Belt loop repositioning

October 30th, 2007

Sometimes belted cardigans, blouses, tunics and coats can look gorgeous on the hanger, but odd when you try them on. This is often a case of incorrect belt loop positioning. Even if a garment is the right size and fit, belt loops that are positioned either too high or too low tend to look unflattering. Belted styles need to tie at the smallest part of your natural waist (unless they are specifically designed to fall low on your hips or high under the bust).

But don’t let the incorrect belt loop positioning of a garment put you off before you’ve tried the following:

  • Take the belt out of it’s loops and re-position it correctly on your waist. If the garment looks flattering after this adjustment, you can either alter the belt loops, or cut them off and tie the belt without threading it through belt loops.
  • Try the garment without the belt. Tailored garments don’t always need belts to give them shape, so it’s worth a try just to make sure.

I have seen people trying to make the most of unflattering belted styles by tying the knot loosely at the back (like a back tie). This is not a good look, especially when the garment is double breasted. If a belted style still doesn’t work after repositioning, don’t buy it.

Caslon Belted Cable CardiganClassiques Entier® Belted Sweater Vest (Plus)L.A.M.B. Inset CardiganJuicy Couture Chunky Marled Sweater Coat

Left: belts are lower then natural waist, which is not what the style intended.
Right: belts are positioned correctly at the smallest part of the model’s waist.



8 Replies

Posted on Tuesday, October 30th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Joy

What about the long cardigans? I love wearing mine with just one button buttoned near my bust. It creates a nice shape on me, and looks great with jeans over a t-shirt. As for the ties–it was the style for a while to tie them together in the back and let it hang, but I don’t know what to do with them now. I def don’t want to tie it in the front–it’s not the look I’m going for. Should I just leave the tie off completely? It’s not double breasted, and the ties actually make it taper in more at my waist, giving a nice shape to it…hrm…now I don’t know how to wear it! Any suggestions?

Posted on October 30th, 2007 at 2:05 pm
m

it’s true. i find low riding belt so much more comfortable but then i catch myself in a mirror and pull it up.

Posted on October 30th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Fran

Ok, I can’t believe it. I am going to diagree with the expert, Angie. (That’s kind of dumb, isn’t it?)

I think the pink sweater looks the best of them all, with the belt low. If the belt is at the natural waist, often it makes the model look short-waisted, and you get a longer sillouette with the belt tied lower. I have a waist, but I still like the belts lower than my natural waist.

Posted on October 31st, 2007 at 7:07 am

Feel free to disagree Fran. I like that you have shared your opinion with us. It’s interesting how our eyes perceive proportion differently from time to time. Fashion stylists will differ about what is most flattering for different body types even amongst themselves. I know that I certainly disagree with some of the body type and style jargon out there.

I have the perception that the pink cardigan would actually look best without a belt. The belt does not enhance the style at all because it makes the model look long and wide-waisted. Horses for courses!

Posted on October 31st, 2007 at 7:23 am
Nicole

Hmmm…I think the pink sweater looks good with the low slung belt. I think the problem with the grey sweater is the bulky shoulder and chunky knit–it makes the model look like a line backer. I don’t like the belt on the geometric sweater set–theres too much going on already…and the last sweater is ok, but not very memorable.

Being busty, I don’t like to wear anything belted, besides my pants. But two of my favorite pieces of clothing have belts, and I do tie them in the back and personally, I think it looks great. It gives it a casual laid back kind of look. I do not think that tailored or dressy items (like double breasted jackets, which do not work on curvy women) can allow for a loosely tied in the back belt.

Posted on November 1st, 2007 at 12:54 pm

Belted items and double breasted styles are tricky on bustier ladies and great caution should be taken when purchasing these items. It sounds like you know your body type well Nicole.

Posted on November 1st, 2007 at 6:51 pm

[...] sure that the belt loops are correctly positioned if the style is belted (adjust the position of the belt if [...]

Posted on November 2nd, 2007 at 7:16 am

[...] sure that the belt loops are correctly positioned if the style is belted (adjust the position of the belt if [...]

Posted on November 2nd, 2007 at 7:16 am

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