25 Freaky Belts, Bags, and Shoes to Make Your Biggest Fits Bigger

Jul 15, 2023

By Yang-Yi Goh

Photography by Alex Hodor-Lee

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Today's hype-fueled fashion landscape yields a mountain of fresh menswear every month. Which is why every issue of GQ now includes The Drops, a guide to the best of the best new gear as it hits stores. This time out, we’re zeroing in on the spring's sickest finishing touches: righteous belts, heirloom bags, and far-out footwear from across the menswear multiverse.

Shirt, $80, and jeans, $98, by Levi's. Belts, $2,290 each, by Givenchy. Bracelet, $950, and rings, $6,200 (on left hand) and $550 (on right hand), by David Yurman.

Givenchy designer Matthew M. Williams is no stranger to statement buckles, but these extravagant Rhinestone Cowboy belts are by far the flashiest hardware he's ever produced.

To craft the spring's illest, unlikeliest sneakers, Acne Studios stitched together vibrant patches of suede and leather—that all look borrowed from your favorite thrift store jacket—and fused them to a pair of craggy rubber trail soles ($620).

Luar’s Ana handbag, with its trademark hoop handles, was last year's breakout It bag—and it's rolling strong into 2023 with a bevy of wild iterations, like this piercing-blue pony hair version ($365).

This sparkly Dolce & Gabbana glass crystal belt will look absurdly rad slung around the waist of your stiffest, toughest jeans ($5,295).

For all their weirdo flourishes—the wavy toe box, the pronounced heel, the tassels—these Gucci loafers are still, well, Gucci loafers: classically handsome and endlessly versatile ($1,190).

Prada's instant-classic Symbole bag transforms the Italian label's iconic triangle logo into a punchy, graphic print ($4,100).

Pair these Bottega Veneta cowboy boots with an all-black fit and let that fierce python-print leather do the talking (price upon request).

The proportions of this Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello belt might be ultra slim, but the oblong buckle and glistening patent strap make it feel in-your-face big ($395).

Sky High Farm Workwear funds its charitable agriculture work—growing fresh produce for New Yorkers in need—by hawking hardy, charming gear, like this rough-and-tumble suede belt ($186).

Yes, Coach made designer jelly sandals. And yes, they’ll look absolutely sick with your crispest cotton suit ($195).

From the screaming teal to the biker-jacket-esque zippers, everything about this bag is pure Versace ($1,925).

The Row fashioned this roomy bag from shiny, papery calfskin, which lends it a crinkly, formless, unexpectedly chic vibe ($2,750).

Jacket, $6,500, and soft trunk, $4,250, by Louis Vuitton Men's. Shorts, price upon request, by Givenchy.

A decade after last linking up, Louis Vuitton Men's has tapped Yayoi Kusama to bless a new collection—including this monogram-embossed crossbody—with her legendary painted dots.

The contrasting panels of cherry and black calfskin emphasize the swooping, elongated curves of these John Lobb oxfords in all the right ways ($2,420).

Freshen up your looks with a little squeeze of citrus, courtesy of a chunky-knotted nylon tote from JW Anderson ($495).

Since the 18th century, the bespoke artisans at Joseph Duclos have been turning out pristine, understated bags like this one with its arrow-shaped clasp that pays homage to the Roman goddess Diana ($4,280).

For his first-ever menswear collection, the red-hot New York designer Peter Do ported over the signature square-toe, steel-tipped combat boots from his women's line and then splotched ’em up in striking white and black ($1,695).

The Parisian tailoring gods at Husbands concocted the perfect belt to pair with its rakish suits: rail thin, gold buckled, and crafted from glistening burgundy patent leather ($260).

They’re meant for padding around the living room, but these Bally emerald leather slippers will look right at home with some slouchy trousers on a wild night out ($980).

This buttery leather sling from Ashya is designed to hold your passport on long journeys. It's also just the right size for your phone and a couple of cards when you hit the town ($225).

If you don't mind being the center of attention every time you board a plane, this jaw-dropping Ralph Lauren Purple Label alligator duffel is the carry-on for you ($26,500).

It doesn't get much more opulent than an Hermès calfskin belt—except, of course, an Hermès calfskin belt interlaced with printed silk that invokes the Parisian house's status scarves ($1,150).

The last couple of summers, fashion types have taken to wearing gardening clogs and water shoes in the streets—and Dior Men has responded with its own maximalist, architectural interpretation ($1,000).

The space-age cutouts on this Ferragamo carryall reveal big swaths of red canvas that pop beautifully against its glossy black leather shell ($2,800).

Yang-Yi Goh is GQ's Style Editor.

A version of this story originally appeared in the March 2023 issue with the title "25 Freaky Belts, Bags, and Shoes to Make Your Biggest Fits Bigger"

PRODUCTION CREDITS:Photographs by Alex Hodor-LeeStyled by Brandon TanProp styling by Brandon Garr