Although short waisted I love my belts, they add an element of polish to my MOTG outfits and are very child friendly. My favourite belt is elasticated with an ornate buckle but I am partial to the comfort of suede belts also.

I am short waisted + busty but would love to figure out belts. I tried to include one as part of my outfit this morning and it did not work, looked pretty ok from the front but not from the back.
I think what I need is a get together with a bunch of YLF people and all their belts, shoes, tops etc so we can all try a bunch of different things in a low pressure, friendly environment .. ok, enough day dreaming and back to work

Ugh, it’s like you’re talking about me! I’m short and busty and short-waisted, and I’ve been so belt-phobic that I rarely even attempt the cinch. I always admire how polished other women look with belts, so I’m more than open to learning how to pull this off.

One of my style pet peeves is wearing trousers that are supposed to be worn with a belt without a belt. Like many accessories, a belt can change the whole look immediately, it turns an “OK” outfit into a “Wow” outfit in a second.

Angie, I think you are teasing me with this post! I’m not just busty and shortwaisted but VERY busty and VERY shortwaisted. Like a cartoon character. I’ll believe it when I see AND feel it. I’m dragging myself to H&M tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes…

If I absolutely *have* to belt, I prefer a belt in the same color as my top. It blends in and adds shape without drawing attention to the less fortunate areas of my body. But it probably isn’t reasonable to expect a belt for every color top, and what in the world would I wear with patterns? I fear black is too bold for some of my tops but it will be the easiest to find.

I have fussy feet AND a fussy waist. Boo.

I too, am like rosemerin. I’ve seen advice in books that a thin belt in the same color as my top (over an untucked top and probably wearing a jacket over that) or a low hip slung belt should work. Nevertheless, when I try a thin belt, it gradually slides up until it is a bit higher than my waist, giving me a ‘cut in half look’. I have the same problem with ties on dresses and jackets, so I avoid belts. I do like them with a sewn in band in the back and a tie or belt that is attached on the sides to tie in front only. I (sigh) sometimes think….”Oh maybe I should get a nice belt,” but I still haven’t figured a way to pull it off.

It took me AGES to get on the belting bandwagon, but now I can’t imagine my wardrobe without belts. I think it’s all down to experimentation for me. Nearly all of my belts are thrifted, and I think when you’re paying $1 and $2 for accessories, you feel free to buy tons of them for the purposes of experimentation. No two bodies are alike, and there really are no belting “rules” … so you’ve just gotta jump right in and see what works for YOU.

I think I’m finally figuring out what kind of belts work for me. I still fidget with the placement a bit but thickness wise in leather/pleather belts, a medium thickness seems to work better than skinny belts. I haven’t tried stretchy belt yet. Of course, my bigger problem is with working them in outfits. It works like 1 out of 50 times for me and I end up removing the belt before I leave in the morning.

I love belts, but find I don’t wear them nearly enough.

PS: Most of my belts are wider statement belts. Most skinny belts get lost on me.

So Angie, what type of belts do you recommend for the big busted/short waisted?

Sometimes I do a skinny belt worn a bit below my natural waistline, but I feel like I am constantly adjusting it all day long, especially when worn with a woven top. I have a belly pooch so I really don’t wear belts with knits other than a flyaway cardigan.

I’m not well endowed but still shortwaisted and a rectangle with apple tendancies when I gain weight. It would seem that a belt would just call attention to a lack of waist. However, since finding YLF I’ve found that a belt can actually create the illusion of a waist when worn under a jacket or cardi or over a top that can blouse out just a bit over and under the belt. Belts worn high just under the rib cage help a top to camouflage midriff lumps. I’ve experimented with inexpensive belts from Target or department store sale racks to try to find the right widths, etc. for outfits. I just love the way a studded belt can change an outfit.

I’m an acute sufferer of belt phobia! I’ve always had a very defined waist regardless of my weight or size, and I was told time and again that belts made me look like I was being sawed in half and were emphasizing my always ample chest. I don’t even know whether I’m long or short waisted (the trick you posted before made me think I’m just average, but I can never be sure), so I’m completely at sea when it comes to sporting belts. Will be watching any tips with interest.

I’m excited about this. I have a belt phobia. (And a short(=knee length) skirt phobia. And a short (=knee length) dress phobia. And a skinnies phobia).

