Add a Belt

Ladies! Spring is upon us. Here in Maine, the snow has melted and it’s officially “mud season”. It’s our fifth season. Summer, fall, winter, mud season and spring. We must adjust accordingly. That means, no suede shoes yet (unless you want them destroyed), jackets with a hood (to protect your gorgeous face and hair from the wind and rain) and still considering black ice in the morning from overnight freezing. BUT, it’s still spring, so let’s embrace it.

As soon as the snow is gone and the consistent freezing temperature have gone by, I like to slowly start incorporating some spring pieces in my winter mix. Long sleeve dresses with boots. Denim with a billowy floral top. Even my maxi dresses with a layering piece on top or underneath. All that volume helps hide our winter layer, but let’s add shape, with a belt.

I’m an apple. I know! You’re like, okay, Chelsea. I am. my shoulders, waist and hips are all about the same width. To create shape, I love to fake the illusion of curves with a belt. Now let’s be strategic and add the right belt to the right place for your personal body type. If you’re a pear or hourglass, which means your waist is smaller than your hips, place your belt right at the smallest part of your waist. That will be right under your rib cage. It will draw attention to that area, taking focus away from your hips and shoulders. If you’re an apple like me, my waist is thick, so the last thing I want to do is emphasize it. I always buy adjustable belts (one that has unlimited holes) so I can wear it lower. I then pull the dress or blouse up a little to create a billow so conceal my thick waist and create the illusion of curves.

See the difference? The dress is cute on me here, but with the belt low-slung and concealing the part of my body I like the least, I look playful and intentional. Same dress, just add a belt.

My belt is literally 20 years old, so I have no idea where I got it, but you can get the same one on Amazon. My dress is available right now at H&M. Bonus, it was on clearance and I paid $12.99, so I got it in a second pattern and color. The western booties are Target. The quilted clutch is Chanel.