If you’ve ever felt like your outfit needed “something,” chances are a belt could be the answer. And not just any belt.
I’m talking about those fabulous, statement-making wide belts that don’t just hold things up…they bring the whole outfit together.
Quote of the day: “Whatever anybody says or does, assume positive intent. You will be amazed at how your whole approach to a person or problem becomes very different.” Indra Nooyi
The best part about belts? You don’t have to spend a fortune. Some of my favorite belts are thrifted treasures with personality already built in.
Today, my crew is showing you exactly how to style belts with each of us wearing a wide belt in our favorite way so you can see just how versatile (and fun) they can be.
Plus, notice how each of our wide belts is so unique and different. Yet they all fit the bill for this fun prompt with our Thrifty 6 group on how to style belts.
Wide belts are like the punctuation mark of an outfit. They:
They’re one of the easiest ways to add sass without changing your entire outfit.
I’ve discussed belts many times before:
–Scarves as belts in many variations
–Belt stacking (one way to create a wider belt out of thin belts)
–When to wear a belt: side-by-side examples of outfits with and without belts
–Belt style-another side-by-side example post
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Cathie is wearing a beautiful white skirt and top, commonly referred to as a “column of color.” It’s funny because I originally thought it was a dress, until she sent me the details.
The denim vest adds even more texture, but it’s that belt that really pulls everything together.
Details:
-This vest intrigued me so much. It’s denim material, but with an open weave, it’s perfect for our warmer months.
-Bolo ties aren’t just for men anymore. I Love how Cathie wore this as a necklace.
Lesley shines in her yellow dress, layered with a black bolero. She is using the trick of wearing a maxi skirt as a strapless dress, and the belt adds shape.
She brought in the color of the belt with the bolero, purse, hat, jewelry, and even her footwear.
Stylist tip: Looser dresses are fabulous in the hotter months, but it’s still nice to have a shape. Make it comfy by wearing the belt looser than normal. It’s still creating shape but not cutting off circulation.
Details:
-Lesley’s “bolero” is really just a cropped blouse worn unbuttoned. She’s being the boss of her clothes.
-The hat really adds a ton of interest to your look. Hats can be intimidating to some women, but I think we should all try them occassionally.
Charlotte’s wearing tan pants with a blue top, and her darker blue belt ties everything together beautifully.
While most women wouldn’t include a belt with this look, I think it adds a nice cohesion factor. It’s intentional, interesting, and adds texture to the game.
Details:
-If you look at the brands of the top and pants, they are very classic, yet the belt and non-matching purse really change the vibe of the look, fabulously.
-The bright yellow purse is my favorite detail.
Let’s talk about having a little fun says the maximalist.
I’m wearing a tan elastic wide belt, but I didn’t stop there. I added a necklace and earrings to the belt for extra personality.
Stylist tip: Don’t be afraid to “decorate” your belt. Think of it like a mini styling canvas where brooches, chains, and even earrings can add flair.
In fact, I decorated a different wide belt with brooches (and a couple of earrings) last year.
The dress is a bit form-fitting and I figured that adding all the extras would change the focus to a less va va voomish look.
Details:
-I added a totally different accent color with turquoise jewelry and glasses.
-The necklace is one of my flexible ones with a clip-on earring attached.
-Yes, there are bag charms on my purse.
Let me tell you…thrift stores are GOLDMINES for belts.
Here’s why:
Some of my best wide belts have come from thrifting.
The other option is to check Etsy. I bought this obi belt, and it’s fabulous.
Stylist tip: Sometimes on older belts, the elastic is old and stretches out. That’s one reason you don’t just look at the size, but try them on.
If they are too big, I’ve been known to sew the elastic over itself in the back of the belt or where it might not be noticed.
I consider belts underrated. Sure, they can be functional, but when you compare an outfit with a belt vs without a belt (another good reason to take a daily selfie), sometimes they are transformational.
Because once you start playing with them, you’ll realize that they can completely change an outfit or add that finishing touch that makes it feel intentional.
Be like Mikey and try them…you, too, might like them.
Because the fashion and textile industry can be a major contributor to landfills and other environmental pollution, we decided that the mission of this group is to focus on second-hand items.
