How to wear a belt (by someone who is figuring it out) Part 2
How to find your perfect fit, what to know while buying belts, styling tips and weather appropriate outfits!
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Housekeeping: If you are yet to RSVP for the virtual garment repair workshop with Justine on Dec 10th @ 11 am, you can still do so here. Please follow the payment instructions to reserve your spot, and I will send you a follow-up email with the virtual meeting link and a supply list as soon as possible.
The first part of this letter went out on Oct 3rd, and I have anxiously avoided writing part 2 because of the overwhelming feeling of not knowing where to begin. Belts like gloves and hats are also grey areas for most people, and I learned through trial and error. My conclusion is that besides learning algebraic equations, we must include “How to mail a parcel” and information on buying belts, hats, and gloves in school curriculums worldwide. For those of us whose schooling days are behind us, I am responsible for creating shopping guides for as many clothing accessories as possible before the winter season ends.
Before fast fashion took a nose dive in 2015, belts had double-digit numbers that told you their length and a rough estimate of the minimum and maximum waist measurements. Today, most brands (including “luxury brands”) merely include the width and nothing else to decipher sizing. On Madewell.com, prospective customers only have the width of the belt and an alphabetic sizing metric (XS, S, and so on), and on Jil Sander’s, patrons get the width measurements and nothing else for a belt with a $1020 price tag. (Albeit the belt’s perforated design makes sizing versatile, it would be helpful to know the length, especially for people above “straight sizes.”) Shopbop and Ssense have comprehensive waist ranges and full-length measurements for each belt, and Paloma Wool has full-length and alphabetic sizing information.
I preferred shopping for vintage belts instead of new ones because there are more exciting and unique buckle options. While searching for secondhand and vintage belts, I made a prewritten note for almost every single seller on eBay and Vestiaire, asking them for the minimum and maximum waist measurements, which was revealing. Some sellers didn’t even understand what I was asking for, and I had to photograph my belt side by side with a measuring tape to demonstrate what I meant. I proved that I wasn’t wrong about procrastinating on this tedious task, and if it weren’t my job to find out, I would never wear belts.
While styling my new belts thisweek was fun, I didn’t feel the same delight when I looked at the outfits a week later, so I tweaked some, discarded a handful, and included new ones. I have a work trip in two weeks, and I wanted to use this to help me pack, meaning I needed to make the outfits as practical as possible for my in-person styling appointments and prancing around a new city. With that in mind, I didn’t spend much time thinking of ways to reinvent wearing a belt. Instead, I focused on creating outfits that captured my essence and felt wearable for most of you.
What you need to know about finding the right belt in your size
You must know your waist measurements to determine which belt will fit you. You have three waist measurements:
High waist (above your belly button; wherever feels comfortable)
Natural waist (1” above your belly button where the waist is convex rather than concave)
Low waist (underneath your belly button; wherever feels comfortable)