Buckle up

Belts have more potential than being a mere fashion accessory. For the versatile belt can be cleverly used to hide flaws and highlight assets. We get designers to tell us what belt best suits different body types.
Apple Shaped figure?
���This figure type requires some torso planning while buying a belt,��� says fashion designer Anupamaa Dayal of the figure that is characterised by a broad torso, ���Medium-sized belts worn just below the waist, not too low, will best suit it.��� The aim is to give a uniform finish to the whole body, so a belt worn on the waist will make that area appear in line with the broad shoulders.
���Choose heavy materials such as leather, quilted or studded belts. Avoid cloth belts which double up a fashion faux pas,��� she adds. Wearing belts on the empire line is a no-no as it highlights the problem area (bust-line) but if at all you want to try it, nothing more than one inch would do. Keep away from chunky buckles; push-button buckles are the best.
For those Pear Shaped
The pear-shaped woman���s upper torso is relatively slimmer than the lower parts of the body. ���A thin or broad belt, worn on the empire line with flared tops, tunics or dresses, will best suit this body type,��� says fashion designer Anita Dongre. This will accentuate the upper body. ���If at all you want to wear a low-waist belt, go for the one with a hanging chain, pearl strings or corsage, so it stops the attention at the waist instead of leading it to the thigh,��� she adds. Dongre also advises the pear-shaped woman to keep away from tucked in shirts with belted trousers as they not only expose a larger portion of the thigh, but also highlights it with the buckle. In fabrics, you can pick from satin, diamante-studded, faux snake skin, etc.
Ah... the Hour Glass ones
Women with an hourglass figure have a proportionate upper and lower body with their bust line and hips in equal ratio. The waist is the asset of this figure type, and what better than a belt to highlight it?
���Women with this figure type should wear belts on their true waist, not up or down,��� warns fashion designer Tarana Masand, ���This cuts your body into upper and lower, further emphasising that you���re perfectly in proportion,��� she says.
They must pick from classic colours such as sliver, gold, black and white. ���Try out broad belts, but in case you want to wear thin ones, go for pop colours such as bubble gum pink, yellow, orange and green. Tan is also another colour they can experiment with,��� she adds.
Belting heights
���Tall women have an entire array of belts to choose from,��� says fashion designer Shaahid Amir. According to him anything they wear will only flatter their height. ���Wearing belts on the empire line or low-waist broad belts look great on tall women,��� says Amir, ���Short women, on the other hand, need to play it safe as belts cut down their height and make them look shorter.���
Short women must therefore opt for thin belts with small buckles or self-coloured cloth belts that merge with what they are wearing. ���Do not wear an eye-catching broad belt or one with a big buckle as this will highlight your short height. Also, stay away from bright and vibrant hues,��� he says.