All About Belts

Belts are one of my favorite accessories.  A belt can complete an outfit by adding an extra pop of color and by completing your style statement.  I especially love belting at the waist because it really accentuates the feminine figure and also give an ensemble a true “finished” look.  If you need some help in the Belt Department, read on for some tips!

The Staples

Everyone should have one brown and one black leather belt.  Don’t be cheap with these because they are basics and you will use them often, and for years.  Department stores like Lord & Taylor have great standard belt options.  I especially love the store's online search tool which lets you narrow down your query by designer, color, size and price range - from your couch!  Individual brands with great selections include Cole Haan and Banana Republic.

The Add-Ons
In addition to brown and black,  I also recommend other shades of the neutral family (browns, cream, etc.) and if you wear gold, a belt in that shade as well.  These are two of my favorite skinny leather belts, both on sale at J. Crew for about $40 each.

The Extras

For colorful belts, I encourage buying inexpensive and synthetic styles.  Unsurprisingly, I’ve had great success at Forever 21 and H&M.  These two belts were about $5 and $10 those stores, respectively.

Ribbon Belts

I adore the ultra-feminine look of a ribbon belt, tied in a bow at the hip (to the side) or waist (in the middle).  This look is not for everyone, but if you enjoy this feminine style, head to the Fashion District in NYC, or your nearest fabric shop, to stock up on DIY belts made simply from lengths of ribbons in your favorite colors.  Read my Steals for Under $20 post for other inexpensive ideas.

Custom Belts

There is a very cool store on Prince Street in Soho called Badichi.  There, you can choose your own belt material, color, size and buckle for a fully customized belt!

Is-A-Belt

This company totally read my mind!  Their product is a thin, clear adjustable belt that holds your pants up invisibly.  This is great if you are wearing a snug or sheer top through which a chunky belt would be noticeable.  In order to hold up your britches but keep your outfit "smooth," put on the Is-A-Belt and voila – problem solved.

The company also now makes other invisible fashion fixes which are definitely worth a look!

Steals for Under $20

Sometimes you just want to buy something.  Some people feel urges to smoke, gamble or drink; others feel the urge to shop.  Comparably, shopping is certainly the healthiest choice!

A helpful analogy: dieters are always told to eat one square of chocolate instead of denying themselves – which puts them at risk of eating the whole king size candy bar.  Shopping is the same way.  If you feel the need to shop but are low on cash, try these shopping ideas, all for less than $20:

1)    Visit the accessories wall at Forever 21.  Don’t buy necklaces and bracelets made of fake silver or gold.  They’ll only turn green (your skin too) after a few wears.  Instead, buy fun plastic rings and bracelets.  Most items are under $5 and I’ve had inexpensive pieces like this for years.

2)    Hit the streets of Soho on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.  Vendors line the streets hawking their homemade goods.  Earrings, broaches, headbands and other fun accessories can be found for $20 or less.

3)    Visit a ribbon store in the Fashion District.  Inexpensively add color to your wardrobe by buying several lengths of your favorite ribbons to create a new selection of belts!

4)    Visit the “sale” table in the Bloomingdale’s jewelry section.  Many weekends (subscribe to their sale emails), items will be marked down 30% - 70% off regular prices.  I’ve gotten gorgeous $90 necklaces for $10 apiece. 

5)    Check out Screaming Mimi’s on Broadway for a huge vintage selection of clothes, hats, shoes and accessories.  Be on the lookout for the occasional brand-name find.