What are they for – is the belt there just to hold your pants up, or to accessorize your business suit? Sometimes wearing a belt even when it’s not needed gives a more put together look for your business attire. Accessorizing with belts can be bold and make a statement of it’s own, or it can be a very subtle enhancement to your work outfit – sort of, as if you don’t really notice that it’s there but it does something to create a complete and polished look. Belts can be worn both with pant suits and skirt suits, and also over a suit jacket if it fits you well. If the suit jacket is a little bit big on you, it will be more obvious when you belt it, so be careful about that. The skirt or pants don’t necessarily have to have belt loops – some look good when the belt just lays flat over the waist band (you have to experiment with that).

Basic belts – You need to have a couple of belts that are very simple in basic colors. Some people look good in black accessories, some better in brown. Some people can wear both black and brown. However, don’t wear brown shoes with a black belt and vice versa. When it comes to brown vs black the shoes and belt do have to match. This is not true of other belt colors though, like red or white.

The buckle – When you accessorize your business suit with a belt, pay attention to the shape of size and shape of the buckle itself. Do you prefer round or square buckles?

Bold belts – A belt can also be used to make a statement of it’s own. Experiment with giving a new look to an old woman’s business suit by wearing a bold belt that gives it a different edge. Find at least one bold belt. (In this case the shoes don’t have to match – that rule is only about not mixing black and brown.)