I love statement pieces, whether they be clothes or accessories. I’m attracted to unique, artistic, one-of-a-kind pieces.
Sometimes I will see something that stirs my creativity and I become slightly obsessed with making it. That is what happened with this DIY bold feather and floral necklace.
I blame Dries Van Noten.
The inspiration for my extreme bold feather and floral necklace creation.
I made mine with a vintage brooch. I added a velvet tie and a pin so it can be worn as a brooch, necklace or belt.
I adore the outfit I created here but admit freely that it was overwhelming for my 5’4″ frame.
So I decided to try it as a belt.
This didn’t photograph as well as I’d hoped. I hate it when that happens.
The biggest catch with wearing this oversized accessory was wearing a coat over it. I was worried I was crushing it.
I might try it again as a necklace but cut a few of the feathers that are so close to my face so it isn’t so overwhelming.
I like statement belts because they emphasize my waist, give my frame definition and add interest to an outfit.
12 Ways How To Wear A Statement Belt
Anthropologie is a good place to buy a statement belt. That is where I bought the jewelled version above. Here is a similar one on sale.
Isn’t this massive leather statement belt above insane? I bought it as a consignment store.
Jeanane wrote a great post about wearing belts when you are considered short waisted.
“If you are short waisted, do not let fashion rules determine what you can and cannot wear. Wear those belts! Tuck those shirts in! Find a way to make the body that does so much for you feel like something special and not something you need to hide or try to mask.”
Sylvia from 40+ Style is teaching a course on accessories if you are looking for advice on how to use accessories to add interest to an outfit. She has lots of great examples and demonstrates with diagrams and images how proportions, size and style of accessory can greatly influence your look.
Lots of people don’t care for belts, statement or otherwise. What about you?
Linking up with Visible Monday, I Will Wear What I Like
I adore a belt with personality, like the ones you are wearing here. I am guilty of taking them off mid-day though, esp after a hearty lunch. Your brooch/necklace/belt is gorgeous! Better than the so called “famous” designers. xox
-Patti
http://notdeadyetstyle.com
Yes! They can be a bit of a downer when you want to eat an extra helping of dessert.
You are the undisputed champion of belt wearing! Seriously, you make them look so chic and cool. I love the wild feather belt/broach/necklace, but I can see how you’d worry about crushing it. I wear belts now and again, but I’m not comfortable wearing them; it’s kind of like a bra, but around my waist. 🙂
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
They are rather confining, but it helps to keep my over indulging under control.
You have an amazing belt collection, Suzanne! And you were them so well! I love necklaces and scarves and have quite a collection, but I don’t own any cool belts. I’ll have to change that!
I love your brooch/belt/necklace! Great color!
You don’t have any belts? Wow! That is surprising.
I love that feather belt! You have such panache. Belts look good on your figure.
Love the idea of a multi functional statement piece and it’s gorgeous as a brooch or belt. I have a slight obsession with belts and love how much interest they can give to an outfit.
Alice
http://www.happinessatmidlife.com
Hope to see you Thursday for TBT Fashion link up.
Some excellent examples on belting Suzanne and your unique statement piece is gorgeous!
Thank you so much for the shoutout on my course.
I always think belts look so great on other people, but when I try them I’m just…meh. I LOVE the statement piece you made – really beautiful. My next favorite is the leather statement belt with the pouch. So unique!
Your handmade belt is gorgeous and I love the bad ass leather one, too.
I do love a belt but rarely wear them as I tend to wear empire line dresses more. I saw a Lamani gypsy lady wearing a crazy one in India, she’d made it from old rupee coins, temple bells, broken necklaces and mirrors and I loved it so much I insisted on buying it off her. xxx
You are inspiring me with these belts, Suzanne.
Thank you.
I am coveting that leopard belt….is there anything it does not look great with?? I doubt it!
I am a short-waister and I like belts, and tuck in my tops AND wear highwaisted trousers.
Sod it!
Rules are meant to be bent slightly, or just snapped in half and thrown in the bin.
Fashion rules are too restricting for my liking.
I love your floral feather creation and I bet you could wear it on the front of your shoulder (Like SJP in the opening credits of the SATC movie). She is only 5 feet 2 and a bit. You are practically Amazonian in comparison.
Pile your hair up and rock that plume!!
XXX
Samantha
http://www.fakefabulous.com
I must find that image of SJP.
I love belts and sashes, and definitely lean more towards accessories that make a statement rather than boring old ‘all-purpose’ accessories. Anybody could wear those.
Belts are a must!!! Love the flower idea! kiss
stylentonic.com
What an amazing belt/brooch, I love that you DIY’ed it! If you join us next month for HIWM: Tote, I hope this belt/brooch will be in the mix! Think about it anyway…xx
🙂 I love belts. Although I mainly wear classic leather belts in various colors with clip-on belt buckles. Going out of the way is wearing a scarf, secured with a scarf ring or a knot, around my waist. I quite like that, as it adds color and a touch of glamour, boho, whatever you want, to the style.
Your brooch is fascinating! It will keep you a free seat next to you – it needs its own space. Great!
Have a very HAPPY day xo 🙂
I agree…anything that gives me more personal space is a winner : )
Your creation is fabulous! Love the color combination. And you style all your belts so well, it reminds me that I do not have nearly enough belts in my wardrobe. Got to start keeping an eye out for the unique ones!
