Belts are a popular fashion accessory for both men and women, adding interest and practicality to outfits. Styles range from leather to synthetic, with buckle shapes and materials varying. Self-adjusting belts are found on bathrobes and blouses, while wider belts flatter larger figures.
Always a popular fashion accessory for both men and women, belts add interest to many different outfits. Apart from giving a unique style to a look, a belt is also used for practicality to help keep the pants in place. In the case of low-rise pants, belts are especially useful to prevent these garments from sliding too much on the hips. Belt styles and materials range from casual to dressy.
A leather belt is a classic that never goes out of style. Thinner leather belts with a metal buckle are favored in men’s clothing, while women’s versions are available in thin or thick styles, as well as softer suede types. A men’s belt generally sits closer to the hips, while women’s styles can be attached to the hip or waist. A leather or suede belt can be any color and can be smooth or embossed with a pattern. There are also types of synthetic belts made to look like leather.
A buckle belt can be plain or ornate. Most of the belt buckles are made of metal with the color shades available in silver, gold, copper, and bronze. Buckle shapes can be oval, round or square. Studded belts feature small metallic shaped protrusions or studs that can be placed in random patterns or in rows. A chain belt is all metal, with attached hollow links similar to those in necklace chains.
Elastic belts are made of elastic fabric. These types of elastic belts are generally wide and may feature a type of elongated metal clasp, as well as a fabric buckle accent. Elastic belts for men are usually much narrower and can be striped or in accent colors to wear with sportswear and casual summer wear. Buckles may have a type of slider clasp rather than the traditional notch and hole method of fastening.
The self-adjusting belt type is found on both men’s and women’s bathrobes. Some women’s blouses have a self-adjusting belt at the waist. Since this style of belt is made from the same fabric as the garment, it is not used to contrast clothing, but rather to create a better fit for a wrap-around type of design. Self-adjusting girdles or belts define the waist and add textural interest to a simple garment. These belt looks tend to flatter all figure types.
Chain, hip and narrow styles of women’s belts tend to look better on slimmer body shapes. Wider belts worn at the waist flatter larger figures. A belt worn over a cardigan helps define the waist and can bring a new look to a button-front sweater.
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