To Belt or Not To Belt - Bonus Kitty Pic - 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

To Belt or Not To Belt - Bonus Kitty Pic

JulieJohn

Veteran

Happy October, fabbers! Submitted for your approval: what is the best way to flatter my figure with a belt, or should I go without?

I have here three pics of me in the same outfit, designed to weather our 107-degree forecast for today (enough, already!). #1 is sans-a-belt, #2 is with a low-contrast belt, #3 with a high-contrast belt. All the fashion gods say I should look great with a belt, given that I am an hourglass and should want to draw attention to my waist. I question this wisdom, because A) I like an uncluttered look, and B) my waist draws enough attention to itself already by being chubby.

Even though my waist is 10" smaller than my hips, does being chubby or being short (5'0") negate being an hourglass and turn me into something else?

Does it look too unfinished without a belt? Does it look too busy with a belt? Your thoughts will be very welcome.

Angie, you are Queen Belt, what say you? I would love to be able to rock a polka-dot belt like you.

Thanks everyone and enjoy this photo of Cat 1 bookending her fur with a cheetah print.

This post has 4 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

Body Type

24 replies

Latest reply was from JulieJohn

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I think it looks more finished with the belt, if you're going to tuck. I like 2 the best - in 3 your eye is drawn to the belt right away, which you say you don't want. (Also, for optical illusion purposes, I prefer the belt to be darker or the same tone as what it's belting.)

I'm also an hourglass. I belt pants to stop them falling down or if I tuck something in, but for me belting is more figure-flattering with a dress or over a shirt, because the smallest part of my waist is several inches above any pants waist.

I am impressed that you are thinking about the details of your outfit in 107 degree weather

rae

(website)

Veteran

I like #3 the best - I dig the bookending of the belt and shoes as well as the high-contrast between your belt and the pants.

I think you are an 8, which is a high-hipped/short-waisted hourglass - I am a short-waisted gal, too. This pretty much means that you can skew toward rectangle if you don't define your waist or, if you are like me, when you put on weight in your midsection. For myself, this means that I cannot wear wide belts and that I often try to lengthen my torso with a half tuck. Some days it is fun to be a rectangle, though, wearing loose dresses and focusing on the legs.

Tina

Veteran

First of all, you have a very nice shape! I imagine it must be more difficult to find clothes due to your 5' height. You must look lovely in a skirt and blouse combo.
I like #2 the best.
Wow, 107 degrees! You're a trooper for putting an effort into an outfit in that kind of heat:)

catgirl

Veteran

I like 3 the best. Have you tried a darker belt, to add definition without being so much of a pop?

ETA: I guess I was thinking of a solid belt but looking again, 2 works also. So I'm changing my vote to 2!

JulieJohn

Veteran

Fern, thanks for your kind reply. These pants do hit me at my exact waist, but I hear what you say about the ones that don't. I might have to do another post just for low-rise jeans, sheesh!

Rae, great thoughts. I wish I were an 8, what numbering system is that? I am indeed shortwaisted, though long in the rise and short in the legs. I've been gaining weight all over currently, however I feel that will reverse soon when I get my hormones back in whack.

Anonymous

You had me at "bonus kitty pic"! What a gorgeous marmalade tabby girl!

You have a cute figure and I like both belted versions equally!

JulieJohn

Veteran

Tina, thanks for your kindness! I need to get more in touch with skirts, you are right.

Una, thanks a bunch. I need the help.

Ali, thanks so much, and Ms. Kitty graciously accepts your comment with a nod of her head.

JulieJohn

Veteran

So the belted looks are really winning, no question. It just goes to show what you can learn when you put yourself out there.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

I also like the belts but was drawn to #3 like Rae.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

JJ - 8 vs X are two varieties of hourglass. In an X the widest part of the hips is down really low, around the crotch, and the measurement around the hip bones is a lot smaller. In an 8 the hips widen dramatically just below the waist, over the hip bone. I think of Beyonce as the paradigmatic 8 shape.

Anonymous

I think the most flattering way would be to untuck the shirt or do a half tuck. You have a high hip, just like me. We tend to look more proportionate in a half tuck.

JulieJohn

Veteran

texstyle - thank you!

Fern, thanks for explaining that. I guess I'm an 8, gotta look when I have less clothes on to make sure.

Zap, thank you! This top is really form-fitting and doesn't look good untucked. I also can't do a half-tuck though I like the look, because hubby really hates it. His no's are rare so I am happy to oblige. Maybe a long vest would do the trick. Hmmmm..... Thanks for the food for thought.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

JJ, you are a ray of sunshine. And your kitty is absolutely gorgeous, as I am sure he knows all too well.

As for you, you're lovely, too, and I like both your belted outfits, with a slight preference for #2. I always like to use a belt (if I can) with a tucked top where the bottoms have beltloops. Sometimes I do't have the RIGHT belt. (Work in progress).

You look as if you might be a bit short waisted, as Rae says. I'm like that, too, and also a bit long in the rise. So you are not alone!

shedev

Veteran

This outfit is really cute on you. I like the low contrast belt but also like the high contrast belt. Kitty is so adorable.

Kathleen M

I like the high-contrast belt best. It offsets the two blues nicely and looks color block-y.

krishnidoux

Veteran

Agree with Cinnamon fern about the belts!
You have a great figure.

If you had a belt that matched the pants more closely, or a mat colour belt such as red, green or yellow, it would be interesting too.

siniestra

Number 2~~ def and i love how u play with the colors

rae

(website)

Veteran

I came across the 8 body type on Imogen Lamport's blog:
http://www.insideoutstyleblog......pes-8.html

It is basically to differentiate two types of hourglasses. An X has more of an elongated torso, while the 8 has the ribcage and hips closer together.

JulieJohn

Veteran

Rae, thank you, I bookmarked that site! I am indeed an 8, now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Kitty has brilliant pattern mixing skills!

I like #3 best, and enjoy your smile here on YLF so very much

JulieJohn

Veteran

Angie, awww, thanks you sweetie! Glad to hear #3 gets your vote of approval.

Suz, what a kind girl you are! I am going to have to look at your outfits more closely, though I already study them for fab-spiration. Now I will be looking at proportions too, as another short-waisted, long-torsoed (SWLT) person.

Thank you to Shedev, Kathleen, Krishnidoux, and Siniestra for your kind comments!

Kiwichik

Veteran

Hi JJ I like number 3 best. I'd also love to see you in a skirt I think you would look fab. I think you oukd tweak this outfit by wearing a lower cut top (nothing rude) and a necklace that its a bit longer and that would elongate your neck and make your waist look even smaller.

ElleH

Veteran

I agree with Angie on the belt & the pattern mixing kitty comments. I always take pics of my kitty when she mixes her patterns.

This post has 5 photos. Photos uploaded by this member are only visible to other logged in members.

If you aren't a member, but would like to participate, please consider signing up. It only takes a minute and we'd love to have you.

JulieJohn

Veteran

Kiwi - thanks so much! I will try your suggestion.

Elle - I love your beautiful cat. She haz pattern skillz!