I was thinking just this morning about going out and getting some belts to help me with this. I’m short-waisted, and really like reading other people’s ways of coping with this. I also love the idea of thrifted belts for this. And I’d never have thought about an elasticated one.

This gives me lots of ideas! Thank you!

I wear belts, but primarily with jeans and outerwear. There is one dress in my wardrobe with a fabric tie belt — I often tie it at the back.

I don’t think wearing belts is practical for my apple body. I know you say that everyone can wear belts, but what happens when I sit down and my belly of doom spills over? Gross, I know, but what would happen to the belt?! It would move to some super unflattering place and I’d feel self conscious. That’s why I don’t wear belts! (And because I feel like they create a focal point to my belly, which is exactly what I don’t need!) I also don’t have a small waist to show off, so I don’t see the point for myself.

I LOVE the look on others and would wear it if I was built differently, but currently I don’t think it’s right for my body. I’ve seen other plus size girls rock the look seamlessly, but it’s not for me.

I don’t wear belts because there is only an inch between my ribcage and my hip bone, which makes belts uncomfortable–they hurt when I move and bend. I guess I will occasionally wear a belt on my low rise jeans, but that doesn’t hurt!

i suppose i’m guilty of belt phobia though i love the look on others. my trouble is finding belts that are small enough– and im bigger than you angie, so i know this is no excuse!

I’ve been expermenting with this but not enough confidence to wear it in public yet.

Now that I actually have a waist, I am enjoying getting to know belts on a first name basis.

I’ve recently jumped on the belt bandwagon, despite having some of the same issues others have reported. I have a short torso, am busty with big hips, and have found that my lowest ribs are too close to my hip bones to make wearing most wide waist-cincher belts–which I love the look of–comfortable. Skinny belts are dwarfed by curves. Medium-thin and medium-wide belts are best. It just takes a lot of trial and error. But inevitably I end up taking a belt off toward the end of the day as I start to feel too constricted through the belly. I haven’t tried elastic belts, and I’m not sure I will. I have some strange anti-80s-flashback prejudice against them. I’ll keep trying with various widths and materials, valiantly striving to achieve the look I admire so much on others.

Very timely post. I have quite a collection of belts and have been experimenting with them. I understand how a well-chosen belt can add pizzazz to an outfit plus create a waist (something I need) but I just haven’t figured out the formula yet. I’m busty and have a bit of tummy bulge… I’ve been avoiding purchasing a shaper since they seem so uncomfortable but maybe it’s time — this would give me a smoother line that’s more compatible with a belt (I think). Does anyone have any suggestions for shapewear? My problem area is my tum and eliminating the muffin top. I looked at a Spanx at nordstrom.com yesterday but I really want something that has snaps so using the ladies room doesn’t involve undressing. Thanks in advance!!

I love belts. I really do.

But with only a handswidth between bra band and waist, it’s a challenge. Consider the fact that I’m an apple and it’s a losing game.

I thought I’d finally found a possibility this Christmas: a dark gray sweaterdress with a narrow black patent belt. I felt so elegant. It wasn’t until I saw family pictures that I realized I looked like a cinderblock. I could have cried. I’m fairly small, 5′5″ and 123 lbs, but a belt immediately adds 20 pounds and makes what little waist I have disappear.

Angie,
I love those wide hip slung belts from the nighties although I do not wear them in belt loops but over tops and dresses. I am fairly short wasted and much prefer a belt that is wide and lower on my body. I also like it to be near the same color as my top or dress. I do sometimes wear skinny waist belts with cardigans and pencil skirts.

Like many others, I have belt phobia too! Love them on others, but can’t get comfortable with them on myself….i especially like Sally McCraws comments about experimentation – and I have recently been grabbing all different types of belts at the thrift stores to give them a try.

Maybe I’ll challenge myself to try one belt a week – that way I’ll have to at least try them!!

Thanks for the post, Angie! As usual, it is spot on!!

Being short waisted I have discovered wide belts with dresses lower on my waist and nearer to my hips look better. Skiiny belts with cardi’s do not look right on me. Wish I could figure out how to make that work:(

I am a belt person! Being petite and small waisted, I always try to define my waist with tailored clothing and belts. Belts can be great eye catching accessories that add oomph to an outfit. *Thumbs up on belts!

