30 Days of Outfit Ideas: How to Wear a Belt

Oh, the angst, you guys. The sheer agony and stress everyone seems to feel at the mere mention of the word belt. And yet, many of us feel like they’re a necessary evil, like wrinkles and saddlebags. They’re not, though. Necessary. Or evil. A friend recently texted me in a panic because her teen daughter had confiscated all of her belts and she found herself beltless.

What kinds of belts do you need? I asked. And for which outfits?

She didn’t know. She just knew she “needed” belts.

And like many women, she will buy the basics (the black pants belt, the navy pants belt), etc. and leave them hanging in her closet, content that the belt box is checked.

I remember hearing a television chef (was it Ann Burrell?) saying that people often view salt and pepper as a unit, but in her professional opinion, salt should always come to the party, whereas pepper rarely gets invited.

Ditto for, say, shoes and belts. (Belts are like pepper, here, BTW. I know it’s a stretch).

So, in other words, belts are fun, but optional. And, like most fun things, they don’t involve a ton of rules. Just a few, ahem, suggestions. And here they are:

In GENERAL

Short-waisted and petite women should wear narrower belts with less contrast. In other words, belt should be the same color as the outfit, or at least the same color as the top, to create a longer line.

Source: Cultura Colectiva

Long-waisted and taller women can wear wider belts with more contrast (a contrasting color between the belt and the outfit).

Source: Tea Green Chandelier

10 Ways to Wear a Belt

To define the waist when wearing something flowy or baggy

Source: Stylesweekly

To make a cardigan more flattering

To define the waistline of a dress

Source: Mary Orton/Memorandum

To pull separates together into an outfit

Source: Extra Petite

To add color and minimize bulk when layering

Source: Gurl

To add interest to a potentially boring pants outfit with color or pattern

Source; Sammydress

To accentuate the waistline in a coat

Source: Stylish Wife

To make the transition between a top and bottom look less awkward, or to keep a tuck looking neat.

Source: Simply Love

To tie a look together

Source: Jillian Undercover

To define the waist under a jacket or cardigan

Source: IMGFave

Belts for Every Budget

Skinny metallic Italian leather belt, $34.50, J. Crew

Ada Handmade Leather Wrap Belt, $92, Nordstrom

Reversible Brown Violetta Belt, $228, Anthropologie

I hope these ideas have helped you break out the belts in your closet and start wearing them! But only if you want to, ok?