19 shocking mistakes people make when belting High Latitude Style

Belts can be a great accessory

Of course belts have a function: To hold your pants/skirt up. However, they can also up your style when used wisely. This, among other things, means that you must be absolutely sure which belt is the best for you. Not to mention that you need to know how to best accessorize with belts. These aspects require that you know or have to identify your body shape and wear the belt in the right width and at the right place for best style or may be not wear belts at all. On the other side, belts can also ruin a good outfit and make the look a plain failure. In other words,

A belt is a great, but tricky to wear accessory. #styletips Click To Tweet

Like so often when it comes to looking your best, everything nails down to getting the proportion right. This post points out the most common mistakes you should be aware off. It is supposed to help you navigate the “mine field” to avoid making them.

Friends don't let friends wear bad outfits. #bestgirlfriends Click To Tweet

over 50 years old fashion blogger in casual weekend look with belt — Example of how to wear a belt to balance proportions. Eddie Bauer Fair Isle sweater, statement belt, Eddie Bauer tweed skirt, GNW tight, Vince Camuto (all own) and pearl leather necklace c/o Wendy Mignot

What to avoid when accessorizing with belts

Wearing a belt on your hips when you are pear-shaped. It draws attention to where you don’t want it.
Wearing a wide belt when you have a short torso.
Jacket’s hem, vest or sweater ends above the belt. It looks like the piece is too short or has shrunk in the laundry. Both is never ever in style.
Wearing a thin belt when you have a long torso. It looks lost and draws attention to your having a long torso meaning also having short legs.
The color clashes with the colors of the outfit.

close-up on embelishment of Paloma Picasso xo belt — Example how to accessorize to draw attention to the hips and tie the colors of the outfit together. Paloma Picasso xo (own)

The color matches the color of the top while it should match the color of the pants for best balance.
The color matches bottom while it should match the color of the top for best body balance.
The vibe of the outfit and accessory fail to go together. Think for instance a studded punk-inspired piece on a chiffon feminine romantic summer dress.
Too tight closure. It creates the look of honey bee body. And like trying too hard.
Adding a statement style piece when already wearing a statement necklace, statement earrings, or statement glasses. Overbling unless your personal style is Glam or Drama.
Adding a long pendant necklace. It could be caught by the buckle when you sit down leading to a potential disaster/injury when you stand up.
Not paying attention to the loop size of your skirt, pants or dress.
Not checking the length of the dress hem when belting a dress for shape. The hem may hit at a non-flattering point of your leg or make the dress shorter than you want.
Belting a trench coat. It has to be knotted!

#styling statement buckle — Example how to wear a statement belt right with respect to the hem length of the top and jacket (all own)

1. Not checking your derriere. They may emphasize/draw attention to your but in an unwanted way.
2. Not paying attention to the belt shape. Check that there are not “awkward pockets” when belting your pants. Some pants and skirts cannot be worn with a straight cut, but ask for a curved one.
3. Wearing this accessory on a skirt or pants without loops without making sure that it stays in the place you intend to wear it.
4. Too small a distance between the hem of the top and the belt.
5. Wearing a belt that has the same waist size than the jeans. A belt has to be two inch (5 cm) longer than the waist band.