Just belt it.
Your business suits and ankle-skimming knit skirts. Your pinstripe trousers, clingy stirrups. This season, in which body-conscious basic fashions are center stage, nearly every outfit demands a meant-to-be-seen, not-to-be-forgotten belt.
”It`s the year of the belt,” says Patti Cohen, fashion director for Donna Karan New York. ”The belt is the most essential accessory of the season because it updates anything you own.”
And it punctuates ensembles with panache while defining that all-important area of the silhouette, the waist.
”A belt will give you the long, lean look,” Cohen says. ”It`s important to have something going on (at the waist) where the accent is.”
Belts making a statement now feature beads, faux pearls, chains, charms, multiple buckles and animal prints.
Perennially popular are flat belts-from skinny to wide-in solid leather, suede and braided styles.
If you`re svelte, wear a tight, wide, embellished belt to accent your waist. If not, try a less-snug, scaled-down style.
Where to buy
Red braided belt, $20; teal elastic/suede/gold buckle belt, $18; multi-color braided belt, $30; gold/charm belt, $32; faux pearl belt, $28; all from Express. Ben Amun brown crocodile/gold crest/chains belt, $130; Polo woven, brown/brass buckle belt, $125; Pearl cognac, silver stud belt, $26;
from Marshall Field & Co. Graziano black leather with oval/square ”jewels”
in brushed gold belt, $85; A. Brod brown ”alligator” with gold chain belt, $25; Guess brown suede with silver harness loops/buckle belt, $75; Liz Claiborne black leather/silver studs belt, $20; Graziano faux leopard/black leather/gold stud belt, $95; and Calvin Klein black cotton spandex cat suit, $116; all from Lord & Taylor. Donna Karan navy leather/brushed gold circle belt, $275; from Neiman Marcus. Pony hair harness belt, $135; from Barney`s New York.
