I love belts. LOVE THEM. Before I discovered the wonderful world of belting, my waist was seldom seen by anyone besides my husband.
But belts are not for everyone. Depending on your proportions, belting may feel strange or look strange. Depending on your personal style, belting may have very limited appeal. Depending on your preferences, belting may feel incredibly uncomfortable. But if any of those things are true AND you still wish to define your waistline, you might want to give one of these alternatives a try:
FITTED BLAZERS
Depending on your proportions, these may be a bear to find … but there’s nothing quite like a blazer with a nipped-in waist to define the midsection. Since blazers are generally made from thicker material than sweaters and blouses, they do a fabulous job of creating structure. And there are some darling blazers made from jersey/sweatshirt material if you need a bit more give!
PRINCESS SEAMS
Button-down shirts, dresses, and jackets are likely candidates for these waist-defining seams. Buy ‘em whenever you find ‘em.
PARTIALLY BUTTONING AN OUTER LAYER
Most outer layer garments that button tend to be a bit boxy, and worn open or completely buttoned shut they still can make a woman look quite columnar. Buttoning one or two buttons – either right beneath the bustline or at the natural waist – is a fantastic way to show off your waistline. Creating this pivot point also allows the outer garment to flare out over your hips, which adds to the hourglass silhouette.
BACK TIES
Gone are the days of the 90s-era dress clip, but some blouses and dresses still come with back ties. This is another style that allows some waist definition without a belt. (The dress above is one of my only pieces with back ties … and I’m wearing them tied in front! Durr.)
WRAP TOPS AND DRESSES
They’re not the foolproof solution that some style gurus have declared them to be, but they work wonders on some bodies. The gathered fabric at the waistline and swoop of the cloth conspire to carve out a waist without the aid of a belt.
FITTED VESTS
Just like blazers, these bad boys aren’t exactly easy to find, but they do work like a charm. A fitted vest has the same properties as a fitted blazer without all the hassle of arm and shoulder fit. Seek out styles designed for women, though, as true menswear vests will be designed for bodies with zero curves.
If you’re trying to emphasize your waistline without emphasizing your rack, take a peek at this guest post from Kelly, who has dressing tips for women with large busts.
If you love belts but just can’t seem to find one that works, be sure to explore all your options before giving up. Try belts of all widths (from skinny to wide), materials (scarves make excellent belts and are more forgiving than leather), and placements (just below the bust, at the natural waist, and below the natural waist). The easiest way to do this is to put on a simple dress and grab a scarf that fits around your waist. Roll it tight and skinny. Then roll it to the width of two fingers. Then three or four fingers. Find out which width suits you. Try skinny, mid, and wide just below your bust, between your bust and natural waist, at your natural waist, and two fingers below your natural waist. Find out which placement suits you. Sometimes, the answers are “none” and “none,” in which case one of the six ideas from this post might be just the ticket!
How do you feel about belting? Do you struggle to find styles that work? Any of these alternative waist-defining techniques appeal?
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Absolutely fab post! So many great ideas. My favourite style is the last photo with the west. I love how you paired it with a simple long shirt and camel boots. Gorgeous!
I’m not a belt person, it doesn’t quite work for my body type (apple). I do own one belt that keep s my pants up, is comfortable and doesn’t create muffin top effect, it’s an elastic belt with metal closure. Highly recommend to all who might have the same predicament as me.
I’ve also discovered that fitted vests, blazers and princess seams work wonders for defining my waist as I’m in the camp that hates belts with a passion.
You’re right on the money with this post, Sal!
I have a very short torso, so this is a struggle. I own exactly one belt (from Jon Wye, it’s pretty awesome!) and I’m trying to wear it more but I need to try using scarves and whatnot as well. In the meantime, I usually use some of the waist-definers you mention above. I’m a big fan of the partially buttoned cardigan!
I do love belts, but they don’t always look right on me because I have such a short torso. These are great tips. And by the way, I just LOVE that leopard dress with the little pops of red accessories. I want that whole outfit!
