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Belts 101

Inge

(website)

Like Nicole (and Shiny?) I'm a complete belt novice. I am absolutely convinced that a few belts could add some very necessary pizazz to many of my outfits, but somehow I feel they always look bad on me (even on e.g. a trench coat).
I mentioned this to Angie, and she encouraged me to start a belt thread. I do need all the help I can get with this;-)

I LOVE all kinds of belt looks: through belt loops in skirts and trousers (with tops tucked in, don't think I can pull that off though), skinny and wide belts, worn over tops and button-downs, jackets, sweater vests, dresses...

I'm an hourglass that tends towards a rectangle, so my waist is not very defined (and definitely not tiny), have a little tummy and some lumps and bumps that I do not want to draw extra attention too. I'm also wondering if I might be short-waisted, which makes wearing belts harder, right?
Do you guys think I am? Here's some pictures you've seen before.
http://i278.photobucket.com/al.....F2674B.jpg
http://i278.photobucket.com/al.....F2702B.jpg
http://i278.photobucket.com/al.....F2700B.jpg

(I've reread Angie's post on this issue, she says:
"When the distance between your shoulders and your natural waist is shorter than average, you are short-waisted."
But what is "shorter than average"?)

Anyway, my other question is: where do I start? Skinny belt or wide belt? Worn how? Low-slung or high up? And with what?
(By the way, I'll have to go out and buy an inexpensive belt because I don't own a single one at the moment, haven't worn a belt in more than 20 years;-)

Dressing

29 replies

Latest reply was from Inge

Tanya

Veteran

Inge, you have a great figure and I don't think you are short waisted, you look very proportionate to me.

Can you go to a store that has a bunch of various belts and won't make a fuss over you raking photos? Than you can try a bunch of things on and podt photos and we could guide you from there.

If not, I would start with a skinny belt, worn at your natural waist ( where you are the smallest) , over knitted tops and shirts. Foe example, you can add a skinny patent belt ( black or purple) to that great skirt outfit you have in the photo, over your grey turtleneck.

judy

Veteran

Inge, a good way to build a belt collection is to thrift some, because belts can be expensive...buy them at consignment or charity places, even. The leather can be nice and worn in (comfortable)...and even look in the men's department! (only because at goodwill type places they seem to assume that colored belts are women's and anything neutral or buckled are "mens'"). My favorite belt's have all come to me that way. It's an often overlooked department in those stores and they can have great ones. This weekend I got a nice wide Georgio Armani chestnut leather one for three dollars! Look for all different shades of leather and textures that appeal to you in varying lengths, one's that fit you at the waist, ones' that fit you at the hip. I find different rise jeans require different size (and width) belts. On dresses or shirts that come with a self-belt, try taking it off and adding one of your own instead. Or a big wide one over a longish cardigan. You've got an exciting frontier ahead of you :). Belts are such a great way to accentuate you're already shapely frame! Belting can be a great way to add some "edge" to an outfit, I recall there was another thread where people were discussing this. This makes me want to go take a picture of my belts

Patience

Veteran

Inge, I second Tanya's suggestion to get a black (or purple but black will be more versatile at first) skinny belt and pop it over the skirt outfit you've show. Also add it over a turtleneck or other knitwear that you wear with jeans and boots.

Lee Hovey

Inge: I am totally with you! I was totally belt novice as well until a couple weeks ago when I bought a wide black one and a skinny silver braided one. I have loved wearing them in different ways since then! Especially the skinny silver one which I find to be both dressy and casual.

I find alot of cute belts at Marshalls and TJmax. I am a stickler for leather only, which you can get for $14-10 bucks there.

Violet

Inge, good for you for trying something new. I agree with Tanya's suggestion about a black skinny belt to start off with. I think it would look great with the skirt/turtleneck outfit you posted.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

Inge, one tip I learned from Angie on our shopping trip: your natural waist (where the belt should be fitted on you) might be higher than you think. Angie put a skinny belt on me much higher up my torso than I had done, and I think it is easier to wear that way. Previously I'd been trying to wear it lower and the belt kept riding up and driving me crazy!

Just a thought as you go on your belt odyssey

Maya

Veteran

Inge, the best way I know of to figure out if you are short or long-waisted is to measure your inseam and compare it to your overall height. I knew I was definitely shortwaisted because I am only 5'2 (62 inches), and my inseam is 30 or 31 inches. My legs make up about half my entire body and there are lots of ladies here who are several inches taller than I am but have shorter inseams than I do (many of them are long-waisted).

