CLASSIC IDEA turned upside down with a splash of paint, Laurie Weber belts are the stylish girls’ easy way to spice up the simplest of outfits. With fashion flair and daring appeal, Laurie Weber’s designs have come just at the right time, with a resurgence of the 1960s.
   Based in New York City, Weber had the ingenuity and creativity to come up with a line that was both fun and stylish, through borrowing trends of the day. With the help of her business partner Rebecca, she set up her own label. ‘I always had more of an entrepreneurial, do-it-yourself spirit, so the idea of working at a major fashion house never really occurred to me,’ says Weber.
   By incorporating a bit of the fantastic to any wardrobe, Weber designs appeal to any hip and stylish individual. ‘We see ourselves as an accessories’ staple in every woman’s closet. Interchanging Laurie Weber belts is an easy way to spice up classic looks and personalize hot trends,’ states Weber.
   Her first belts appeared as a Valentine’s Day present, with a ‘Hot Wheels’ theme, sparking a trend that was soon to take off. ‘I started by thinking of the person and making belts that matched their personalities, e.g. a Red Sox belt for a Boston fan, a John Deere print belt for a more modish–retro guy, a Hawaiian print belt for a preppy guy, etc.’
   As a youngster growing up in Riverside, Calif. sporting Vans and the latest denim fad, with a be-dazzler in hand, Laurie Weber created her first fashion trends, with green rhinestone on sneakers, and studs on jeans.
   She soon launched into belts as it was a ‘quick and fun way to spice up an outfit,’ states Weber. Taking that creativity into young adulthood, Weber realized her fascination with deconstructing and then reconstructing again was a career in the making.
   At age 20 and still in college, a gift of a sewing machine was all it took to jump-start this accessory darling’s imagination. ‘It was then that I started experimenting with fabrics and began making skirts and handbags for friends.’
   Mass production is the last thing on Weber’s mind. She is striving to bring a more personable and subtle appeal to add to the mass production of today’s apparel industry.
   Laurie Weber’s client is the mother who wears jeans and T-shirts, as well as the trousers and designer top to the club. ‘Today, many fashion-forward women will pair high-end pants with a T-shirt from H&M or Old Navy,’ she explains.
   They find much favour in resort communities such as Nantucket and Palm Beach, according to Weber, as well as in large cities such as New York and San Francisco.
   Her belts add a splash of colour and pizazz to any outfit, in a wide range of styles from reversible to silk, metal buckles to wood.
   Identifying the range is her sea turtle, contrasting the mass-production philosophies of others. ‘Ralph Lauren with the polo horse, Lacoste with the alligator, and Penguin using the penguin,’ compares Weber.
   Weber was most recently featured on World Talk Radio, on the Mom Show, aiding Breast Cancer Awareness.
   Laurie Weber can be found online at www.laurieweber.com. •

Catherine Rigod is San Francisco editor of Lucire.

Her belts add a splash of colour and pizazz to any outfit, in a wide range of styles from reversible to silk, metal buckles to wood