The Skinny on Waist Belts

After feverishly attempting to draw attention to the hips for so long, the fashion gurus, creative directors as well as many Hollywood Celebs have reintroduced the waist belt. Known for its magical ability to create form to even the most boxy of individuals, the waist belt is a sureshot way to maximize any feminine look. Why is it that with many magazine covers and ads later, the waist belt is still trickling (at sloth speed) down the fashion waterfall into major department stores and boutiques worldwide? Not only are retailers to blame; the growing trend still seems to confuse style watchers and fashionistas who are subconcsiously still in a feuding debate over which belt to rock out for the evening: The hip-draped weave belts or perhaps a slim double-wrap belt with a small buckle.

Waist belts have always made an impression on designers. From the early Victorian Era, where women often wore corsets to accentuate a preposterously slim waist line to pencil skirts, dating back to the glorious Golden Age of French Fashion, where Designers such as Christian Dior or Coco Chanel endorsed a slimmer upper body to give legs a lengthier appearance. An hourglass figure was the way to be. The industry standards for an ideal body shape for women were given in three inflection points. These points were the chest, the waist and the hips. These three points were to measure 36 inches, 24 inches and once again, 36 inches, respectively. Since these days have long passed us, many newer generations have stressed different inflection points that would soon void this criteria from any female's goal figure. Not to say that this ideal image has been eradicated from women's minds, however, the modern day woman has slowly found ways to accentuate other areas such as the bust and/or the behind to naturally allow a visible curve to the viewer's eye. This is where the waist belt comes in handy. Many women who attempt to create even the slightest difference in their curvaceousness should avoid the complexities of silicon cups, padding or enhancement techniques and focus on a subtle and simple method on how to give waist to a squarish or an undefined body type. Any waist belt can give your hips a rest and restore a much more traditional (yet sensible, stylish and updated) focal point on the female figure.