Trend Alert: How to Wear Statement Belts

Ladies, if you want the perfect chance to literally make a statement with your clothes this winter, go with the hottest belt style for the 2009/2010 winter season: The statement belt. Over sized belts with large, attention grabbing buckles, embellished with funky designs and details are all the rage in fashion now, and have been seen photographed on celebrities such as Carrie Underwood. Here are some tips on how to wear statement belts and places you can shop for them online.

Over sized tunics and sweaters are the hottest look for winter this year, and this is the ideal piece of clothing for accessorizing with a statement belt. The cinchy, form fitting statement belts accentuate a woman's waist magnificently, and keep her from literally hiding inside of her over sized top. Depending on what color and how funky a style your statement belt is, choose a tunic or a sweater in a solid, neutral color. For instance, if your statement belt is a loud color such as gold, and the buckle is embellished with multi-colored rhinestones, stick with a basic black top. You want to draw attention to your belt, so choose a top in a classic color (and as us fashion savvy gals know, basic black is the definitive color of 'classic'). That being said, if you decide to wear a basic black statement belt, then you can choose a top in a more vibrant color (such as the blue top I am wearing in the picture). The key to this look is to literally let your belt make the 'statement', you see.

Statement belts also work great with dresses made out of heavy fabrics such as wool or tweed. Dresses made out of these materials are practical for winter wear, but unfortunately, they often make many women look frumpy due to the bulk of the material. Statement belts will automatically fix this problem in nothing flat. Again, when selecting a belt to wear with your dress, make sure it coordinates. As with tops, if you choose a statement belt embellished with lots of 'bling', make sure your dress is plain and simple (and again, preferably black). One way I personally like to wear statement belts is with a form fitting, short sleeved sweater paired with a full circle skirt. This creates a definite retro 1950s edge, and I always get so many compliments when I wear my belt with this look. Be daring and experiment, but always remember one of the most important rules in fashion: 'less is more'.

Many online retailers carry a vast assortment of statement belts. My personal favorite place to buy these and other accessories online is www.modcloth.com. They carry a wide assortment of statement belts, and always make sure to check back, as they add new items almost hourly. Other places that carry statement belts are www.express.com, www.bebe.com, and any of the major online retailers such as www.macys.com. If you have trouble locating the perfect statement belt at these sites, then there is always www.ebay.com, the world's largest online marketplace, where you are sure to find that one of a kind belt that makes the perfect 'statement'!