Nowadays, fashionistas know that a belt is not only a functional element, but also a decorative one. With its help, you can either emphasize the advantages of your figure and create a spectacular image, or, on the contrary, spoil the overall impression of your outfit. It is important to understand how to beautifully tie a belt on a dress, highlighting the waist. In the process of choosing this accessory, many nuances arise, it is necessary to take into account the texture of the fabric, the combination of colors, and so on.
Purpose
A belt is a strip of various materials (silk, lace, suede, leather) that is used to tie a dress. The product performs several functions:
- Perfectly emphasizes the waist, while visually reducing it. For example, a dress with buttons and a narrow belt looks maximally harmonious, outlines the silhouette, and without this accessory the image will not be complete.
- They perform a decorative function. With its help, you can decorate and diversify the image with both a light silk blouse and outerwear. For example, a dress with an elastic band in the waist area does not require adjustment of the silhouette, but even an ordinary belt can completely change its appearance.
- Hides figure flaws. Using a beautiful belt for a dress, you can visually stretch and correct the silhouette without much effort. For example, a girl who wants to emphasize her chest can do this with a wide garment. It will create folds on the outfit, and also separate the chest and waist line, highlighting the shapes.
It is not recommended to highlight the waist area if it is wide. If you really want to add a belt to your dress, you can cover it on the sides with an unbuttoned jacket or cardigan – this will visually narrow this area. Recommendations for choosing a model depending on the girl’s body type:
- If the woman is short and has an apple-shaped figure, it is worth choosing a moderately wide belt. With its help, you can visually form a more elongated, thin silhouette.
- Slender and tall girls with an hourglass figure type can choose any women's belts, regardless of style and color.
- Owners of massive hips and narrow shoulders should use wide items. Dresses with a belt under the chest in the Greek or Empire style help to highlight the upper part and drape the flaws below the waist.
- For the rectangle body type, narrow options are recommended.
The width of the accessory can increase depending on the height of the owner.
Varieties
There are many types of belt accessories on the market, they vary in style and shape:
- Models about 5 centimeters wide come in different colors and are considered classics.
- Options for contrasting colors in relation to clothing. A red belt with a white dress, for example, is a classic that attracts attention and suits almost any girl.
- Accessories in the same tone as the dress. They are designed to emphasize the waist without drawing attention to themselves. It is necessary to take this fact into account before making a belt for a dress from a satin ribbon, for example.
- Narrow belts. These items look delicate and elegant, usually tied with a bow or knot. Such belts regularly appear on fashion shows.
- Sash. This is a belt that was borrowed from the men's wardrobe. It is an elongated model with slightly tapered ends. The sash belt is put on by wrapping it around the waist, and the ends are fixed with a knot or formed into a bow. In this case, the wide part is located on the front or back area, and the tied edges can be in the center or on the side. The accessory can be decorated with a brooch, decorative elements made of fur or rhinestones. Floor-length dresses with a sash belt look unusual, feminine and stylish.
- Leather straps or those with imitation snake scales. Ideal for knitwear, denim or viscose outfits. A leather accessory of medium width, tied in a knot, looks very elegant. It can be worn at the waist or hips.
- Openwork items. They go well with laconic evening dresses. They can be of a contrasting color or in tone with the clothes. A white evening dress with a black belt in an openwork style will not leave the owner without the attention of others.
- Crochet. Original items that match many women's outfits. Summer dresses with a crochet belt add lightness, airiness and emphasize elegance. They are great for cool evenings. You can easily make such a belt for a dress with your own hands.
- Combined belts. They can combine leather and elastic inserts, fabric, metal chains, etc. Such accessories draw attention to themselves, so it is important to combine them with the most laconic outfits.
Straps can be worn directly around the waist, under the bust, or casually on the hips. Before tying a belt on a dress beautifully, you need to consider the nuances of choosing an accessory based on the style of the outfit, its cut and material. Basic recommendations from stylists:
- very wide belts add romance and femininity to the look and are ideal with light, flowing dresses;
- the sash looks good with loose-fitting clothes made from different materials;
- For a midi dress, the belt should be tied just above the waistline, for a Greek style - under the chest, for a “cover” dress - on the hips.
Dresses with a belt at the waist are a traditional way to wear a wardrobe item. A belt at the hips is absolutely not suitable for ladies with short legs or a noticeable belly. It will only highlight the flaws.
Tying methods
There are many ways to fix belts on a dress: they are simply fastened with a hook, buckle, buttons, formed into bows, flowers, thrown over, and so on. Before tying a long belt at the waist, it is worth choosing a method that suits a specific accessory model. The methods themselves can be seen in various videos.
Simple methods
Among the simplest methods are the following:
- Simple knot. A medium-length accessory is thrown behind the back, the free ends are brought out in front and tied, the remaining ends are beautifully straightened and released.
- Double knot. This method is similar to the previous one, only the belt is tied twice.
- Twisting. For this method, the belt is twisted several times, then intercepted from the back of the waist and tied in front of you.
