4 Creative Ways to Wear a Belt

How many belts do you have in your closet? If you’re like most women, you probably have some different styles you hardly ever wear. Fortunately, there are many other ways to use these essential clothing accessories in your looks that aren’t just lacing them through the loops of your jeans. Discover all the fun ways you can wear a belt and accessorize with them:

A delicate pearl belt with a circular pearl brooch, surrounded by soft pink petals on a pastel pink background.

With a Skirt

At work, you want to look professional, but it’s also important to stay comfortable in the hot weather. If you plan on just wearing a simple blouse with a pencil skirt, enhance the style with a belt. Looping a belt around your hips or waist will add that extra professional flair that compensates for the missing blazer.

Around a Blouse

Flowy and free, blouses are a great item for personal style. Whether you’re wearing a patterned or a single-colored top, throw a belt into the mix to really set the style bar high. To wear a belt with a blouse, you can wrap the accessory around your waist, just above your hips. Draw even more focus to this area of your body, which also happens to be the tiniest part of your middle, by pairing this style tip with a three-quarter sleeve shirt.

Speaking of a belt loosely draped around your hips, you can also do this with a woven belt or one that ties to give your outfit a carefree, boho vibe. Who said you couldn’t still look chic while being comfortable? Consider rocking this look with leggings, a pair of sandals and a leather hobo bag. Let your hair down, too!

Elegant woman in a pleated beige top with a jeweled belt, paired with black pants, posing against a soft purple background.

Dress Up a Cardigan

Don’t let bulky sweaters trump your seasonal style. Add a belt over a cardigan or shrug. As with the blouse, you’ll cinch the waist at its tiniest part. This is also a good way to keep getting use out of a cardigan that you may not be able to button up. In most cases, a thinner belt will look more polished with a baggy sweater than a thick one, but there’s no harm in experimenting with different widths to see what flatters your shape the best.

Maxi dresses are always a great style. Whether you wear them to work, the beach or out for a night on the town, they provide a chic outfit from head to toe. However, sometimes that lengthy fabric can be a bit overwhelming. This is especially true if the dress doesn’t feature a pattern – the single color can get repetitive when you wear it all over. Break up the dress by adding a belt around your waist. Wearing a belt will segment the style and add enough variety to create visual interest.

Straight-cut dresses flatter some figures better than others. If you have one of those dresses that looks bettter on the hanger, transform it by wearing a belt over your natural waist. Not only will this give you a stunning hourglass appearance, but you can even change up a single dress by using different belts! Use a black patent-leather one for a casual day spent running errands, but consider an embellished one for a night out on the town.

Use it as a Focal Point

A woman in a flowing red dress with black accents stands confidently on a grand staircase, showcasing elegant accessories.

A simple, understated outfit can be taken to the next level with a glamorous belt. Try a plain black dress with an embellished belt around your waist or a tunic and leggings with a metallic belt loosely draped around your hips. With the right belt, you won’t even need to accessorize with a lot of jewelry and you’ll still look stylish and put together. Belts with chains or studs will give your outfit an edgy vibe that’ll pair well with motorcycle boots or a cropped leather jacket.

Go for Something Retro

It’s not just loose-fitting outfits that get a little something extra from a belt. A flirty, retro-inspired A-line skirt and a tucked in blouse will look even more polished when topped with a medium-width belt. This also works for spicing up a solid-colored, A-line dress. Try a subdued look with a plain belt, or get a little funky with it by adding something more fun, like an animal print or a bold color.

A stylish belt with a snake print design and a gold lion head buckle, worn over a black top.

You Don’t Even Have to Use an Actual Belt

We’re always excited about new ways to use a scarf! For an ethereal look, consider tying a long scarf around your waist or hips in place of a belt. This is a great way to experiment with something new, as well as get some use out of that silk scarf you impulsively bought at that vintage shop.

Hold Up Your Jeans

Of course, you still need basic staples to serve the original purpose of a belt! Invest in a quality brown and black leather belt so you have one for any outfit that needs it. Remember to match your belt to your shoes.

So mix and match your outfit with both skinny and wider belts. All sizes work with these tips, and there are so many fun styles of fashion belts these days. Now you know that you don’t have to worry about hiding them – they actually complement your couture!