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From country singers and gangsta rappers to ironic hipsters and fanboy geeks, nothing unites Americans like the desire to wear improbably large decorative belt buckles.

More than just an accent to the system of keeping your pants from falling down, belt buckles express your personality, can sometimes open bottles and, most importantly, draw attention to your unit. This pretty much makes them the ultimate accessory.

But what do our belt buckles really say about our culture? After checking out the gallery below, you may be able to unbuckle the truth.


Crazy Belt Buckles

    Foreigner hologram buckle. Unbuttoned fly. Gut spilling over the waistband. You're ready for a night on the town.

    media.photobucket.com

    You too can be the best-dressed nerd at Comic Con.

    hollywoodheroes.com

    Throughout the great religions of the world, there are numerous ways to express devotion to one's god. Some faithful souls grow their hair, others shave it off completely; some meditate in solitude, others take to the streets with a bullhorn and sandwich board. Only the most pious pay their respects by wearing a very special belt buckle.

    crazyhorseindustries.net

    The safest year at Aliquippa Works was indeed 1980. However, 1981 was marred by an unfortunate accident involving a giant belt buckle getting caught in the rolling mill.

    media.photobucket.com

    Nice joystick.

    flickr.com

    Actually, this one is pretty cool. Who doesn't want to open a beer bottle with a deer's mouth?

    flickr.com

    Country megastar Toby Keith keeps alive the workwear tradition of the classic Western buckle alive in his side-job as foreman of the world's least efficient construction crew.

    Getty Images

    Lil' John shows his support for the official Cadillac memorabilia store, that also sells a Cadillac fountain pen, a Cadillac thermal flask, and an attractive Cadillac ladies quilted jacket.

    Wireimage.com

    If hip-hop and country music are the twin pillars of belt buckle culture, it's only fitting that Cowboy Troy, who dubiously straddles the genres, should have the biggest, lamest, buckle of all.

    Getty Images

    That's too bad, because your belt buckle tends to make women want to stay dressed in your company.

    media.photobucket.com