The hardest-working thing in my wardrobe is not the pair of penny loafers I’ve had on my feet every other day since September, or the scalloped gold hoops that have been lodged in my earlobes since the Christmas party season got under way, it’s a belt. And I’m not alone. Once a forgotten relic of the accessories world, a classic leather belt has emerged as a fashion fail-safe. Actually, let’s go a step further: it’s the item many of us feel naked without. It’s little wonder the shops are full of them — Net-a-Porter had nearly 300 at last count, while M&S now has a section dedicated to belts, having previously stocked only a handful.

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