Wide belts keep reappearing every season - and in different trendy styles. But you don't mind, right? We love 'em!
A wide belt can accentuate your waist, narrow it, conceal the flab, enhance your curves (it's not a bad thing!) and add a finishing touch to a loose-fitted shirt, cardigan or dress. It pretty much gives you all of the good stuff for looking trendy and gorgeous!
How to Wear a Wide Belt
Get to know the shape of your torso Is your waist thin or thick, or average? Do you have a short or long waist?
Some torsos look amazing in wide belts, and others, well, they run the risk of looking stumpy, unless they take the proper adjustments!
Here are a couple of guidelines:
Short waist Long waists in general, are free to experiment with various types of belts. However, if you have a short torso, wider belt styles can be tricky. Just make sure the color of the belt is similar to the top you're wearing it with. In this way you'll avoid the contrast that chops up your waist. If you are Petite and/or have short waist, I suggest to look for a thinner belt style to avoid swallowing up your torso.
Thin/well-defined waist If you have a proportional body shape with a well-defined waist (usually an Hourglass and Pear body shape), accentuate that with the belt worn around the narrowest part of your waist.
Thick waist If you have little to no waist definition (usually a Rectangle and Inverted Triangle body shape) then opt for a solid dark colored belt that fakes curves. If your hips are straight (Inverted Triangle) pair the belt with a long or nipped top.
Full tummy A full tummy is typical of an Apple body shape and wide belts tend to emphasize the mid-section. That's why you need a belt that helps hold in your stomach. So look for belts with stretch in solid, dark colors such as black, dark brown, dark navy blue and charcoal grey. Elastic belts are great at holding in the extra weight.
Where should you wrap the belt? The classic and stylish place to wrap it is around your natural waistline, which is perfect for really slimming that torso. Just make sure to make the proper adjustments and choice of belts, as explained in the previous pointer.
Natural waistline This is the most ideal area to place it on. It defines and slims down your mid-section. Placing it on the bust or waist area will create the appearance of having longer legs and a long, clean line which gives a very flattering look. It also visually helps push up your chest.
However, this placement also gives a dramatic-trendy corset belt-look which might appear a bit too fancy for the occasion. So you want to make sure you keep the rest simple.
If you're planning on wearing it as a part of your day outfit, select a belt that is simple and neutral.
Around your hips Great if you want to create curves or accentuate your hips. You might want to choose a wide belt in soft, stretchy material - either loosely or snugly. This will give you extra curves without sacrificing comfort.
This belt placement looks elegant on a tunic dress.
If you have short legs then this is not the ideal placement because it visually shortens them. But heels solve that!
Scale it to your body size If you're tall and/or a Plus size then your body figure can handle most belts widths.
But if you're Petite (5'4" = 163cm) or shorter super-wide belts can swallow you up and make you look smaller, which doesn't look elegant at all. You need to look for a belt that is scaled to your height, so look for the narrowest wide belt possible.
If you're a plus size petite opt for something in the middle - not narrow but not too wide either.
