Belts on jeans - YouLookFab Forum

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Belts on jeans

BrieN

Veteran

I am pretty casual in the spring and summer - jeans, a top or tee, and shoes. I've been thinking about ways to up my game a bit and realized that a belt might be just the ticket, as I don't wear much jewelry and have a single handbag for summer.

When you shop for belts to wear with jeans, how wide should they be? what would be your minimum and maximum width?

I seem to be drawn to silver tones this season (silver shoes, a sparkly suede jacket--that i'll have to ask for therapy for in a later post:)-- and my pewter bag). Would it be too much to wear a silver belt with a silver shoe and pewter bag?

Are there good rules to follow about matching your belt to outfit? I don't really want to highlight my midsection and I'm cautious about adding a horizontal line

I would love any advice you have about belts - which ones are a workhorse for you and why if possible.

Dressing

18 replies

Latest reply was from Gigi

Helena

Veteran

Following with interest ... I struggle with belts too

Muffin

Veteran

Following as well. I did a Nordstrom search on belts and there is a dizzying array. Too wide looks too masculine to me and too thin just doesn't work with jeans-- maybe a 1-1.5"?

Joy

Veteran

I will have to measure my belts, but you need them wide enough to hold up your jeans and narrow enough to go easily through the belt loops. I like belts best on jeans with a rise that hits below my natural waist. That means a longer belt.

My most used belts are metallic. I like to use them with a similar metallic bag or footwear but usually not both at once. My high waist looks most balanced in belts that match or blend with my top rather than the pants.

A semi tuck is often more successful than a fully tucked top unless you want to showcase a small waist.

Joy

Veteran

I thought that Angie posted something some time ago about curved belts being better fitting, but I can't find it now. Belts with some elastic and decorative buckle or hardware add interest and are comfortable.

Ledonna N.

Veteran

I use belts for decoration only. I have all of my pants jeans tailored even tho they com from the thrift or opshop. If I put a belt through the loops I wear a skinny belt. Mostly I use a belt to define a waist or to add shape.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A metallic belt is a GREAT idea for jeans - almost all my clients have one. I wear my gold jeans belt very frequently. Keep it wide like the belt loops.

Anonymous

I think that a silver belt would look fine with other silvery items. I think the width really depends on you own style. I prefer mid width belts because that looks the best on me but I've seen others rock skinny or thick. Also, it depends on your frame. I think a good guideline is what Angie said about having it match the width of the belt loops.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Brie, if you wear the belt across your hips and not your waist, you won't highlight your waist. Basically a belt draws a horizontal line across your body, visually increasing the width of that area. It's an optical illusion but it works. So if you have a tiny waist an you want to draw attention to it, putting a belt there is a great idea. If you don't, put the belt lower. I'm very column-shaped, so I stay well away from belts at the natural waist -- why draw attention to a waist I don't have? lol -- but I find that a belt across my hips will make me seem curvier.

A silver belt will look fabulous. I probably wouldn't wear one with both silver shoes and a silver bag, but that's because matchy-matchy is really not my thing. It works for some women, though.

As for size, most of my belts are about 2" wide. They are all leather. I have brown, black, cognac and camouflage suede.

AviaMariah

Veteran

I think most of my belts are 1 1/2 - 2 inches wide. In the summer I seem to use a metallic (I have gold but would also like silver), white or black the most. I've also thought about adding some sort of flower, patterned belt just to add some fun. I almost always faux tuck when I wear a belt or I don't like the horizontal line the belt creates.

Fossil Perforated Leather Belt

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Lulu

(website)

If you want a belt, it should blend in with your jeans (pants), if you do not want to call attention to your waist. The belt should be able to go through the loops. If you wear your shirt over your jeans then you can belt it lower then your waist and the belt can be looser. You need to check the mirror and see what size width looks best on you. Are you tall or short, that is also a consideration.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I use belts with jeans and pants when they are a mid-to-low rise, with a semi-tucked top, or sometimes full tuck with low-rise pants. I usually keep the belt a tonal match with either the top or the pants, or both, depending on the outfit.

For example, I am short waisted, so I avoid belting with a higher rise. When I do belt, I will sometimes make the belt the same color or shade as the top, to visually extend my short top half -- it's a little optical illusion, but it works. Conversely, you can belt to match the pants to extend the leg line.

I like my belts for jeans to be a little more substantial than trouser belts -- at least 1" wide. I like the option of a metallic belt for adding a little extra something to an otherwise neutral or solid color outfit, or if the outfit already has enough going on, I'll choose a more simple belt.