Thrifty tip: Don’t forget to check out the men’s and kids’ sections of the store because you might be surprised.
Check out the other members of the Thrifty 6 group below for how to style belts.
“Recently, macrame belts have been popping up all over the place and I am definitely here for it! I found this brown beaded macrame belt on a thrifting adventure not too long ago and it is proving to be quite handy. I belted a newly thrifted dress layered beneath a newly thrifted robe for a cool print mix in earthy tones and added two preloved wooden necklaces and a pair of flea market leopard print earrings. But I didn’t just belt my dress, I also belted my hat with an old brown braided belt. I love using belts as hat bands to add a unique detail and better coordinate my hats with my outfits. I was also going to attach a belt to a handbag as a purse strap, but I got lazy and skipped the third belt. But then, I figured two belts would satisfy our thrifty theme! But keep in mind that belts aren’t necessarily just for your waist. You can get creative and belt anything you’d like!”
“I bought this Diane von Furstenberg top on Vinted, or perhaps in Lewes, England. I don’t remember it correctly. This wrap top was very loved and I and wore it until it was to ugly from washing and wearing. This skirt was a high waist and the wrap straps got in the way of the skirt. So I used the straps as a belt!”
“This was an 80’s vintage dress, now cut to make a blouse – I’ve removed the skirt, leaving this stunning peplum – peplums being bang on trend right now!
To exaggerate the silhouette, I’ve added an original 1950’s waspie which acts as a belt nipping in the waist to create a perfect hourglass.
I’ve further enhanced the effect using a waist cincher belt with a huge statement bow at the front.
Peplum, waspie and waist cincher together create this dramatic Alexis Colby inspired ensemble – I’m back in the early 80’s, fresh off the set of Dynasty…
‘Put a belt on it’ is the T6 theme for April – I did just that, in fact, I did it twice!!!”
“I had to get creative for this challenge because I’m not a belt person and I don’t have any that fit me right now. So I used an old thin green woven leather belt (which I had kept because it was so pretty) to create a leather scarf ring. I tied the two ends of the long thrifted scarf together, then wrapped it twice around my neck like a faux infinity scarf. Then I wound the belt around the scarf and buckled it to make a scarf ring look. I thought it turned out really well! It definitely added more interest and texture to my scarf (yes, now even my scarves wear “jewelry” ha!). I liked how the lime green color of the belt picked up that color in the scarf and related it to the aloe green pants I’m wearing. The scarf is the only thrifted piece in my outfit, but the clothes and shoes are such old favorites that the outfit’s total cost per wear was only $4.62, and $3.00 of that was the recently purchased scarf – I’d say that’s pretty thrifty!”
“I decided to recreate an outfit I’d worn before for a previous Thrifty Six challenge (metallics) as I liked it so much. I’ve only changed the bag and shoes. The gold jacket is vintage 1950’s, from eBay, and I bought the belt in a charity shop. Belts (other than the fabric type that come with a dress) are usually not on my radar, but this theme has reminded me that a belt can really make an outfit!”
If you don’t have great secondhand stores near you, then another great option is online thrifting. These are the ones I’ve used.
thredUp—FIRST50 gives you 50% off your first order.
Poshmark — here is the post about how to shop the site.
Etsy
ebay
The Real Real— higher-end and designer brands, but some are priced affordably.
Thank you for visiting my space on the internet. I like to showcase how it’s never too late to look great for women of any age, size, or working with any kind of budget.
I feel I’m here to help move beyond the fashion rules of yesterday and evolve. Style and clothes are made to give you joy. Not cause us Stress because we are worried about what others think.
My hope is that you get ideas and inspiration from my crew and me. It’s not about copying what we wear, but about using what you already have and updating items along the way.
Most of all, it’s getting us to think differently and dare I say, have fun.
Jodie Filogomo is a retired cosmetic dentist and fashion blogger behind Jodie’s Touch of Style, where she has been helping women over 50 experiment with style in fun, creative ways for over 12 years.
Find out more about the crew, because we love to showcase all ages, body shapes, and women who love different styles.
The post How to Style Belts (Especially Wide Ones) for Maximum Impact appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