Guilty! I’m short-waisted and I don’t think I’ve ever worn a belted look successfully. I have a couple of light-colored tops that are slightly long to wear with skirts, and I think they would work if I belted them, but between my fear of belts and the difficulty of finding a belt that will be low color contrast with the tops, I haven’t managed to put the look together yet.

I’m definitely a belt convert. I didn’t wear belts at all, I believe, until my “style renewal” with Angie. I’m not sure anymore what held me back – I think I worried about belts being unflattering to my mid section, but most of all I just lacked the “vision” of how belts contribute to different styles and outfits. Angie encouraged me to use belts both as a tool to accentuate a feature I like in my body (defined waist) but also as a creative element, to add color and “pizzazz”. Now I wear belts a lot, in many different ways: skinny belt over a shirt dress, skinny belt over a cardigan, wide belt over a waist coat, etc. etc. I’ll never go back to a beltless closet

I have trouble with belts outside of belt-loops because of how they shift around. I love ties and scarves, and belts with loops, but I hate finding a buckle twisted around to my side, or shifted up or down so it’s no longer straight or tight. That’s probably is related to poor fit and poor posture, but there you go.

I do like the idea, and am trying to find pieces that work with that look. I’m very skinny, which means 1) it’s hard to find a belt short enough for my actual waist. and 2) it’s hard to find a top long enough. I think belting a top that doesn’t reach your bum looks choppy, and very few of my tops are that long (yet). But I’m looking.

It wouldn’t be an overstatement if I said I wear belt 90% of the time. I wear them on top of shirts, t-shirts, blazers, cardigan or under the top layer to hold my pants and skirts in place and most importantly to avoid lower back cleavage.

I was so afraid of belts, especially after having three kids. Then three years ago I decided to give it a try. I wore a black belt with a decorative but small silver buckle over a black top and denim skirt. I went to Nordstrom’s feeling so self-conscious but I decided to brave it out. I was looking for jeans and I saw a sales person repeatedly glance at me. I thought that maybe she was new and trying to find the right oppportunity to ask me if I needed help or maybe she thinks my belt is hideous!! Anyways, she finally came up to me and said she just had to tell me that my belt was a nice touch to my outfit! My jaw dropped to the ground! You can imagine I was on cloud nine after that and there was no looking back with belts!
I do have apple tendencies so I wear a belt a little higher than my waist. Also I do like making sure my belt is a darker or similar shade than the top I’m wearing. If I wanted to wear my zebra stripe belt, then I wear it with a white shirt. If I wanted to wear it with a darker shirt then I wear it inside a cardigan or blazer.
I’ve also find most of my belts at thrift stores. From experience, I find that my best belts are 1 to 1 1/2 inches wide. Most women’s belts are 3 inches if you don’t want the skinny ones. So I always scout the men’s belts as well which usually are 1 1/2 inches wide. My most frequently used brown studded belt was a thrifted man’s belt!
I also cut off the small thread belt loops that are on dresses, shirts and belted cardigans. That way I can place the belt where I need it on my body, not where the manufacturer thought it should be which is usually too low.

I am a fan of the belt. Like greenglove, I love my wide hip slung belts with certain dresses and tunic style tops. I am not ready to call this trend over.

Right now I am all over the wide elastic belts with skirts, dresses and tunic tops: comfortable and flattering.

Total belt phobia! I only wear them to keep some pairs of jeans up. I hate my midriff and do anything I can to hide it. I cannot imagine wearing a belt over a shirt without having a panic attack. I haven’t voluntarily tucked in a shirt since I was a child.

Definitely belt phobic. I am one of those short, busty and short-waisted types, too. I feel like belts highlight my tummy, wrinkle my shirts, and are uncomfortable as well. I’d love to be proven wrong, though, but I think I need a tutorial.

I didn’t even own a belt until last year. Now I have several and wear them frequently. Sometimes I have to stop myself and question whether the outfit really needs a belt. I’m short waisted, but somewhat rectangular so a belt help gives me some curves. I’ve found it can save the shape of a ho-hum shirt or sweater too.

My favorites are skinny belts or grommet belts. I love belts because I feel free to be a little wild with them- studs, rhinestones, faux animal skin, candy colors. I wouldn’t wear any of those things in clothing, but in the small accent of a belt it seems right.