I don't know if that means anything to you so I'll convert it to centimeters

62 inches = 157 cm
30-31 inches = 76-78 cm

The other ways I could tell:

-My hips seem to start up high. Unlike Tanya and Ana, who are long-waisted, I don't have a nice gentle curve where my waist is. I have a little dent that abruptly flares out into my hips. That is why I find belts difficult. I have to wear them in a spot that feels awkward to me. If I wear them a little lower, they turn into hip belts or sit across the flabby part of my stomach: not a great look. If I wear them at the smallest part of my waist, they feel too high up.

-And on that note, the smallest part of my waist is around my lower ribcage. See what Laura wrote.

-I feel best wearing belts with long tunics or dresses that hide where my torso ends and legs begin. I always belt my boyfriend cardigan and also my trench.

Ariadne

Veteran

I absolutely agree with the suggestion to thrift belts! All of my belts were consignment or thrifted, most are genuine leather, some are designer, some vintage, and I've never paid more than $10. Just this week I got a grey skinny belt, a black patent skinny belt, a skinny studded belt, and a real python fuschia skinny belt, all for $2 each.

greenglove

(website)

Veteran

Hi Inge,
You have a beautiful figure and could definitely wear belts! I agree with everyone's suggestions . I think a black skinny to start is the way to go. Your waist doesn't look short to me bit I am always confused on that one. I started with a low slung belt, it was somehow more comfortable. The wider ones I wore lower on my waist. Of course thrifting belts is something that I always do.

BTW, I couldn't get your email from the website because it goes to an account that is on my computer that I do not have. You can get mine by going to jeansbarrajonesblogspot.com

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Bravo Inge for trying belts! You will rock the look for sure. You are not short-waisted. You look completely in proportion to me too.

Bring home a skinny black belt and let’s see how it looks. Remember to wear it on your natural waist like Laura suggests.

Inge

(website)

Thank you for all this expert advice!

Judy, Brianna and Jean: good thing you suggested thrifting for a belt, the thought hadn't crossed my mind yet.

I'm going shopping for a black skinny belt as soon as possible and will try it with a number of outfits, great suggestions everyone!

My natural waist is actually the smallest part of my torso, but I'll try different positions anyway.
And Maya: I do have the same thing going on: my hips start up high too;-)

To be continued...

shiny

Veteran

Inge, my biggest problem with belts is that I don't find them all that comfortable when I sit down. I like them fine when I'm standing but sit down... and poof! Out goes my stomach, and the belt rides up, sits funny, or feels too constrictive. A stretch belt would probably solve this. Funny, I did not have this problem prior to my pregnancies: I recall wearing belts much more frequently.

Last night when I was trying outfits on, I did have an "ah ha" moment related to belts. I realized I much prefer the look of belting a dress or skirt rather than a pants outfit (on me, that is). I'm not sure but I think it has something to do with proportion somehow? Like this:

http://s386.photobucket.com/al.....orm176.jpg

Do try skinny belts first. I find them loads easier to wear. This one is a belt that came with an ATL skirt. It's my favorite belt and it's super comfortable. I think because it is very pliable. Lots of cheap belts can be overly stiff. This is a cheap belt but it's not stiff.

I never buy belts. There's not a single one I own that I bought on purpose. Instead, I borrow from my DD16... hee hee.

Maya - I am 60 inches tall with 28 inch inseam (but that's not what I hem my pants at; I like them around 30-31 inches). Now you've got me curious if I'm short-waisted or not!

Nicole

Veteran

Hi Inge, I have no belt knowledge for you. I just want to say that you have an awesome figure and are wearing what looks to be a very supportive bra. I totally think you can rock a belt. Your stomach and torso look completely perfect and wonderfully flat to me. MY stomach is the main reason I don't like the way I look in belts. Even if I wear the belt loosly, I feel like it's creating an indent around my fat--like a big spotlight pointing at my middriff announcing to the world that my stomach is flabby. And I think it cuts me in half. But you are tall and slender and I can't wait to see you incorporate belts into your wardrobe. I will enjoy your belting instead of my own.

Inge

(website)

Thanks for the extra info Shiny. I think I know exactly what you mean, about belts not being or feeling very comfortable;-)

You look super in that outfit! And I'm definitely going to try a belt with skirts and dresses first.

About the height thing (forgot to mention that): I'm 69.6 inches tall and have a 34/35 inseam. So I should be short-waisted then too.
However, and I could be completely wrong here, I don't think your total height and division between upper and lower body is the decisive factor (unless of course you have a markedly short torso).
In fact, I would think that if half (or almost half) your body is your legs and the rest your upper body, you're actually very proportionately built. I'm guessing it has more to do with how your torso is 'divided up' (I'm not saying this right). And more specifically whether or not you have much room between your lower ribcage and your natural waist, and your natural waist and where your hips start.

