Guide to How to Best Accessorize with Belts

Sure, originally belts have had the function to hold your bottoms in place or the width of your garment under control. However, for every stylish women the knowledge how to best accessorize with belts can do a lot for balancing their body shape. Read about the importance of belt width and color and how you can use the right belt not only for function, but also for dressing for your shape and enhancing your style factor. Learn which garments to belt in which way.

The Right Belt Ups Outfits of All Styles

The following ideas and tips work for all kinds of personal style – Casual, Bohemian, Classic, Urban, Dramatic/Glamorous – you name it.

When putting an outfit together carefully consider every detail: Your personal style, lifestyle, body type, and budget. These details are truly indispensable. Remember expensive never substitutes for style.

You’ll Love these Easy Stylist’s Belting Tricks

What to try

1. A head-to-toe monochromatic outfit using the belt as an accent or pop of color.
2. A skinny belt worn over a skirt for a feminine touch.
3. A thin belt over a partly closed jacket of a twinset. It’s a classic.
4. Belted leather pants for a cool Rock’n Roll inspired look with blazer and T-shirt on the weekend.
5. Match it to your bag, clutch for the weekend.
6. Add a statement to an evening gown. So unexpected.
7. Add a chain or thin gold or silver leather belt to cocktail separates.
8. Use this accessory to up the style of a summer maxi dress. A little white dress with tan leather looks casual posh and laid back at the same time.
9. Wear a wide belt over a sheath dress at the office.
10.  Use it for shape to underline the slimmest point of your body.
11. Balance the look of loose pants with a fitted shirt using a belt.
12. For an urban summer style try a white or olive dress with a tan thin double wrap style. When your torso is long, you can pull off a triple wrap where the leather is about an inch to 1.5 inch wide (2.5-3.8 cm).
13. An evergreen classic is a LBD with a white belt. Best of all, it doesn’t matter whether it is fancy or a T-shirt version or anywhere in between.
14. When you have Bohemian Style try a metal one with a floral maxi, ethnic or embroidered dress.
15.  Add a textured belt to a floral, abstract, leaves or paisley print maxi dress.
16. Use a scarf as a belt.
17. Up your sweater with a statement piece.
18. What about adding shape to a coat or styling your outerwear?
19. Try to accentuate your waist when wearing a down vest?
20. Jump the band wagon of belting a blazer
21. Add shape to a straight knit dress. More on how to wear a knit dress in this guide.
22. A chain belt to add glamour to a jumpsuit.
23. Try a textured  (e.g. alligator, crocodile, snake or lizard imprinted, laser cut or macramé belt) with a floral or abstract print jumpsuit.
24. Knot the belt of a coat in the back, when wearing the coat open (e.g. side view photo of the OOTD). Otherwise, the tails can become not only a safety issue, but also get dirty when sitting down on public transportation.
25. Let a statement buckle be the jewelry of your look (see OOTD).
26. Knot the belt of a trench coat.

Which Belt is Best Depends on Your Body Shape

In addition to your personal style and vibe of the outfit, your belt has to fit not only with respect to length, but also with respect to your body shape. Unfortunately, when buying clothing you can already set yourself up for making mistakes when belting. Because dressing for your body shape all about balance the width of the belt can help in achieving your best look.

Hiding the “flaws”, emphasizing the best features.

Who Looks Best with Which Belt?

When you are short-waisted thin leather belts and whimsical chain belts work best for you. You can read more about how to dress when you are short-waisted at the link. Try a low slung belt on your hips.

When you have a long torso and comparatively short legs, wide belts are your best friends. Avoid low slung belts and convex ones. Match it to your skirt, or pants. Here match means, have the belt the same color as the bottoms. Doing so creates the illusion of longer legs and a shorter torso than you actually have.

Tip: Add heels in the color of your pantyhose or pants to create the illusion of miles long legs.

Stick with these simple rules:

When you have a short torso and long legs, match your belt to your top to elongate your torso.

When your body type is balanced you are lucky. You can get away with a belt that contrasts to what you wear on the top and bottom.

Rules for inverted triangle, apple and pear shaped gals:

When you are pear-shaped, never wear a belt on your hips. Any horizontal line creates attention to where it is. You don’t want the attention at your widest part ever!

When you are apple shaped, wear your belt just below the breast to give the illusion of a waist. Never wear one on your hips.

When you are Y-shape (inverted triangle, try a wide belt in a light color on your hips to balance your wide shoulders.

Which Belt Color Is Best for Balancing Your Body?

The most balanced body type is the hourglass aka 8. A belt creates a horizontal line. Dark colors give the illusion of being leaner than light colors. Therefore, a dark belt at the waist “reduces” the width of the real waist.

This also applies when wearing a scarf as a belt. Actually, this styling offers many color choices and you can adjust the width to your body shape easily.

Gallery of Belt Outfit Ideas

How to Add Shape with a Belt

Barbour cable knit dress with brown tights, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, smoky quartz necklace, and Clark booties.

