Posts Tagged ‘belts’
Women who wish to slim their hips and show off an hourglass figure should invest in fantastic belts and make them a regular part of their outfit.
With so many styles available, from wide belts to be slung low over hips, disguising the tummy area, to skinny belts which can nip in any outfit at the waist and be worn over cardigans or jackets to add a fashionable twist. They are a fashionable way to update your wardrobe and look without breaking the bank.
Belts are all too often forgotten as a vital fashion accessory but to take advantage of this trend be sure to think about how you can work belts into the outfits already in your wardrobe.
The latest women’s fashion news courtesy of the Roman Originals blog.
Accessories are great, they can be the finishing touch to an outfit or make a statement in their own right. They can add colour or texture to an outfit or even change its shape or focus completely. But like anything in life, you can get too much of a good thing and too many accessories can make an outfit look cluttered, too busy or just plain wrong. Looking stylish is all about balance, your outfit should look balanced from your hat right down to the shoes you wear in terms of colour, texture, pattern, shape and volume. So how do you know how many accessories are too many? and how can you achieve the perfectly accessorised outfit?
Well, to a certain extent, this is one of those ‘how long is a piece of string?’ type of questions. What looks good is subjective and will be different for different people. For example one person may prefer an eclectic look with layers of beaded necklaces whilst and lots of bright colours whilst another will prefer a minimalist outfit in neutral colours. Personal style and which look that you are trying to achieve will be important when deciding which accessories to wear.
There is a saying that many people stick too that advises you to remove one accessory just before leaving the house and for those of us who tend to overdo things this could well be a good idea. Another good idea is just to look at yourself very carefully in the mirror. Stand well back so that you can see the whole of your outfit at once. De focus your eyes slightly and imagine that you are looking at someone else. Do the shapes, colour and pattern of the outfit all look right.
There are some accessories which serve an important function and just cannot be discarded completely like perhaps shoes, a handbag and a belt. It is then a case of deciding how noticable these accessories should be. As a general rule you should not wear more than one statement accessory at once. A statement accessory, is an accessory that makes a statement in some way be it by being sparkly, brightly coloured or unusually large. For example a bright red pair of shoes, large collar necklace and bead embellished clutch bag will probably look too much together. If you accessories are more subtle then you probably can get away with wearing more of them and perhaps even layering them on.
As usual when accessorising you need to pay attention to the big picture as well as the detail. Much will depend on where you are going. A work outfit will tend to work best with just one or two very subtle accessories a weekend outfit may be much more accessorised. The type of clothes that you choose to wear will also define how many accessories will look right. Generally fairly plain and simple clothes can look good with more accessories than clothes that are busy or already making a style statement in their own right.
The belt is a much underrated accessory, often added as an after though or forgotten about altogether but it has the amazing ability to completely change the shape and silhouette of an outfit by cinching it in at the waist. A belt also finishes off an outfit perfectly and makes it look together. It highlights the waist (or hips or bust depending on where you wear it) and can add interesting colour and texture to your outfit.
Types of belt
There are plenty of different types of belt to choose from, so you should have no problem in finding one to suit you and you choice of clothing. The fashions are constantly changing but as a general rule, you should pick whatever suits you and your outfit best regardless of trends. The most basic and classic style of belt would be a plain leather belt in brown or black that goes with jeans or trousers. Everyone should own one of these as not only does it keep you trousers up but it gives a neat look when tucking blouses or tops into your trousers. When wearing a dress or shirt, you can choose to wear a belt of the same colour or different contrasting colour. You can also opt for braided belts, elastic belts with ornate fastenings and wide obi or corset style belts. Brightly coloured belts are great if you want to really highlight your waist and add a pop of colour to an outfit. For more formal outfits ribbons or sashes are also sometimes used as belts.
This cerise summer crinkle dress with border print would look amazing when cinched in at the waist with a white belt.
Ways to wear a belt
A belt can be worn though the belt loops of a pair of shorts jeans or trousers but it can also be worn over the top of a dress or shirt. There are three main ways to wear a belt. The traditional way is on the waist, you can also wear it just under the bust which often looks good with empire line dresses or tops or low slung on the hips which works particularly well with wide belts.
The white bow belt on this black pleat dress looks amazing and really highlights the waist. It is perfect for ladies with hour glass figures.
Update your wardrobe with a belt
A belt is the ideal way to update your wardrobe and change the look of some of your clothes. For example a bright red belt worn with a black shift dress will give it a completely different look and a shirt dress cinched in at the waist will look neater and more fitted.
Using a belt to flatter your body shape
The belt is the best friend of ladies with an hour glass figure. Use it to highlight a slim waist and cinch in clothes to show off your feminine curves. For slim builds, a wide belt worn on on the hip over a long top creates curves and for pear and apple shaped ladies an empire line dress worn with a belt around the empire line or just around the bust draws attention to the narrowest part of the body. Tall slim ladies look great with wide belts worn at the waist and petite or shorter ladies look best with a belt of the same colour as the dress or top.
Unless you are looking to create this seasons minimalist look, you will probably want to wear some accessories with almost every outfit that you wear. Accessories can be the finishing touch or the icing on the cake for an outfit. They can also be a key feature and the focal point of your outfit. Whilst only a small part of your overall look, accessories can turn a very ordinary outfit into something really amazing. The great thing about accessories is that they suit almost anyone. They can be used to add a bit of interest, fun or colour to an outfit. They can follow the overall theme of the outfit or even contrast it for your own unique stylish look. Here are some of the accessories that you can wear for spring summer 2010.
Jewellery- this is one of the easiest accessories to add to an outfit. You can choose from big bold statement pieces or much more simple stud earrings and pendant necklaces. Don’t overdo it with jewellery. If going for bold statement jewellery, it will usually look best with simple pieces of clothing and you should choose just one piece. Jewellery will highlight a certain part of your body so choose carefully. If you want to draw attention to your face, use earrings, your wrists and waist line, bangles or a bracelet and your décolletage, a necklace. You should also choose just the right length of necklace to compliment the neckline of your chosen piece of clothing.
Handbag – almost every woman carries a handbag almost all of the time so it is a key part of your wardrobe. Unless you are lucky enough to have a wardrobe full of gorgeous handbag, you will probably not change your handbag every day. If you choose carefully and opt for a versatile style, one daytime handbag should go with most outfits. For evening a black clutch or beaded evening bag is a great option and will never look out of place.
Scarves - these are a great way to brighten up a plain or one coloured outfit. Scarves are really on trend for spring and summer 2010 and you will see all sorts of options in the shops. Probably the easiest to wear is the patterned cotton scarf which can be gently wrapped around your neck for a relaxed casual look. If you want to add a scarf to a smarter or work outfit a silk scarf is probably a better option. This can be tied in a variety of different ways for a really chic look. As with any piece of clothing or accessory, scarves, can be used to compliment your body shape, a long scarf hanging down with slim and lengthen the body.
Belts -these are such a great way to add definition and shape to a baggy outfit. If you are an hourglass shape, the belt is your best friend, allowing you to define your waist and highlight your feminine curves. Belts can also be worn with a more fitted outfit to draw attention to the waist. You can either choose a belt in the same colour for a subtle look or a different colour to your outfit for a really eye catching effect.