- Free loop. The accessory is folded lengthwise, then the waist is intercepted from the back in front of you and the ends are threaded into the resulting loop.
- Loop on two sides. It is made by analogy with the previous method, only in this situation the free parts are threaded towards each other.
Simple methods are suitable for accessories made of thin leather, imitation leather, suede or non-slip fabric.
Bow
Despite the fact that the methods of tying belts on a summer dress are presented in abundance in different sources, the most simple, convenient and beautiful is considered to be a bow. This way you can decorate accessories of different widths and lengths. The parts from which the element is created can be at different levels. The most popular is the traditional method. It is performed as follows:
- a belt of sufficient length is applied to the back, the free parts, if necessary, are wrapped around the waist so that the two ends end up in front;
- both are tied, one is placed on the other, moved down and brought up to form a knot;
- then pull the loops through, straighten and form a bow as desired (lush, loose), lowering the ends if necessary.
When the accessory is not long enough, the bow can be slightly modified:
- the product is wrapped around the waist, the middle part is applied to the front side;
- the ends are crossed at the back, thrown forward and tied into a double knot; it is important to ensure that it is not too tight or twisted;
- the ends are straightened and pulled one by one into the front area of the knot, forming loops;
- The length of all parts is aligned and tightened if necessary.
A bow is a universal decoration for almost any outfit and style, and has no age restrictions.
Half bow
The algorithm for tying a half bow looks like this:
- the belt must be placed behind the back, with the loose ends brought out in front of you;
- place the right part on the left and thread it from the bottom up, wrapping it around but not deforming it;
- the part that is on the outside must be folded down along the outside and tucked under the free edge;
- leaving the used part in your hand 10-20 cm from the place of application to the free end, you need to make a bend to form a loop;
- after which, thread it through the even knot formed earlier.
When forming an asymmetrical bow, do not tighten both ends equally, since the resulting knot will not be attractive.
Corrugation
The corrugation can be formed only if the belt is made of soft fabric that does not slip. The accessory should be of medium length and wide enough. The tying algorithm looks like this:
- First of all, you need to fold the belt lengthwise into even folds;
- four folds are enough to create an element;
- after which you need to wrap the accessory around your waist, holding the folds. Bring the ends out in front of you;
- place the right free part on the left, and then bring it inside from the bottom up, wrapping it but not deforming it;
- the end that is at the top must be folded down along the outer side and tucked under the hanging one, tying a knot;
- the part of the fabric that is held in the hands must be pulled under the top part of the knot.
The shorter the free parts, the more pronounced the corrugation will be.
Belt made of lightweight fabric
Accessories made of lightweight textiles are the easiest to tie. The fabric drapes, crosses and is easier to shape. A half-bow-flower made of lightweight fabrics looks especially beautiful. It is perfect for romantic girls who want to attract attention and be remembered. Tying instructions:
- a product made of light fabric must be wrapped around the waist and the ends twisted in the center so that one free part lies on top of the other;
- Next, one piece needs to be wrapped around the second, which should be positioned as a loop on the side, creating a “half bow”;
- form a knot, the folds of which form a flower, into two semicircles;
- then create the desired shape and tighten if necessary.
To help the resulting flower hold its shape, you can secure it with a pin in the center.
Thin strap
If you approach tying a thin strap with due creativity, it will add a twist to any look. The classic way looks like this:
- the belt must be secured with a buckle;
- direct the free edge to the side and pass it under the main part near the fastener;
- then pass it in front of the main part and direct it upwards again;
- Place the free end into the resulting loop and leave it there.
It is worth remembering that thin straps are contraindicated for ladies of a corpulent build. They are better off choosing a wide or medium-thick product.
Experiments with a wide belt
A wide leather belt on a dress looks interesting and flirty when tied in a bow. To do this, you need to follow this algorithm:
- the belt is wrapped around the waist, the loose ends remain in front;
- the edges are tied in the central part of the accessory, for this one is directed under the other, the lower end is folded into a loop;
- the second part needs to be wrapped around the loop and thus form the next element of the bow;
- then it should be pulled through the center;
- the bow needs to be straightened.
For a more discreet look, you can use the “half-bow” technique:
- the belt should be wrapped around the waist, leaving the loose ends in front;
- tighten the edges into a knot, forming a loop;
- it needs to be straightened out and left at the top of the knot.
Wide women's belts and sashes are not recommended for overly petite girls.
Belt from a scarf
An original and stylish waist accessory can be easily created using a regular scarf, which is probably in every fashionista's wardrobe. It can be tied using the gofre method, a bow, or using the following method:
- the wide part of the scarf is placed behind the back, the free edges are tucked forward;
- they cross and move back, forming a semblance of an infinity sign on the waist;
- The ends are tied at the back and the knot is hidden under the main part of the garment.
The market offers a huge variety of accessories, the choice of how to properly tie a belt on a dress is always up to fashionistas. After all, even the most discreet but interestingly designed items will add a touch of originality to your look. In addition, using such simple decor, you can refuse additional decorations - a belt with stones for an evening dress, for example, can create a complete look that does not require other decorative elements.
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