A dear friend of mine emailed the other day a bit concerned her ensemble might be a little off.
“I was raised where you match your belt and shoes. Black shoes require a black belt. But I’m walking around today with a nude belt and black shoes and am wondering if it looks bad.”
Great news friends: Matching belts or purses with shoes has gone the way of the steam ship! Good riddance.
In fact, matching limits the fun you can have with your wardrobe.
Now I am the first to admit I’m not a huge belt user. I love them with outfits, and they can add such fun flare, but I’ve never managed to acquire many which means I use them rarely.
However, having a handful of versatile belts, in colors and widths, could really broaden your wardrobe and give your figure the shaping it needs.
A few belt tips:
- You don’t have to match! It limits your fun and can feel dated. But as always, there are exceptions. There are times matching looks picture perfect!
- Use color! I know I’m like a broken record on this, but often colors can be more flexible than a black or navy. Imagine a plum belt with a nude shoe. Or a metallic belt with a colored pump! Delightful.
- Find the right fit. Don’t buy a belt in the wrong size. One too small will crinkle your clothes and make you look heavier while one too big will add bulk around your middle from the doubling. This also applies to the thickness or thinness of a belt – very outfit dependent.
- Know your shape and your outfit. A belt is not for every outfit. I just tried one over a sweater I paired with a dress and I looked like a very large hourglass – not appealing. Use them when flattering. Make sure you utilize your full length mirror and spin.
Here’s some great examples of the belt use rules in action:
So tell me, do you wear belts?
What’s your favorite look? Place to buy? Send in your belt tips!
Photos courtesy of (in order): Indulgy
I’ve never been a huge belt wearer due to my waist almost equaling my hips..😁. Well not really but in my head I think so. But I do love all of these looks. I’ve always been so jealous because I’ve never thought a belt looked good on me and I think they can so so much to tie together an entire look!!! I also love those Cheetah flats. Any idea where those come from?
I’m not sure where they came from Rae – but if you check Nordstroms or DSW or Zappos that pattern is still very much in style – I just got a killer pair of pumps at Nordstrom’s semi annual sale in a similar pattern.