Aida

Veteran

As others have said, if you don't want to highlight your midsection the easiest option would be to wear a belt that is low contrast against either your top (to lengthen your torso) or your pants (to lengthen your legs). Depends on the effect you're after

DonnaF

Veteran

In addition to having my belt the same tone as my jeans/pants due to short legs, I like a patterned belt (like leopard) if both top and bottom are solid.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I've gotten most of my best belts from J Crew. Not sure what they have this season.

Brooklyn

Veteran

My belts for jeans are 1.5 to 2 inches wide. I have them in black, taupe, tan, cognac and brown. As others have said, you can go for a tonal effect with your top or your bottoms. Also, you can choose a colour that tones in with your shoes or your bag.

BrieN

Veteran

Sorry to post and run yesterday; it was DH's birthday with lots to do!

How your comments have solved my Belt Conundrum? Let me count the ways...

Recently I started with one belt on an outfit but switched to black and even I could see that it looked wildly better. Joy and Janet it was your illusion idea in practice - my blouse had a black background so the belt lengthened that short waist of mine. I never would have figured that out; thank you for the lightbulb moment. That is a lesson I won't forget.

Aida, DonnaF, Lulu, and Brooklyn similarly the idea of making your belt the same tone as your pants (or again your tops) is groundbreaking for me. I am starting to see the belt as a deliberate choice depending on what my outfit might need.

Ledonna: It is a style goal of mine to be better about taking things to the tailor -- thank you for reinforcing that!

Aziraphale:. You have solved the mystery why I don't like a thin belt over a sweater and sheath dress combination. It is so much better to know why something doesn't look good, than thinking I don't look good.

AviaMariah: Faux tuck sounds like something I need to learn how to do.

Sochi602 - thanks for the encouragement on the silver theme idea. I am not good at evaluating different choices on me but will try on a couple of different widths.

Angie: Thank you for taking the time to post. I am very encouraged that a metallic belt works for almost all your clients -- I'm feeling more confident that I can make it work for me, too!

Torontogirl and Muffin: I'm glad to know there are others like me who are learning from all this collective wisdom!

UmmLila: I would never have thought of JCrew, but of course, now that you mention it...

I see belt colors like brown, taupe, tan, white, black, metallic, and cognac would be good workhorse-type choices and animal print and cammo might be surprising workhorse-type choices.

Does anyone wear blue to go tonal with their blue jeans?

Note to self: next season, be sure to set aside more of the budget for accessories.

Aida

Veteran

I personally don't go for blue with denim simply because, even if I'm wearing a low contrast belt, I want it to provide more interest. I am looking for a shiny navy belt but only wear light blue blue denims so it won't truly be low contrast. Usually with my light blue denim I opt for silver or gold.

Gigi

Veteran

Ahhh...belts. These have a bit of a learning curve, if you ask me! I have tried on lots and lots over three years and am just now getting to the point where I have a decent collection where I can usually (not always) have something for any type of outfit.

For me, I have found that skinny belts (around 1/2") create a very polished look that can sometimes read preppy or businesslike. Wide belts (over 1") create a look that is more relaxed, rocker, or boho. Belts in between are multipurpose and don't seem to skew one way or the other. This is my experience, anyway, with regard to my style.

My biggest workhorses are a 3/4" black leather belt with black buckle from BR, a 3/4" perforated cognac belt with a small gold buckle, and a 1-1/4' perforated belt with a large pewter buckle.

I do find it helpful to have some belts in the same colors as my bottoms (like the blue belt with denim you mentioned), because sometimes you have a lot going on in an outfit anyway, and adding an attention-grabbing belt puts things in the chaotic category. I often wear a white belt with white pants and a black belt with black pants. This tonal matching has the advantage of adding interest and texture in a subtle way when you don't want to draw attention to the belt.

One thing that I always find myself wanting to reach for is a metallic silver belt. There are many outfits that would benefit from it...I'm always saying, "If only I had a silver belt!" So I think a metallic belt would be a good idea. I also find it helpful to have at least one belt that has a pretty flat buckle (i.e., not a bulky buckle) so that if you're not tucking your shirt, you can still wear the belt to hold your pants up and not have it show up as a lump under your shirt.

Be sure to allow yourself some "fun" belts: maybe some in animal print, or some with a really interesting texture. I recently bought the belt below and am having a lot of fun with it. Its buckle sits completely flat, so it's good to wear underneath untucked shirts. It is also extremely stretchy, so I can wear it at a variety of points on my torso without it getting too tight.

Steven By Steve Madden Beaded Stretch Belt

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