Belts are the unsung heroes of my wardrobe. Not only do they add pop and polish, but they can be used to completely alter a garment. And as an added bonus, you can always pick them up for sale or find interesting ones at op-shops.
Here are six ways to wear a belt that you might not have thought about …
Tip #1: Wear your belt buckle to the side
No-one said that belts need to be worn buckle centre-front. Off to one side can make for a cute variation. This tends to work best with wider belts and looks equally great on the hips with a maxi skirt or dress for a boho twist. Look for longer, weaved belts so that you have plenty of options regarding where to buckle.
Tip #2: Fake a high waist
There isn’t anything wrong with showing a bit of skin, but it’s probably not appropriate in the office. By adding a belt you can change the waist-line of a skirt and open up more wardrobe options. You can also try trends like high-waisted pencil skirts with something you already own.
Tip #3: Use jewellery and ribbons as belts
Don’t limit yourself when it comes to belts. Jewellery and ribbons can moonlight beautifully. This is an Adorne long necklace and it makes for a great belt on an otherwise unstructured dress. Look through your jewellery collection for long chain necklaces with a catch. Ribbons and jewellery are great options when you want to belt a beachy dress but you also want to keep that relaxed vibe.
Tip #4: Wrap belts of the same size and length
Look out for a belts that are the same width and length in a similar colour palette. You can buckle them all together to make one long belt and have fun with wrapping it.
Tip #5: Belt a skirt under the bust and create a bustier dress
Need a little bustier party dress? Look no further than your maxi skirt and a belt to hold it in place. As a side note, I am not entirely sure that orange, ivory and silver should work together, and yet here they are – all getting along nicely. Just goes to show you that a play in your wardrobe will often pay off.
Tip #6: Change the length of your dress
We all know that a belt can add structure and define your waist, but it can also act as an anchor point so that you can completely change the hemline of your dress. Just the pull the fabric up and over for a fun change.
On Saturdays I blog with a style focus. I am not a stylist – just a girl who likes her fashion and has a bit of sewing and shopping addiction. If there is anything you would like me to cover from a style perspective, please let me know. I’d really love these posts to be useful, fresh and different. I will be posting a see-and-sew post shortly on how to make an off-shoulder dress, so keep a look out for that.
Do you have any favourite ways to wear a belt?
Oh, you’re so good at rocking a belt! I struggle to feel comfortable with belts – definitely an area I could work on!
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There’s so many options out there, that I’m sure you will find the one that works for you.
Love the necklace as a belt – works perfectly with the blue maxi. Belts are always a staple in my wardrobe, great for creating shape in an outfit.
Such an under-rated piece for what it can achieve in your wardrobe I think.
These are great tips! I do tip number 6 often, I don’t always get maxi dresses hemmed right away so I belt them for a bit (I tend to take batches of my clothes to the tailor).
The necklace as a belt is a great one too! I’ll have to think if I have any pieces I can try that with. I’ve worn a bracelet as a belt before (one of those long wrap around ones that goes round your wrist 4 or 5 times) but never a necklace.
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I LOVE those bracelets – such a sucker for anything that wraps around. Belts are also pretty good post-pregnancy when the floaty things aren’t quite so cute as they once were.
Love the skirt to dress with a belt look! I need to get more adventurous with these things!
I think it’s fun just to have a play now and again!
I am loving the belt to create a high waist. You look amazing in all of these. Bron
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Great post, I love the tip about wearing a maxi as a dress – I do that all the time in the summer. Thanks for linking up over at The Fashionable Mum.x
Thanks for hosting! It’s such a cute way of getting a little more out of your wardrobe.
A belt is something I rarely do, more to do with body shape. You’ve nailed it with these ideas though, my fave way to wear a belt is with a longer dress to hitch it up a little (or a lot). Love what you did with the maxi skirt.
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Thanks lovely. Yes, I guess the belt can either be a star or a supporting player by changing shape and length!
So many ideas, thanks Robyna!
Hope they come in useful!