I wanted to wear belts for the longest time, but just never could figure out where or with what to wear them! Finally I did, and I am now a belt addict. So much so that my g/f will look at my funny on the rare occasion that I’m belt-less and say “aren’t you going to wear a belt?” I have a way higher tolerance for belt-induced uncomfyness than for shoes, so the sky is the limit on material and shape. My trick is the wear belts around the smallest part of my abdomen, which is just slightly higher than my belly button. The result is an accentuated hourglass shape, and a little extra pep in my step! Elasticized belts are my favorites because they are not only comfortable, but keep up or in place clothing that a regular buckled belt will not.

I always found belts a bit intimidating, and wore them only with jeans or pants that had belt loops. It’s only been in the last year that I’ve starting experimenting with adding belts to outfits (in places other than through the belt loops of pants!) and I like many of the looks that have resulted. I’m still learning though. I agree with Sal that it’s easier to do when you buy belts at thrift stores, b/c I am much more willing to give something a shot when it’s so inexpensive.

In the last [insert large number] of years, the only time I’ve worn a belt was to make sure my jeans stayed up and didn’t gape in the waist. Like so many others, I love the way belts look on OTHER people, and I’d like to translate that into a style I can wear for myself. Nevertheless, I am the very busty, short-waisted, mummy tummy type (I once had a male co-worker tell me that I must gain and lose weight faster than anyone he knew because sometimes I looked skinny and other times chubby, which obviously says a lot about the clothes I was choosing for myself….). Belts either don’t look right, don’t sit right, or don’t stay in the right spot. I have a few outfits that I think could be salvaged with the right belt, but I have no idea how to make it work.

I don’t wear them, much, unless they are under a top layer that is open, like a flowy cardigan. I think it’s because my waist is really high, and my bottom half is larger, so when I belt at my waist it’s like, look at that teeny short upper half, and that long, wide lower half. Look!!
I know this means I should wear low-slung belts, but while they might be the right silhouette, they aren’t the right style for me, with my rather tailored, traditional style.

I’m starting to try to wear them, but I can’t figure them out. First I think wide belts look terrible and skinny ones are better, then I change my mind. Then I think they look better lower down, then higher up. It’s really frustrating!

I’m well-endowed but whether I’m shortwaisted or not is another thing I can’t figure out. Could you do a how-to post on belting, please?!

WOW. The belt phobics surfaced. But the belt converts surfaced too and I appreciate you speaking up. I wish that I could wave my magic wand and get each of you sorted with the right belt look right now. For starters, here’s some info to chew on:

o In my experience, very few people look good in a low slung belts. Unless you wear heels or have long legs, this shortens the leg line and is unflattering. Also, hip slung belts move around a lot more than waist-cinching belts, unless they are looped into belt loops.

o Often, you need to wear a belt higher on the body. It is supposed to be far further up than the position of your belly button.

o Marianna and Michelle, try belting a soft woven tunic. That’s what I’d do to get you over your phobia. When you sit, the fabric will lie softly against the body – no bulges because there’s no cling.

o Budget babe, I doctor most of my belts to make them fit. I also wear junior belts and shop abroad for my size.

o Sally is spot on about experimenting with all sorts of belts and looks. Don’t give up.

o Flattering belt looks do not cut your body in half – in fact, they add structure. Tonal belts are always a good idea and a good place to start.

o Short-waisted busty gals, try a fairly broad belt (and inch or two) and don’t tie it as tightly around your torso, but don’t slide it down either. Pull the front a little lower than the back.

o Bless you Antje and AJ!

I’m loving belts thanks to Angie and YLF. I didn’t do belts at all previously but i now love sporting all types from skinny to thick obi belts. Thanks Angie x

I love, love, love belts. I wear them over shirts, sweaters, etc. and always think they add that pop to my outfit. Plus, I feel you can invest in really good ones, but it is also easy to find inexpensive belts at places like Target, Kohls, etc. (especially on sale for under $5). It can be a fun and cheap way to play with your wardrobe.

I ohave belt phobia actually, but it’s because I have big breasts and I feel self conscious. When I do wear one, it is the same color as my dress/top.

Being a big-busted, short-waisted apple I would LOVE to see examples of how you make belts work for us. Being a bear of little fashion brain I just can’t see it.

