As I Get Older, I'm Reconsidering the Belt

Belts Can Be Fun! Picture: Getty

So getting the belt had a very different meaning when I was young. I had '70s parents and no good came of the belt for anyone. And to be very honest, as someone who physiologically has no defined waistline to speak of, the belt has never been my friend. It's uncomfortable, highlights the worst part of my body and is generally hard to make work. But, as I have been paring back my wardrobe and trying to keep things relevant as I have got older, a belt sometimes saves the day.

The first rule of belts is replace the one that comes with the outfit - a contrast belt is best!

Here are five great tips for wearing a belt:

1. Never wear an integrated belt. My pal Nyarai knows this one - she's a belt wearer and asked me one day how to personalise a dress that potentially a few colleagues may also wear to work. My easy answer was take off the belt that matches the dress, that comes with the trousers, that is integrated with the skirt, and replace with one of your own. If the dress is a solid colour, then use a contrast colour belt for the most impact. If the fabric is printed, a beautiful neutral leather belt is perfect. It does several other things other than making the look your own - it can also elevate the garment by using a genuine leather belt (the ones that come with  items are usually fabric or plastic). And it can actually make the original outfit look even better on you - by using a belt specifically proportioned to your figure. Take that fellow-colleagues!
2. Speaking of proportions, always try and match the belt to your stature for a harmonious look. If you are tall or larger boned, then a skinny belt can sometimes look a bit ineffectual. Similarly, a petite frame can be overwhelmed by a large obi belt, for example, so just match the belt to your already magnificent body. Also - whilst we are talking about the size of the belt - make sure you have different belts for your jeans than for your dresses. A belt holding up the trouser sits further down the body than a waist belt, and therefore should be a bit longer. 
3. The wider the belt, the smaller you can make your waist look. For those who are average to larger sized, invest in a great leather obi belt. You wrap the belt around your waist and it creates the illusion of a much smaller, almost corseted, curve. Darker leather is more slimming of course - and for the optimum combination, make sure it is black on black. If the look you are going for is sexy Morticia Adams (and honestly, what better?), a black maxi dress in a t-shirting fabric, belted like this, and worn with a heel, is pretty much assured to turn a head.
4. If you would like to use a belt to define a look that needs a bit of jazzing up, but don't really want to show off your bod too much (me! me!) then all you need to do is wear that dress, belt with that cool, contrast belt, and then pop an open blazer or kimono over the whole thing. You benefit from all the belt advantages, without having to expose yourself too much. And it is such a flattering look too - drawing the eye to the belt, and creating the illusion that the waist is much more defined than it is. Promise this works - try it!
5. And finally I will share with you the very best belt I have ever owned. And you can DIY it too. As I mentioned, I do not like a belt as it is uncomfortable around the widest part of my torso, as I have no waist indentation. But it you take a piece of thick (about an inch and a half), black elastic and attach a buckle buckle to either end, you can create a very simple belt that can be stretched comfortably around you, draw attention with a razzle, dazzle buckle and benefit from the belt effect without feeling claustrophobic. I have used mine extensively, over the past ten years, as a way to make a black jumpsuit look like evening wear. It's brilliant.

A black jumpsuit and a jazzy belt is all you need for classic evening wear. I've been doing this for ten years.

The most fashionable belt for this season is the Off-White yellow contrast belt, that can be paired equally successfully with tailoring, dresses or denim - I mean just ask Tan France from Queer Eye! But if you can't afford or find one of these, there will be plenty of similar ones in the stores for this summer, so have a play with it and see how you can make it work for you. My advice? Pair with your old favourite denim dress for the easiest update in the history of fashion.

The belt of the season - from Off-White. Find your version and wear with everything.

Please don't hesitate to let me know if you have any other belt questions. Make friends with a few in your accessories wardrobe, and you will be amazed at how you can revive and elevate your wardrobe with this simple item.