heavy Cloth , worn around the Waist . It generally serves the purpose of supporting Clothing items that would otherwise become too loose, particularly Trousers .
DESCRIPTION At one end of the belt is a Belt Buckle that is fashioned onto the other end of the belt. The other end of the belt contains several holes, into which a Prong (which is part of the buckle) is inserted into it for the purpose of securing the belt. Sometimes, there is a Clamp System so that no holes are needed. In Western Civilization s, Male s usually insert the belt through the Pant Loop s in a counter-clockwise manner (as if looking upon from above), while Female s tend to insert the belt through the pant loops in a clockwise direction. Since belts must be drawn tightly around the waist in order to hold up the pants, they may be less comfortable than Suspenders , which allow trousers to hang loosely about the body. HISTORY Belts have been documented both for male and female 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 nowadays collector's items. In modern times, men started wearing belts in the 1920s, as trouser waists fell to a lower, natural line. Before the 1920s, belts served mostly a decorative purpose, and were associated with the military. Today, most men wear a belt with their pants; women tend to wear them for more decorative functions. VARIANTS
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