Gak!
If you look up Belted-Apple-Yuckaphobia in the DSM (Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) That would be my picture just below the article! Right above Busty-Belted Apple Yuckaphobia
Angie, since you’ve opened this can of worms…Shall we assume “Tutorial on Belting the Apple” is forthcoming?

I have to disagree about low slung belts- I think they are very flattering on some body types. I wear them often! I remember a post about wearing a belt lower on the hips to elongate a waist. Does anyone else remember that?
Maybe I am nuts but I will not stop wearing these belts.
Sorry !
Angie, I know you never mind a slight disagreement. I hope I am an exception to this rule.

I adore belts! When I was slimmer, I wore them all the time. As a tall, long-waisted gal, I gravitate towards wide belts or belts with “statement” buckles. Sadly, at a size 16, it’s hard to find belts that fit around my midriff. The 2 I currently own are rather bland items that I bought in the menswear department. But I dream, right?

I LOVE the idea of belts, but I have been SO unsuccessful at using them in my wordrobe!

I actually have a long torso that is relatively thin. I’m a pear and my waist doesn’t offer much size contrast from my shoulders (which are pretty narrow). I find that wearing a belt makes me appear kind of thick-waisted. It just draws attention to my lack of waist and I look a little blocky.

Now, if I use pretty rigid belt, I can cinch it tight enough to create the definition on the top half, but then all heck breaks loose on the bottom! My butt looks huge and I end up with rolls below the belt.

Blousing the top half of my outfit sort of works. However, because of the pear shape, I tend to look more balanced, but bigger overall.

I would love some more advice on how to wear belts.

I’m not really belt-phobic just belt-lazy, I think. I used to wear them all the time in high school, almost daily, really (of course, that was back in my big buckle, zig-zag pattern woven nylon belt, western shirt, starched jeans and cowboy boots faze, so it’s a completely different look). It’s a little difficult to find belts that are comfortable because, even though I have a long torso, the space between the bottom of my ribcage and my hip bone is pretty small (and I have really prominent ribs). I have a skinny silver belt but I haven’t actually worn it yet.

My dear sweet stylish, Jean. You can absolutely always respectively disagree on YLF! Thank you for chiming in again. Actually, we are on the same page. I said “ very few people look good in low slung belts”, which means that there *are* people who wear the look well, such as yourself. You have the body type AND the style savvy to get the combination right.

Mac, you should have no trouble finding belts in your size!

Bless you, Chelsea!

I’m wary of blouson-ing tops over belts though. It can work but you have to be careful.

I love belted looks, as long as the belt hits at the natural waist. I refuse to wear belts around my (wide) hips or up near my (wide) ribcage. But on my nice defined waist? Oh yes.

my favorite belt look is belted over an unbuttoned long cardigan with skinnies and a ruffly top. Actually this is kind of my MOTG uniform.

While I adore the look of belts on long, thin rectangles or hourglasses, I think it’s safe to say that they really don’t work on short waisted, big busted people like me, even with the trimmest waist and best undergarments. It’s perfectly fine if some accessories work for others, but in my opinion, belts do not work for people like me, no matter what I do. I am saying this after much experimentation.

I’ve been itching to try some belts but my apple-y tummy has been making me nervous. My new LBD that came with a belt is the first time in over a decade I’ve dared to give it a try – I like it, just not confident enough about choosing my own yet.

Angie,

Could we have a whole post about how to wear them? I’m on a budget and would love to expand my wardrobe with belts but I too am a bit of an apple and have been told to stay away from belts. Also, has anyone seen this month’s Glamour Magazine? They do a whole feature on the boyfriend blazer with a graphic tee. Silly magazine, Angie has been on that for months now.

Like so many others, I’m not in love with belts, even though I wear them occasionally. They just seem fussy to me – they never stay where you put them and dig in when you sit down. And my aesthetic sense is more on the simple side anyway – getting used to wearing scarves occasionally has been a big leap for me. On the anatomical issue, I too have the short distance between ribcage, waist and hip thing – my belly button is at my natural waist, and my waist is less than an inch above my hipbones and only an inch or so below the bottom of my ribcage. I prefer to have tops, jackets or dresses that have waist definition built-in, so I get the proportional benefits with less fuss (unless I’m ’surrendering the waist’ – love that phrase).