I don’t often wear belts with my dresses, I know I am missing out on something but every time I try them I feel like I look short and stumpy, like I am being cut in half. Is cause I am short and I just always feel longer and slimmer with one consistant color from top to bottom. It may sound boring but I do splash it with one item be it a great bag, shoes, statement knecklace or scarf, but never all of them at once.
However, I do wear a belt always when I wear pants (goes back to my days in the navy, it was a requirement, and wearing a watch all the time, I just feel strange without them)
I like this either way, and as a belt and am with you on the whole outfit except jeans (even legging style) with a dress, they do that here sometimes, I won’t say my opinion on it other than that….
I think perhaps a nice dark blue pantyhose/leotard, it would have made this outfit look long and lean with all the cute bits going on the top half. I hope I don’t offend, is just my opinion and I sure ain’t an expert.
And yes, I agree with everyone here you definitely rock a belt look. Wish I could let go just a wee bit more, but it is coming slowly slowly:)
I did try this with dark blue tights and felt self conscious in it. The dress was just too short for me to feel right about wearing it like that. In the jeans I felt much better.
Ya know after I posted this I kinda thought that might be the reason. I totally get it, is horrible to feel self concious all day in an outfit especially if it is a dress that is too short. I bought a dress last year and was so excited how good it looked that I forgot to do the sit test. I figured out just how short it was when I went out. The hubby liked it:) and ya know I thought what the heck girl one day you might miss the days when you looked this go so just own it.
But I do see what you mean now that I look at it compared to some of the shorter dresses you have, on this is considerably shorter while standing it looks great but bending could be an issue.
That being said you got great gams so no worries if they show.
I love that fabulous multi-purpose belt/brooch piece. You wear this well and I can’t wait to see it crop up in its next rebirth. The right proportions seem to be more important than height when it comes to accessories and you always get it right Suzanne.
Anna
Anna’s Island Style
I like very much belts and have got many, but, without a precise reason, I rarely wear one … probably I don’t feel comfortable. It’s a pity because a belt can add personality to a simple outfit!
Your new belt is pretty and I love it also as a necklace!
Very beautiful also the ones which have inspired you ( especially the last one )
I used to be completely obsessed with cocardes, and would design entire collections of them. When I was designing garments and jewellery that is. I love how versatile they are, rather like belts. And on the matter of belts, that wide brown statement belt is indeed insane!!! Beautifully insane. I think I have 3 belts in totality. A dainty gold lizard-embossed belt. A very wide brown leather obi belt. And a green canvas with loads of hardware thrifted from the Salvation Army. I’ve never felt very comfy having anything around my waist, I confess, I feel so constricted and restricted. That said, I know I’ll give it a go again this year and yours is the blog I’ll head to for inspiration 🙂 xoxo
Ok, so here I am enjoying your post on belts and BAM, there is my name with a quote! You totally made my day Suzanne. I adore everything about this post and those floral necklaces are beyond gorgeous, I can see why you were inspired. And then there is that outfit with the denim jacket buttoned with a belt, you know I am going to be having that in a post someday and the favor will be returned because you are getting total credit for that genius style move.
Thanks again for the mention and the link! Have a fabulous day with your adorable assistant.
Janeane
http://www.designingfrommycloset.wordpress.com
Your feathery belt is spectacular! You always wear belts with great style and panache. I used to wear belts a lot but the more menopausally bloated I become, the more unomfortable I find them! I think the middle-aged spread has got to me! xxx
Not keen on belts at all but I love your feathery exuberance!
It’s like an accessory firework!
I noted those Dries flowery neckpieces too – I feel a DIY coming on. Maybe recycle some flower crowns ….. love me some Dries inspro
I adore your term…accessory firework! Stealing that : )
Radness. That double belt with the coin pouch! So awesome! 😀 The simple pink belt in the second to last photo is perfect, by the way. Shows that you can still have a “statement belt” even if it’s simple. It’s all about how you use it. 😛
– Anna
http://www.melodicthriftychic.com
I like the idea of belts, especially wide ones (that double buckle leather one is divine), but they never seem to look as good on me as I imagine they would. For some reason, belts seem to emphasize the fact that I don’t have any hips, instead of giving the illusion of a smaller waist. Maybe I’m just not wearing the right belt. You have an impressive belt collection!
Whaaa – that’s one honkin’ huge flower! I looove it! You wear it divinely. Truly. I’d have tried tights too and then run for my jeggings. Thinking of TWO things – crushing a flower AND not flashing the nether regions – would take the fun out of any outfit.
You have tons of awesome belts, fun, sparkling, bad-ass, and you look great in them. I especially like how you’ve belted your jean jacket.
Those short-waisted rules make me laugh. Being short-waisted just makes your legs look longer.
I wish I could do belts, my bosom is just too big – you wouldn’t be able to see the belt. Pluh. That’s a pretty fantastic flowery thing though. I want it in my hair!
What a fantastic examples of how good a belt can look on a woman. All of your outfits are top notch. I feel sorry for myself not having such a nice, defined, slim waist. Oh well, I am emphasizing other things. The statement necklace/belt/brooch you made is terrific. I love it. And indeed, the green/blue outfit you created with it is excellent.
Greetje
Belts are one thing I RARELY wear. Yours is beyond beautiful…and I just might make an exception for that one!
Wether I can or cannot wear a belt depends on my weight. The skinnier I am, the more belts are flattering on me.
You were your belts beautifully;-).