Belt opinion - YouLookFab Forum

Category

Body Type

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Belt opinion

marianne

I used to avoid belts entirely, but I am trying to figure out if I can pull them off with longer tops. I took pictures of the same top with and without a belt and would like your honest opinion. I would ideally get a crisper blouse for this look, but I am just using what I have for this experiment.
No belt:
http://i293.photobucket.com/al.....ure022.jpg
Belt on natural waist:
http://i293.photobucket.com/al.....ure017.jpg
Belt on hips:
http://i293.photobucket.com/al.....ure018.jpg
Should I pursue the look or just go unbelted? Thank you!

Body Type

14 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Anonymous

I think you can certainly were a belt if you'd like. It looks very natural on you.

Maya

Veteran

It's hard to tell. I am pretty certain you can wear a belt, but with this top it looks a bit funny because it's so flowy and there is so much fabric. I think you can do it though. You have a small waist.

Ana

(website)

Veteran

I agree--either a crisper blouse, or a more flowy top would work great. I'm not generally a fan of hip belts unless you have long legs, because it tends to emphasize the length of your torso. I can't tell from the pictures whether a hip belt would work, but I definitely like the waist belt.

Tanya

Veteran

I like it both without the belt and with the waist belt. I agree with Ana on the hip belt theory.

marianne

Thank you! I'll work on the shirt. The low belt is hardly an option anyway, I don't really know how it's supposed to stay in place

Nicole

Veteran

Hmmm I am not a big belted shrit fan, personally, so my opinion may be weighted. But I prefer that particular shirt unbelted, and if I had to choose between the waist belt and the hip the belt, my eye actually prefers it at the hip. I don't see the visual benefit to shortening your torso to elongate your legs. I've actually given this a lot of thought lately. When someone approaches you, do you view them from head to toe--eyeing them up and down? Or do you view them in a natural line of vision? I don't do the up and down viewing unless something about them catches my eye, and I want to sneak a peek at them--and even then I do it as clandistinely as possible. So my theory is the top 5/8 to 3/4 is the part that most people focus on. I'd rather look like I have a long and lean torso than long legs. Ok maybe I've given that TOO much thought....

anne

Veteran

Marianne,
I am afraid I wasn't too taken by the belted look and thought the top better unbelted.

I should say though, that I am still getting my head around the whole belted thing too

What about the belt at a higher position, like Ana often wears?

shiny

Veteran

I do think you can wear a belt with this top if you like, but:

1) the belt you've chosen is the wrong belt. It appears to be a heavy belt, more for jeans and heavier material. Try a different belt, something lighter (in material or thickness), in keeping with the lighter fabric. Maybe a metallic skinny belt?

2) you need a longer cami underneath, one as long as the blouse. The shorter cami is throwing off the eye, chopping your torso up so with the addition of the belt it's too much.

Julia

I agree with shiny that a lighter belt will go better with this blouse. This belt (is it a wine color?) might go with a thicker opaque shirt in navy in Fall.

If just judging the position of the belt, I think that you can wear both of them since you have such a fab figure. The hip position makes the look casual and laid back and the higher one gives it a polished look.

marianne

Thank you ladies! I agree the belt/shirt combination is not right. I don't have many long shirts in my closet, and I was just wondering about the general outline. Shiny, good point about the cami. I only tried the hip belt because I am a bit short waisted and Angie's blog entry talks about it. I cannot actually imagine wearing it in that position.
I never really wear belts except with jeans, because my waist isn't defined enough and I always thought belts make it worse :). It's just something I wanted to try.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks for the pics Marianne. The top looks best as is (no belt). But you can absolutely wear a belt. Shiny and Ana make super suggestion. Nicole, you continue to crack me up!

Maya

Veteran

Nicole, you might have something going there. I have mixed feelings about having long legs myself. On one hand, it's kind of a blessing considering the fact that I am petite and can't wear heels. OTOH, I really prefer the look of a slim torso with a gracefully sculpted waist, perhaps for the reason you mentioned. I feel like the fact that my torso is so short makes my waist look much bigger than it really is. I DO have a small waist, but it's hard to see where it's smallest. Most people here thought I was smallest right under the bust, but I'm actually a full 2 inches bigger there than I am at the smallest point.

Having said that, I don't see a belt as a hindrance. If anything, it emphasizes a small waist. I think the only time I find them disruptive is if they're too wide. I like my skinny belt because it shows off where I actually AM the smallest, as opposed to where people think I'm the smallest.

marianne

Thank you Angie, great to have you back! And special thanks for starting the clamdiggers trend. I'm afraid soon you'll be able to spot me in town
Maya, I see your point, but it kind of goes back to wishing for what you don't have. I always thought that defined waist (like Tanya's) is the most desirable and attractive feature... my best friend from HS had a similar built and I was very envious Anyway, that's why I'm often drawn to silhouettes that are not necessarily flattering for me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

also meant to tell you that you look superb in clamdiggers, Marianne!