The Secret To Wearing Belts

Tina, here.

Belts are one of those accessories that drive people crazy. You want to wear them, but in reality it just never seems to work. It looks so easy on someone else! Why can't I get it to work for me? Well, dolls, there is a secret, and today I'm unlocking it for you.

The big secret in wearing belts is that your body type determines which width looks best on you.

The Secret To Wearing Belts

1. Wear a belt to create an hourglass shape, that is, to create the illusion of or to define a waist between your shoulders and hips.

Curvy women, say you're an apple shape (your waist is your larger than your hips) or a pear shape (hips larger than waist), you'll be tempted to think you can't wear belts. So let me say right off the bat that you have options other than belts to create a waist - a fitted cardigan or blazer can do the same thing in a more comfortable way. But you can wear belts, too! And may I insert here the reason I don't have different size models? Because I'm free and available, whereas models cost money and I didn't have any volunteers.

A simple black sheath can take on shape with a cardigan...look below for what nipping the waist in does for the overall look.

Ta-da! Hourglass achieved.

You can add a belt at the waist, too, to give a little more definition to your waist.

2. The width of a belt must be in proportion to your frame, and more specifically, the space between your ribcage and hip bones (your torso).

I'm short-waisted so I don't have very much space to accommodate a belt, so the narrower the better for me. The longer your torso, the wider a belt you can wear. Also, if you're long-waisted, you may find yourself more comfortable wearing your belts just above your natural waistline.

This belt is about as wide as I can go. Any wider, and it would be taking up my entire torso, distorting my shape.

I'm showing you where my rib cage is on top and my hips bones are on bottom. The belt is sitting on my natural waist, but sometimes I wear them a bit lower because I have more space.

This belt is too wide for me because it comes all the way up to my rib cage. So it looks weird. And like I have a babydoll waist. Keep reading for what that is.

This belt is just right. You can also wear a cardigan open under a belt, which creates an even more dramatic hourglass.

Extra length at the end of your belt? If your belt is too long to wear at your waist, just tuck the leftover length over and under. Not under and over.

A belt the same color as your outfit won't change your shape very much, it will act more as a piece of jewelry.

This leather belt is not very supple, and there wasn't enough to tuck it over and under, so I had to make do and just tuck it where I could.

3. If your dress has a sewn-in empire waistlines (or it's a babydoll top), donate it.

There are exceptions: Audrey Hepburn's empire gowns in War and Peace are perfection.

Belts can destroy or perfect an outfit. Empire waist gowns like those Natasha wears in War and Peace (you can see her black belt right under her boobs here), and the pinafores you wore in kindergarten were great then. Not now. Image Wikipedia.

This is a pinafore. I think she raided her local kindergarten's art room and stole their smocks. It completely hides her shape. Image via ASOS.

Look how much better this shape is! The belt does its part to define a waistline. Also, notice how the belt is tied on the side. And she's wearing white. So, see? You can create the shape you want in the right clothes and accessories. Now, only if she had on a nude pump instead of those heavy, black, ankle-hiding booties! Image via ASOS.

Thanks for reading!

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Best,

Tina