Another belt-phobic here. I find them fussy & restrictive. I have played around with them a bit and realize that I need to belt at my natural waist or even a little higher for a more flattering line. But then as I sit or move around, the belt moves too which is annoying! I guess I shall remain belt-less!

I’m belt-wary too, but trying. I have a “blocky” ribcage which measures 33 inches under my armpits all the way straight down to my almost-natural waist. I am small busted, and 5′4″ and 130 lbs. I really do look rectangular through my torso. The best looking belts on me are wide, at least 2″, and worn completely higher of my belly button. Narrow belts look really bad on me, I think. But that’s just my gut feeling.

I’d love to see a more scientific approach to how to wear belts.

I’ll admit, I’m completely lost when it comes to belts and cannot figure out how to make them work for my shape/height or how to work them into a particular outfit. It’s like they belong in the stratosphere inhabited by YLF and Academichic grad students. They’re so complicated and confusing to me! I adore the look on others and have been admiring how the women over on Academichic always seem to make belts look so effortless–they even belt over long, drapey pashminas and chunky cardigans, and I’ve been curious as to how they pull it off. They look great when they do it, but I feel like a sack of potatoes when I try it. Do you have to adjust to the concept of surrendering the waistline to wear a belt, or are belts supposed to create the illusion of a waistline? Should they go over or under a cardigan/jacket? I think I need Belt 101 guidelines–very specific , step-by-step instructions for what kind of belt works with different body types and heights, and then some formulas for working them into outfits, whether over dresses and skirts, underneath jackets, over cardigans and scarves, etc. Video tutorials on YouTube or Video Jug would be ideal if they existed.

I do wear belts, but not all that often and it is one area I’m really unsure about. I would love to see some examples of what type of belt to wear over a dress, especially a dressy dress. I’m lean toward being an apple so I don’t have an overly defined waist and so I think belts are more of a challenge.

I am a huge belt fan! My body type allows for it – I am very long waisted with small chest and my waist happens to be my best feature. I only wear waist belts though – low slung hip ones are not very flattering on me.

I’m not big busted but have a really short torso and waist with some love handles so belts look really bad on me.I’m thinking of trying them under my cascading cardigan.Angie I’d love to get some tips on what kind of tops should I be trying and what kind of belts would work under cascading cardigans for bodytype like mine.

To describe it as a phobia seems a little bit condescending. I think it’s totally reasonable to avoid wearing an uncomfortable — and unnecessary, since there are alternatives and workarounds — item of clothing. (And I wear stockings every day.)

“It’s uncomfortable” isn’t a silly justification of an irrational fear; they really are uncomfortable for a lot of people. It’s seems like a complaint that can be taken at face-value. It’s not a matter of finding the right style of belt any more than it’s a matter of finding the right style of stiletto. (For me, they’re uncomfortable, plus my eye still hasn’t adjusted to the look of a real belt on top of a blouse so it doesn’t seem worth all of the suffering.)

I have fewer objections to sashes, but when I’ve gained weight, it’s impossible to tie sashes tightly enough to be flattering while standing, and loosely enough to be flattering (and comfortable) while sitting. The problems with belts, for those who have them, are probably pretty similar.

For those asking for tips on how to wear belts, Audi of the quirky blog Fashion For Nerds did a fantastic tutorial on the topic as a guest on Sal’s AlreadyPretty here: http://www.alreadypretty.com/2.....elted.html. And she also did a great post on her own site on building a belt collection: http://geekthreads.blogspot.co.....-tour.html. I’ve found them both incredibly helpful and inspiring!
But I’d also love to see what kind of tutorial Angie would come up with!

I’m sure you’re right, Angie. I truly didn’t think I could wear long boots because I tried on many that didn’t fit my heavier calves. But, through reading YLF, I learned that I could find boots that fit me… I just had to hunt a bit more diligently. And now i own a pair of mid-calf vera wang boots that I LOVE and wear all the time. I suspect the same is true for beautiful belts; I mustn’t give up the search!

[...] Wearing a belt with a jacket. I had just read a recent post on YLF titled Belt Phobia which is something I suffer from greatly.  I am terrified of wearing belts, or at least very [...]

I want to start wearing belts to help show off my very narrow waist, but I am that short-waisted and well-endowed woman who doesn’t know quite how to pull them off.