Barbour cable-knit dress worn over suede skirt belted with vintage MOSCHINO belt for shape and proportions and red tights, red Manolo Blahnik booties to elongate the legs.

Shearling hat, Be by Blanc Noir down vest, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Banana Republic straight glen check skirt, Brooks Brothers cashmere sweater, Hermes collier de chien cuff, GNW tight, and Harley Davidson booties.

Wearing a down vest over at sweat with a pencil leather skirt, and belt. Keeping the outfit in monochromatic black and the high heels of the booties serve to avoid that the vest wears me.

How to Belt a Sweater

Stripe cashmere cardigan with tweed skirt, Moschino belt, Vince Camuto boots and tights (all own) for a casual business look

Gucci silk scarf, Orvis over-size Irish cable knit sweater belted for shape with Paloma Picasso x belt, Pendleton glen check pleated wool midi skirt, Hermes collier de chien bangle, YSL bag, Dior over-the-knee boots, LeatherCoatsEtc gloves, and beret, and maxi shearling coat worn as a cape (all own)

Karina Dress worn as skirt with GNW Luxe dyed sweater, GNW tight, consigned collar, and second hand Celine bag, Manolo Blahnik booties, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle (all bought on eBay), and Jord bamboo watch (own)

Trapper hat, VS sequin skirt, GNW tight, Eddie Bauer Fair Isle sweater, ethnic belt, wool socks (all own) and Alida nubuk booties c/o coolway

Loft sweater, Hermes Collier de Chien belt, Talbot skirt, GNW cardigan, Longchamp bag, and Calvin Klein pumps (all own)

Dyed Moda International cardigan tied over GNW striped sweater with Sienna Studio snake-print leather pants, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle (all own) and Akoya pearl necklace c/o the Pearl Source

Winter outfit with Irish cable-knit sweater, Eli Tahari leather dress, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, tight, Soeft shearling booties (all own) with wooden watch c/o Jord

Can you Belt a Twinset?

G-III suede skirt, GNW tight, Manolo Blahnik booties, Kieselstein Cord belt, statement buckle, GNW cardigan worn as top, Moda International (dyed) cardigan, Hermes collier de chien bangle, and hand-painted artisan made scarf c/o Uno Alla Volta. This look again features the collar bone, and the legs. the belt provides shape and defines the waist.

Notations zebra print cardigan, Banana Republic hounds tooth skirt, GNW tight, Sanchez riding boots, Kieselstein Cord belt and three horse buckle, Hermes collier de chien cuff, and layering top c/o Adea .

Fall outfit with GNW cardigan, belt, eShakti dress, GNW tight, scarf, Musse & Cloud fall sandals, and shoulder leather bag c/o Uno Alla Volta.

DvF leopard print wrap dress worn as skirt, Isaac Mizhari cardigan, BGBD belt, Camel bag, and Musse&Cloud sandals

Halogen tweed skirt, GNW Luxe sweater, GNW tight, Kieselstein Cord belt, H buckle, GNW cardigan, Jord bamboo watchof the Boot

Can You Accessorize Evening Attire with a Belt?

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Sheath Dress Belting Ideas

Calvin Klein sheath dress, statement belt, GNW tight, GNW cardigan, and Söfft shearling booties (all own)

Calvin Klein tailored sheath dress, GNW Luxe light pink sweater, long trendy suede belt, Söfft buckle-up booties, and turnip ribbed tight c/o No nonsense

Zoom-in on OOTD featuring a dyed Moda International cardigan over BB Dakota floral sheath with GNW tights, statement belt and Manolo Blanik booties (all own)

Newport News tailored leather jacket with Eli Tahari sheath dress, Moschino belt, and studded pumps (all own)

Best Belts for Various Personal Styles

Fossil jacket, u-knit dress, belt, Winkwood sunglasses, Adidas sneakers, and Coach bag.

Karina dress, layering top, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Gloria Vander Bilt pumps (all own), and suede Florentine designer clutch c/o Uno Alla Volta

Zoom-in on details of Victoria Victoria Beckham dress with Hermes belt, Calvin Klein nude pumps, and DIY lace underskirt.

Rafaela striped T-shirt dress, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, Juicy Couture slides, Anne Klein oblong scarf, Longchamp Pliage bag (all own), and Creamy Waffle wood frame sunglasses c/o Winkwood.

Karina polka dot dress, Gucci belt, Hilfinger wedges, Jord watch, and sunglasses c/o Winkwood.

Don’t miss out on my styling tips for all kind of dressing situation in midlife, buy my book How to Dress for Success in Midlife.

Further Readings Beyond how to Best Accessorize with Belts

This post belongs to the series on how to up your outfit with accessories. Further issues include how to

• Up your style with scarves
• Style with brooches
• Look incredibly stylish with hats, or
• Improve your style with gloves.

Photos of me: G. Kramm

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