Guide to Best Accessorizing with Belts

Sure, originally belts have had the function to hold your bottoms in place or the width of your garment under control. This guide covers how to best accessorize with belts to enhance your style and balance your body shape.

Belting 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. Don’t know your personal style? Find out with this free online style quiz.

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.

Gallery of Belt Outfit Ideas

Belting 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

BB Dakota sheath worn as skirt, Jeanne Pierre sweater, statement belt, GNW tight, Jimmy Choo boots (all own)

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

Adding Shape to a Vest

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 motorcycle booties (all own)

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

More on styling puffer vests.

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 (all own), 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 above the knee skirt, GNW tight, Sanchez riding boots, Kieselstein Cord belt and three horse buckle, Hermes collier de chien cuff, headband (all own), and layering top c/o Adea

Fall outfit with GNW cardigan, statement belt, eShakti dress, GNW tight, scarf (all own), Musse & Cloud fall sandals c/o Coolway, and shoulder leather bag c/o Uno Alla Volta

DvF leopard print wrap dress worn as skirt, Isaac Mizhari cardigan, BGBD belt, Camel bag (all own), and Musse&Cloud sandals c/o Coolway

Halogen tweed skirt, GNW Luxe sweater, GNW tight, Kieselstein Cord belt, H buckle, GNW cardigan, Jord bamboo watch (all own) and boot toppers c/o Top of the Boot

Evening Attire

Scott Mac Clintock velvet gown with cropped jacket, collier de chien belt (all own)

Neck-holder velvet gown with coin belt and leather opera gloves

Sheath Dress

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)

Ruby Bell plaid sheath dress with Jeanne Pierre sweater, GNW tights, Valentino boots (all own) and wooden watch c/o Jord

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

Adding Shape

Don’t know your body shape? Determine your body type online.

Unfortunately, when buying clothing you can already set yourself up for making mistakes when belting.  An important point when choosing belts is to consider your body shape. As a matter of fact, not every belt is best for you with respect to your body shape.

Barbour cable knit dress with brown tights, Kieselstein Cord belt and buckle, statement necklace, and brown leather booties

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

Various Styles

Fossil jacket, u-knit dress, statement belt, Winkwood wood frame sunglasses, Adidas sneakers, and Coach bag (all own)

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 (all own), 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 on Accessorizing

This post belongs to the series on how to up your outfit with accessories. Reading more about 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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