Choosing a belt

A belt is more than just a simple accessory: it has to hold up your trousers, emphasise your figure and enhance your outfit. Here's our style advice on choosing the right belt for you. 

 

- Get the right size! Measure your waist and check out which size you need on a measurement table.

- Wear the right kind for your body shape and build. If you have no waist or a few lumps and bumps to hide, you'll not wear a belt in the same way.

- Be careful about how much you spend. Check the material the belt is made of before buying it. If you fall for a very original model, check what you'd wear it with and how long you're likely to be wearing it. If it's pricey, you need to be sure you're going to get plenty of wear out of it.

 

You need a belt that makes you look more feminine and makes your waist stand out. Go for a very visible wide belt that goes with lots of different outfits. High-waisted skirts and trousers will help emphasise your shape and highlight your waist. You can also wear belts with your jackets and coats.

 

You need to wear a belt that lengthens your figure. Don't go for anything too wide or too thick which will make you look even shorter. A simple slim leather belt and a pair of pretty heels work well. If you wear a tunic or dress, wear your belt just under your chest to lengthen your bust and legs.

 

Voluptuous figures are the last word in sexy but need dressing with care. You need to balance your figure out. Brightly-coloured belts are feminine, but shouldn't be too wide. Highlight your assets and lengthen your bust by wearing a belt just under your breasts (this camouflages wide hips) with high-waisted jeans to create the illusion of longer legs. Make round hips look slimmer by wearing a belt that sits loosely just above your bum.

 

You get your inspiration from past decades and prefer second hand shops to the high street, where you can find 50s dresses and 70s tunics. Match your belt to your look and style, mixing different eras if you fancy. Try wide patent leather, old military styles or vintage croco.

 

If you're a sucker for the latest trends and always look chic and girly, you need belts that suit your glamorous style without going OTT. Wear your belt over your coat if it’s a trench or safari jacket (like oversized patent belts in simple colours with rectangular buckles). For a simpler outfit, wear thin belts with small metallic buckles.

 

You're casual and tend to wear whatever falls into your hands. Your wardrobe contains 60s and 70s inspired gems like blouses, wide jeans, square print shirts, coloured long skirts and the like. Your belt should be simple: braided leather or belts with round metallic buckles suit you. For an even more casual style, tie a scarf round your jeans or dress. 

 

You're an adventurer and you bring back all sorts of treasures from your travels. Ethnic blouses, African prints and Indian tunics figure in your wardrobe. You have a varied, colourful wardrobe and a variety of belts could take your fancy. A rough brown leather belt would make a good staple. If you're more of a fashionista, go for something decorated with sequins, mirrors or beads to suit your ethnic style.