With as loose a definition as “a strip of flexible material worn especially around the waist as an item of clothing,” belts need not only be a leather strip with a metal buckle. Alternative belting solutions — which sounds very important when stated like that — are plentiful.
Perhaps the most straightforward option is to take a tie or belt from one garment and use it with an altogether different piece. S., for example, took a belt from a patterned dress and used it to mix patterns with another printed top. A. used the matching belt from her green shirt dress to add a pop of color to a navy jacket. And E. is a devotee of utilizing the jersey ties that came with a couple of tops to tie together belting situations that call for a snug fit.
Another favorite and fairly common alternative is the scarf-as-belt. All three of us have repurposed scarves for this use, but with different techniques and different results. Using a longer, narrow scarf, with ends floating freely, can create a dreamy, romantic feel, like when S. added a pink floral scarf to her LBD for a date night. When A. wears scarves as belts, she frequently does so by threading them through the belt loops of her short sleeved blazer. The result is much crisper and preppier. Scarves-as-belts can also be a strong graphic focal point of an outfit because of their width and pattern. And, of course, they provide a great foil for pattern mixing. Be sure to check out Elaine’s excellent tutorial on tying a scarf as a belt.
Wide ribbons can also function as belts, and they are a good option when an outfit needs a bit more softness than a leather option would provide. S. and E. have both tied their ribbon belts in bows, but the neutral colors kept the looks — they think — from being too literal of a “present” reference. On the other hand, A. used a pastel ribbon and completely embraced the delicate, almost fanciful, feel it conjured.
Which brings us to the lovely floral belts that S. and A. fashioned over the summer, using silk blooms compliments of Blue Onion Marketplace. Adding these lush blossoms to scarf or ribbon created easy statement belts that looked far more complicated and expensive than they actually were.
There are, of course, many, many other possibilities. E. hasn’t done this recently, but in the past she’s snagged her husband’s unused ties to serve as a belt. Has anyone used a necklace as a belt? Or paper, ala Project Runway? A length of cording? A shoelace? What alternative belts have you created?
My best alterna-belt is an old luggage strap from a Land’s End canvas briefcase my dad used to have. The ends are brass clips and clip together for a hardware/Gucci kind of look, the belt itself is a webbed tan canvas, and the shoulder pad of the strap is a brown leather/suede (depending on which side I wear out). I wear it hip-slung over jersey dresses and I love it.
I am in LOVE with flower sashes, love love love! I think they will be the new trend! There is one from JCrew that I really want to buy too!
I just recently finished my PhD and am still working on the chic part. I love those flower sashes. I will have to try that!
Love your blog!
From the moment I began reading this entry all I could think of was Jethro Bodine and his rope belt. You know… Jethro from The Beverly Hillbillies. I think maybe Elly May Clampett had one too.
I love these alternative belt ideas. Ribbons and sashas are my favorite alternative belts.
Great inspiration here. I went years thinking I couldn’t wear belts due to my short waist but lately I’m loving them. Can’t wait for spring for ribbon and scarf belts.
These are such wonderful and pretty examples! I really feel like tossing on a belt/ribbon at the waste line really pulls an outfit together and makes it look so chic!
Note to self: must find new ways to wear belts and new items to use as belts. Maybe it’s time to relax on the use of my trusty brown belt? Thanks for the inspiration…
[...] We love to belt! It’s no secret. We belt t-shirts, cardigans, dresses, jackets, scarves, you name it! Not only are we undiscriminating in what we belt, we also like to flex our creative muscle when deciding what to use as a belt. So, we though we would return to and update our old Fashion 101 on Alternative Belts. [...]