Shiny: you don't look short-waisted in your picture, but Angie said the same thing about me, and I don't have all that much room between my ribs and waist. So now I'm starting to doubt again too;-)

Inge

(website)

Ah Nicole, we were typing at the same time. Thank you for the lovely compliment! (Im' quite happy with these bras, I'm going to stock up on some more).

I know it's not obvious in the picture, but there really is a little tummy there;-) And some lumps and bumps too, but some clothes hide them better than others - and there's a noticeable difference too between standing up straight and slumping;-) So I do know what you mean about a belt spotlighting your least favourite parts.

I definitely have my height going for me, so I will experiment with different belts and outfits, it's all a matter of trial and error, right?
I do think it's important to try something different once in a while. And you've been doing that with wonderful results (think button-down shirts etc.!

anne

Veteran

How do you measure your inseam everyone? I measured the inner seam of my straight jeans, PPL for flats and they were 29 inches - I am 64 inches tall. I am no- doubts -about- it longwaisted though.
Inge to me you do look very slightly shortwaisted. But someone of your height can carry off a belt I think.

shiny

Veteran

This is what Angie wrote about the topic:

http://youlookfab.com/2007/07/.....t-waisted/

.... but I'm not sure how you define "average"?

However I do know that I'm not really a short rise. I actually fit better - rise wise, at least - in regular jeans and pants, than petite jeans and pants. Petite rises tend to be too short. But this could be a factor of excess tummy and a tummy tuck might take care of that.

Also my torso measurement - how you measure for a bathing suit (take tape measurement and wrap it all the way around from shoulder through crotch and back up to shoulder) - is 60 inches. Which according to places like Lands End is a regular bathing suit, not a petite.

But I do know that I'm definetly petite from shoulder to bra; this is where I really need a petite top instead of a regular. Straps will often be too long, etc.

I wish I could find the link; I once found a site that tells you to measure your vertical proportions in "zones" and it made a lot of sense. Each zone is compared to head size (top of head to shoulder). By that technique, I'm proportionate everywhere - except from shoulder to bra. Which would probably mean I'm neither short or long waisted.

Inge

(website)

Hi Anne

Maybe this will help:
http://www.searchbyinseam.com/.....nseam.aspx

anne

Veteran

Inge - that is pretty much what I did - thanks. Of course it would be longer for pants hemmed for heel, but that would hardly be relevent to the discussion

Shiny - I wish you could find that site too! You have mentioned it before and I'd like to try it (as you said once that you suspected I was particularly short from feet to knees)

That post by Angie has a lot of discussion under it hasn't it!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Oh my word, Shiny. You wear belts so well. You don’t need belt education! Also, about the level of discomfort when you sit down – have you tried going up a belt hole?

I’ve found that my eyes are a better judge of whether someone is short or long waisted. I’m sure your eyes are a better judge too.

shiny

Veteran

This belt is great because if I sit down - or eat - it automatically pops out of the notch and gives me more room

Yeah for cheaply constructed belts!

Seriously, there could be a good 2 inches difference in my waist size when I sit down!! I guess I should do more sit ups, huh? Actually it doesn't bother me THAT much, it's a good posture reminder. What bothers me is if I have the constricting nature of a waist-belt AND pants too. Yuck. So that's another reason to only wear belts with skirts and not pants.

Mostly I reserve the belts for occasions where we will be mostly standing/walking around. I would not wear a belt to the office or out to a liesurely sit-down dinner. Unless it is elastic.

Anne - I've tried numerous times to find that site again, to no avail! I fear it is offline. As for inseam, the measurement I gave is from crotch to floor - not the measurement of my pants. I like to hem my pants around 30-31 inches.

shiny

Veteran

Meant to add - Angie, I agree that eyes are a better judge. The problem is that people can fool the eye depending on what they are wearing. I am sure I could come up with an outfit that would make me look long waisted .... or short waisted.

Then again, that's the beauty of clothes: you can adjust the outfit's proportions and create the illusion of perfect proportions. That is to say.... it really is about developing an eye.

I think I have developed just such an eye for my own self, but it's taken me decades of poor choices and bad fashion to do so. I grew up thinking I had "stubby" legs because half the men in my family have proportionately short legs. And it didn't help matters that there was NO such thing as petites... so every top was way too long and hit me too low on the waist, reinforcing the "I'm short-waisted" script in my head.