Oh, I forgot to mention something else about that leopard dress. I think the sleeve length is perfect because it draws the eye to exactly where your waist is, so that’s another great way to emphasize the waist!
Love all your outfits above!! I don’t have any belts but I am going to try to start wearing them. I am still unsure about wearing them as I have tried to give myself a “straight” look as I am a “hippy” shape
I can’t seem to do belts. Big boobs, short body.
Actually, they need to bring the 90s dress clips BACK, and ASAP. It’s a wardrobe basic! Part of the problem is that nobody these days (i.e., if they weren’t dressing in the 90s) knows what they are called! I finally got results when I used the search terms “elastic dress clip waist”. After an exhaustive internet search for the clips, I actually found a place that had a few; it was a small vintage stand-alone store. I had also searched for them on Etsy and found. . exactly one. So, I managed to get 4 of them in basic colors and they have been a very effective way to accentuate the waist. The reason they work so well for me: I have a DD bust, and a very small waist, but I am quite short (5’1″), so there isn’t always a lot of “real estate” I can work with bust-to-hip without having everything feel like it’s visually “scrunched”. The dress clips allow me to make ANY garment fitted at the waist while visually elongating the bust-to-hip area. Belts just cut me in half, which looks terrible.
I had never even heard of these dress clips before today – where was I in the 90s?? They sound like just what I need! Though not as well-endowed as you, I have a similar problem. I rarely buy dresses because the ones that fit my chest are too small at the waist, but maybe I just need some of these clips!
I hadn’t heard of these before either but googling just now found this shop:
http://acostumejewelryshop.com/cinch-dress-garment-clips-c-59.html
Hmm…sadly they don’t ship outside USA though
“dress cinch clip” search on Etsy works though
Hopefully one of these will ship to Aussie…
The nipped-in blazer is one of my very favorite tricks – they’re kinda my signature style. I’m also a fan of princess seams – they work like a charm. I’d never thought of a vest though – I’ll have to be on the look out!
Great post! Funny–Only yesterday I put together an outfit I had never worn before that included a partially buttoned long sweater. Its purpose was actually to cover places where my dress was gaping between the buttons, but it worked well to accentuate my waist.
It will be great to see your hair that long again this summer. Sexay! – HM
These are great ideas! Waist definition is probably my #1 figure flattery priority, because I have a very small waist for my frame and if it is obscured by boxy layers I can easily look 20 or 30 lbs. heavier. I belt pretty much all things that can be belted (a belted cardigan and A-line skirt is my uniform which, of course, I am wearing today). But sometimes I feel like it’s a crutch so this post is a great reminder of all my other options!
I belt almost everything I wear. I wear blazers sometimes too and rely on fitted clothing too, but belt’s tend to work best on my body.
a fitted vest is worth its weight in gold … and nearly as hard to find sometimes for me since I’m busty and short waisted. well, pretty much snowman shaped
but when you find one that does all the right things… GENIUS!!
Thanks for the inspiration!
All these photos are making me miss summer an awful lot.
I agree with all your recommendations! I adore my American Apparel (I know, the company is kinda ick!) wrap dress; it does wonders for my petite, rectangular frame.
Oh I love each and everyone of these looks!
Love all these looks- but that vest and white blouse is killer! Can I ask- where is the vest from? I’ve been looking for vests lately and can’t find any. Is it a spring summer thing that isn’t out yet?
It’s from Gap winter 2009, I’m afraid. I stalked it on eBay and nabbed it! It’s actually wool tweed, so a bit warm for spring/summer!
These are great tips Sal! Thank you! I always forget about buttoning my outer layer but it does make a world of difference. And while I’m a huge fan of blazers, I’ve never tried a fitted vest. It could be a good alternative!
