Style Help: How to rock a French style outfit – The Belt Edition
Belts, belts, belts. If there is ONE accessory that I would say changes the outfit the most for the least amount of effort, it’s a belt.
I own so many belts and wear them so often with dresses or to finish outfits that when it comes time to wear a dress without a belt, I look in the mirror and think:
Hmm.. is there something missing?
I feel like this look isn’t complete.
I know!
ADD A BELT!!!
But even if you aren’t as belt-happy as I am, maybe you’re just a little scared of all the options.
Here’s what I can tell you:
MAIN TYPES OF BELTS
Skinny
These belts are as it says — skinny! They’re 1″ in width and can be double-wrapped skinny belts, or just.. as-is. They’re great for belting cardigans to give it another look or a dress, but only if it is a seamless shift dress where you can’t see the seams for the waist (otherwise it looks awkward).
Examples of skinny belts:
Shopping Options
Pre-Knotted
These are belts that already have a bow decoration pre-knotted on them for you, or the kind of (now) ubiquitous, classic tied loop look. You either need to do the actual tie itself (easy peasy with certain wrap belts), or it’s done and you just buckle it together and arrange neatly on your waist.
Examples of knotted belts:
A photo posted by Sherry @ Save. Spend. Splurge. (@saverspender) on
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Obi
Hands down, my favourite style of belt. I own a ton of these belts to the point.
They’re easy to tie around your waist, they fit ANY waist size (and can be let out if you feel too stuffed after lunch), and add colour temporarily, while cinching in your waist to give you a nice hourglass look.
What’s not to love?
You of course have fabric obi belts, leather ones, and a whole range. What gives the obi belt it’s “obi” look is like a sash for a kimono, it’s a thick wide band, and then little thinner bands that loop or knot in front.
Examples of obi belts:
A photo posted by Sherry @ Save. Spend. Splurge. (@saverspender) on
A photo posted by Sherry @ Save. Spend. Splurge. (@saverspender) on
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Buckled
These are your “normal” standard belts. I wouldn’t rule them out at all because they’re useful for holding up trousers, giving a mannish look to your outfit to toughen it up a bit (think: striped shirt oversized, wrapped around your body & belted with a mannish belt).
You can also use the extra long belt section to loop it around to give it another look rather than neatly folding it into the holes.
Examples of buckled belts:
Shopping Options
Multi-strapped
This might be my favourite style of all.
I love the look of multi-strapped belts, multiple skinny belts and the look of it just being so … different, adding that final touch.
My favourite double-strapped belt is my belt from my Burberry trench coat, which I have used its belt so much more than the actual trench, it isn’t funny.
Examples of multi-strapped belts:
Shopping Options
Lace or Decorative Belts
I also have a few of these belts that are cutout, or “lace” belts (leather that was lasercut), that look incredible with the outfit peeking out underneath; in various styles — mostly obi.
Examples of Decorative belts
A photo posted by Sherry @ Save. Spend. Splurge. (@saverspender) on
Shopping options:
Other belts with notes
- Chain belts — they look dated and strange
- Rope belts — can look cheap
6 Comments
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sherry@savespendsplurge.com
Really? I have not had this problem except for belts that don’t fit, or buckle.. I find obi belts fit the best. I cinch it tight & it always stays in place.
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SarahN
It’s not the belts, but the excess fabric of the top.
I think it’s also that my preference is largely pants/short + top, and if I belt the waist as well as the top of pants, well that’s just strange!? I can understand better the belting of dresses, but that’s not my staple.
I don’t own any Obi belts, I do have skinny belts – both some that are rigid, some are elasticised. And the other thing – belts for wasit vs hips = different sizes. I just can’t fathom buying ones for waist – I at least know hips ones will help keep pants up. I totally get that you see belts like I see earring and necklaces – adding to an outfit. I just have’t got that confidence for using them like that yet.
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sherry@savespendsplurge.com
AH! Yes, it depends on the top too 🙂 I try to belt flouncy tops but it depends .. sometimes I can’t.
Hehe 🙂 I don’t wear earrings as my ears are not pierced but I do love my necklaces as well.
You should give an obi belt a try, make sure the other side touching your body is a rough unfinished leather otherwise if it’s too smooth it’ll slide around.
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Elisa
Great post, and awesome style!
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SarahN
Nope – no – non – Belts are NOT where it’s at!
They make clothes bunch weirdly. And you get sweaty there. And you spend heaps of time readjusting the folds.
Not for me