Finding that site (that I can't find anymore!!!) made me realize that proportionately my legs aren't freakishly short compared to my torso - but neither are they enviously long. They are merely ... proportionate. And that's okay, but sometimes we want to look more long-legged... so fashion can help create that illusion!

And it can also create a more short-waisted or long-waisted illusion. And you know what? Sometimes those profiles are desirable!!! It really depends on what you are trying to achieve.

But I also wonder if this P.O.V. is simply written by someone who is proportionate... and doesn't really know. I don't know!! So confusing!!!

I think I've thought wayyyyy too much on this subject over the years!

Parting thought: I have learned (and continue to learn) that it's important not to define your own figure shape based on how clothes fit. Clothes are meant to fit an average. Well guess what.... NONE of us are average!!! Define your shape based not on clothes, but on your... shape. Does that make sense or am I rambling incoherently now? (I did get up way too early this morning).

Maya

Veteran

Same with me Shiny! I always put my belt on in the morning, when I'm standing and walking about getting ready. By the time I'm sitting at my desk at work, I have to go up another notch. Then once I'm done with lunch, I go up yet another notch. I really need to break out the jump rope again...

I wore my belt yesterday to work and at some point I just couldn't stand it anymore and had to take it off. It was so uncomfortable.

Also, I just remembered: J Crew has something on their size chart to help you determine if you have a long or short torso. It's under their bathing suit fit guide. They only have measurements for "average" or "long," but I measured out well below average.

marianne

Inge, I think you'll look great in belts! I am waiting for pictures. That said, I am also just starting to incorporate belts and I am still not completely comfortable with them. There is barely any space between my ribs and hip bones, so I always felt very square trying belts on. It was very interesting to read the whole short/long waisted discussion. To Maya's point, for some reason I feel better about belting longer tops or trenches. I don't think having longer inseam means you're short-waisted, it has probably more to do with whether you're long in the rise? Maybe that's why we have fewer issues belting dresses and tunics because the rise doesn't come into play?

Kristen

(website)

Veteran

This thread had some great advice and ideas, thanks! I've been collecting belts from the clearance racks at Target and AT Factory for a while, but haven't been able to quite find the right combo where it looked right and I wasn't tugging at it constantly. I finally hit on it yesterday due to two pieces of info from here:

1. I found my natural waist; I had previously been trying to wear it lower, and it kept rising...thus the all-day tugging.
2. Like Shiny, I realized belts work better over sweaters on me when I am wearing skirts, not pants. Especially now when my pants pretty much all need belts just to stay on, a belt over the top creates this squared-off look where my pants widen at my hips.

I have some photos of me with belts and without that I'll be posting in my weekly outfit post. I'd love all of your advice on whether I'm doing it right or not!

Inge

(website)

This has been very interesting.
Of course it's important to know your body, but perhaps we're focussing too much on 'mathematical measurements'.
I think in the end it all boils down to just trying things on and finding out what works for you and what doesn't. Shiny is right, the 'average' female body doesn't exist, we all have to work with what we've got, and I'm definitely still learning there too.

And Angie: I trust your judgement, so from now on I shall consider myself being completely in proportion;-)

Off to find a skinny belt now!

shiny

Veteran

Maya - by that jcrew size chart my torso is long.

Anonymous

Hi everyone- I'm new! I couldn't resist joining the discussion. For me, short-waisted is defined primarily by the height between the top of the hips and the bottom of the ribcage. I consider myself seriously short-waisted because I can barely fit 2 fingers in this space. (BTW, I'm 5'4" and have a 30.5" inseam w/o heels.) I imagine that for each person the length from the shoulder to the bottom of the ribcage varies just like leg length, so this "waist height" cannot be determined by leg length/height alone.

Being shortwaisted is my biggest challenge. I dislike wearing belts at my natural waist, because basically they take up the only extra space that exists- uncomfortable, and to my eyes unflattering. I can't describe my elation when lower rises came into fashion! It's so much more comfortable to wear jeans across my hips. I think I have an mostly hourglass shape otherwise (not sure if my short waist affects this?), so in revamping my wardrobe recently I've been trying to find clothes which are more fitted, and am paying attention to styles/tailoring which will naturally accentuate my curves without the use of a belt. (It's due to a combination of losing 15 pounds and becoming more conscious of what is flattering.) I still want to lose 10 pounds, but am learning to embrace my curves! I've scored some great clothes at thrift stores, and have banished my collection of boxy tops.

Inge

(website)

Hi Stefka, welcome to the forum, and thanks for chiming in!

Congratulations on the weight! I can see I could learn a thing or two about thrifting from you too;-)