And a huge hearty thank you to this comment about wrap dresses: “They’re not the foolproof solution that some style gurus have declared them to be”
Here here! *steps up on soapbox* Wrap dresses are in theory an amazing invention but for many of us (coughlikemecough), the wrap usually doesn’t hit at the right spot on the torso. I always thought that because wrap dresses didn’t work on me, I couldn’t wear belted dresses either. Solution? Take the belt out of its little string hoop things and move it up an inch or two. Voila, I have a waist!
I WANT THAT VEST. That is all.
These are all fantastic ideas. I am just getting used to the whole wearing a belt thing and still find it uncomfortable at times, but things like blazers (which I have fallen in love with), and princess seams are perfect for showing off my waist. I think I just have to learn how to be patient and really spend some time looking for good belts. I used to just assume every belt would fit and look good, but so not true.
P.S. I adore the vest in that final picture. If you don’t mind me asking, where is it from? I have been looking for a fitted vest forever and can never seem to find one.
See reply to SE! This vest is getting lotsa love today …
Thank you Sal. What with you & the Chic’s recently covering how to define your waist, (belt or no belt) I feel fully briefed! I really like that yo covered o-belt waist-defining. My shape looks good with a belt worn high, maybe over a cardi and a dress. But I don’t like to feel constricted, and my stomach often swells up due to IBS. These are great ideas I hadn’t considered -in particular, I now need a vest!
I absolutely loved this post, Sal. My favorites are the princess-seaming and the vest looks. I am a fan of belts, but not all the time. I don’t love fitted blazers because my shoulders are so broad I usually don’t find them comfortable. I do the couple buttons on the outer layer trick and that works nicely for my shape, but I’m thinking I may also need to find a fitted vest!
Gracey
I love waistcoats and fitted blazers for their waist-defining abilities. They are great over looser tops and dresses, which are death to me.
You look amazing in the dress in the 2nd photo.. I love that one on you… and great tutorial.. I need waist defining stuff otherwise I just look thick!!
xox J
This is an awesome post! I love love love (wait, did you notice the love?) that first outfit. Theres something so sweet and classic about it, and its crisp with out being over done.
I don’t like what wide/tight waist belts in the current retro-50s fashion do to me, but thanks to the Style Nation, I’ve been picking up on some other techniques that seem to work better. Looser, skinny belts seem to be my thing. And of course low hip belts, although I mostly wear those in casual/belly dancing contexts that I don’t end up posting blog photos of. I definitely like the fitted jacket/vest strategy, and I am fond of the buttoned over-layer as well.
I’ve had a hard time finding ways to make belts work for me. I tend to be a little rectangular through the torso, with a big chest. A fitted blazer is definitely may go-to way to define/create a waist, as is a dress with a defined waistband and full skirt. Most of the time, I just try to embrace my square self
Great post!!
This flabby apple thanks you from the bottom of her heart (which is buried behind many inches of boob!).
I love the pic with the vest! Also, THANK YOU for saying that the wrap dress does not work for everyone. Every magazine claims it does, but they look simply awful on me!
Another good look is a dress that has the midriff or a piece ‘built in’ in the same fabric that functions as a softer belt look – it really works wonders. Thank you for the great post.
Awesome post. I hate wearing belts, but I love showing off my waist, so this post is perfect for me! I have a hard time finding cute belts in my size. I find that a scarf around my waist is a much more comfortable alternative.
By the way, you look hot, hot, hot in that vest/jeans/boots one. I have tried vests but am not sure if I’m too busty. I will keep trying, I love the way they look, but often find they have the effect on my boobs that a corset does–pushing up, spilling over–a little tacky. I just got a faux leather one at a vintage store, haven’t had the guts to wear it yet, but I will try!
Love the black and white polka dot dress!!! I have been searching for something just like that!
Posts like this are why I am a loyal reader of your blog, Sal. You’re one of the few who not just post creative outfits and thoughtful insights and styling ideas. What a great resource & creative trove your blog is — I, as a broad-shouldered, undefined waist petite body type, sincerely thank you!
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