Thursday 10 February 2011

Get Belted Up This Summer In A Cinch

Throughout the history of fashion design, belts have always been a strong outfit staple. Belts are functional and form-related. They often serve you by holding up your pants, shorts, or skirts, and at the same time they can make a huge fashion statement. Belts can do many things to the figure.

They can pull in at the high waist and emphasize the female hourglass form. They can add a splash of color to a solid-colored dress. Belts can buckle up, tie in a knot, dangle down, sit high on your waist or low around your hips. The possibilities are virtually endless. Whether you choose a subtle and understated belt to tie your sophisticated outfit all together, or you decide to make a bold fashion move with a statement belt, fashion school experts have suggested four belt style ideas to rock around your waist this summer.

1. Wraparound belt. This spring and summer, the wraparound belt has certainly been making its way around town. Typically, these belts are thin, and instead of wrapping around the waist once and buckling in the center, they are extra long in order to wrap around two or even three times before buckling. Sometimes they even tie up in a messy knot instead of regularly buckling. The wraparound belt is a fashion college favorite, and it's an especially hot summer 2011 trend. This belt goes especially well with a loose tunic or shirt-dress.

2. Wide Belt. The wide belt is characterized by its extra wide appearance. This belt won't fit in most belt loops, but many fashionistas would argue that the benefits outweigh the impractical disadvantages. Wide belts can sit on your waist and flatter your body by tucking down your belly. Often, they come equipped with a large, metal clasp or buckle which can truly set the wide belt off as a strong fashion statement. Since it's hard to fit through belt loops of pants, this look goes best over a solid-colored dress. You can try a simple black, brown, tan or gray, or spice it up with a bright color to add some summer flavor to your look.

3. Tassel Belt. This summer, tassels, tassels, fringe and more tassels are popping up all over fashion college campuses and around town. Often in leather or suede, the tassel belt wraps around the waist and lets tassels dangle off of it and hang around the hips or upper thighs. This look is cowgirl-tastic and will totally make any old outfit with denim more interesting. The tassel belt is best paired with a pair of jeans or jean shorts and a blouse.

4. Classic Leather Belt. Perhaps the most wearable and recognizable belt style is the classic leather belt. However classic it is, you can still customize the look to fit your own fashion needs. You can wear a thick belt or a skinny one, a braided leather belt or a regular strip of fine leather. Also, you can embellish with a bold, metal buckle, or keep it simple with a regular clasp. The classic leather belt goes with anything, and better yet it never goes out of style.

Don't underestimate the power of the belt. Pants, shorts, skirts or dresses all need them, and they can really pull together any look. Belts are functional, form-fitting accessories and you can get a lot of wear out of them. This summer, try cinching your waist with this fashion school favorite.

No comments:

Post a Comment