Waist Belts
I often get asked all sort of questions about belts, so here I will answer them, in the hope that it makes it easier for you when next you find the need to go out and buy a new belt.
I’m not a big belt person but I feel like I need at least one in my cupboard, what is the most versatile belt?
The 12th Wardrobe Essential featured the skinny braided belt, because it is so nifty. You can wear it in a number of ways and you can get creative playing with the various knots to finish your look off. It also has a nice look to it. Get it in black or tan and either wear it with jeans or pants OR over a cardi + shirt combination to give you some shape.
I found a cool site that teaches you how to knot belts in different and interesting ways. Click here to check it out.
I love waist belts, but when I wear them they make me look disproportionate. How can I wear them and still look good?
Chances are, if you have a short waist, you won’t be able to wear a thick waist belt, like the supermodels do. To measure if you have a short waist, take a tape measure and measure the distance (on the side of your body) from under your bust to your waist. Take that number and subtract 5. If you come up with a number smaller than 5, you have a short waist. If your answer is anything between 5 and 10, you have an average waist length. If your number is bigger than 10, you have a long waist. Once you have done this you will know what thickness to go for when choosing a waist belt.
Short-waisted: go for a medium to thin belt, either in patent leather or with some detailing, and note where you position the belt on your body. If at your waist looks a bit off, then try just under your bust.
Average: you can wear the thicker waist belts at your waist with no problem at all, and you can also wear the skinny waist belt, if you so choose.
Long-waisted: you should only wear the thick version to give the illusion that your waist is shorter, instead of making it longer. Thinner waist belts won’t look as good on you.
Where can I go to buy good quality belts?
When I need a belt I head to either Country Road or Forever New. Country Road belts are great quality and they are usually made from leather, while Forever New belts aren’t leather, but are still good quality and are on trend. I found this gorgeous belt there. Sometimes, Mr Price has some pretty offerings too, but I find that they generally don’t last very long.
I saw these two beautiful belts at Country Road last week, for only R249 each:
You can buy the bronze on online here and the peach/tan one online here.
What is the best colour belt to own?
Black is classic and timeless, so you can’t go wrong with that colour choice. That said, if you don’t own a lot of black and you find you have more beiges and creams in your wardrobe, go for a tan or nude belt to compliment your preferred colour scheme.
Happy belt shopping!
