Formerly utilitarian, now they’re strictly a statement piece. So, are belts even necessary? Not at all! But if you like them, they can be a great accessory. I have mixed feelings on belts and only wear them occasionally. When done right, the look is awesome, so I do think they’re worth trying. (If you never wear belts, I recommend removing the loops from pants.) If you’re large in the midsection, I’d skip belts completely. After all, you don’t want to highlight an area that makes you uncomfortable. Belts look best on Hourglass and thin builds.

When buying a belt, the considerations are size, color, and material.

Size:

The proper fit for a belt is at the natural waist. It should define without pinching. The fabric underneath should not be bunched. Belts that come in S/M/L have the most give. If you buy a numbered belt, buy the next size up to take clothing into account (A 28 waist would buy a size 30 belt and so on). Be careful with the buckle. Big buckles can be distracting. If you wear mostly gold, get a gold buckle and vice versa for silver enthusiasts.

Material:

A real leather belt is the nicest. I’m not against synthetics, but some are total garbage. Use your own good judgment. Chain belts made of metal are very cute with jeans. Fabric belts are nice tied over a maxi dress. Elastic belts are the most forgiving. I’m not into braided belts at all.

Color:

Black or brown belts give the most mileage. A colorful belt can be cute, but it attracts a lot of attention and can be limiting if you like Mix-and-Match outfits.

Wide belt:

I wouldn’t wear the dress pictured above, but you can see how a wide belt pairs perfectly with it. I like to wear a wide belt with a tucked-in top and a pleated skirt. Wide belts are not as good with pants, but they do work with certain outfits, like a V-neck top and skinnies. If you’re going wide, get one made from elastic rather than leather. Huge leather belts look bad and pleather look infinitely worse! Be reasonable on size, this isn’t the WWE.

Thin belt:

Pairs equally well for pants, skirts, and dresses. If you’re belt-shy, start with a skinny belt.

Chain belt:

Look for something with small links, or it’s complete overkill. Try to match the metal with any other jewelry you’re wearing for a cohesive look. A belt this eye catching works with just earrings. Don’t add a necklace, pins, etc when wearing a chain belt.

Belts to avoid:

Big symbol buckles  (are you in the Rodeo? Didn’t think so…)

Anything with sequins

Animal prints  (I’m not against all animal prints, but it should be done in small doses only)

Do you wear belts?