the skinny belt experiment: + dress

Dry your tears, dear readers, today I bring you the last outfit combination in my first-ever fashion experiment: the skinny belt experiment. Add a skinny belt to a simple dress and you will look thinner, trendier, and more exciting (at least this is what I am telling myself).

Results. So, I suppose if you want to get detailed, my outfit here is not a dress per se. But, rather a dress worn as a skirt under a 3/4 length top. Given that this was the last outfit in the skinny belt experiment, I really wanted to show my readers a pairing with a dress, but I have no weather-appropriate dresses. This means that: 1) I need to go shopping and 2) this paring is a slight variation, but retains the overall concept for you to apply to any dress.

A dress is a simple, one-component outfit. But, if you want to take it up a notch, add a skinny belt and create a bit more waist emphasis (especially important if your dress does not have any built-in waist accentuation) and interest.

Figure. Outfit combination for the skinny belt experiment: dress + skinny belt at waist.

Depending on how the dress is cut, belt placement can vary. For example, if your dress already has some type built-in of waist accentuation (as in the Figure above), your belt should be placed there. Belt placement also may depend on your body shape and what section (low, natural, high) of your waist you wish to accentuate. Here, I emphasized my natural waist, but this could have been shifted higher or lower. In reality, I play around with placement to see what best fits the outfit and my mood. You should do the same.

I felt great in this outfit combination, and although I did get a few compliments on the color of my dress/skirt, no reaction to the outfit as a whole was given. As you have learned, however, this is nothing out of the ordinary.

And, finally, how about a blurry close-up and a little belt trick?

Depending on where you place your belt it isn't always the right length and there isn't always a belt hole where you need it to be. The solution? Slide your belt through and place the prong (? i.e., the piece of metal that would usually go through the hole) on one side of your belt (see above photo). This usually keeps the belt secure and unless someone gets awkwardly close to you, no one will know the difference.

This skinny belt + dress combination rounds out the four pairings for the skinny belt experiment. Look for one more 'discussions and conclusions' post on the topic. In the meantime, let me know what item you want re-mixed for the next fashion experiment!