Thread: Belt tips for an hourglass figure

Hi all,

I am a 5'2" hourglass -- or cello, depending how you look at it -- there's a 10-11" difference between my waist and hips which is fairly dramatic on a shortie. My biggest challenge with belts is making ones that don't gap at the top or slip up, and I've encountered a host of OTHER issues trying to combat those. I've found that Tempest's corset belt pattern works well for me, but I am hoping to make a full belt that fastens invisibly once, a la

[ame="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lucidfotos/2734619562/"]zoe jakes at union pool 6-28-08 on Flickr - Photo Sharing![/ame] or http://www.socialwave.net/userfiles/...bda6a2b3ff.jpg

though I would also love tips for Tribal/fusion belts that tie once in front or tie at each side.

(Yes, these are 2 totally different types of belt, but I will take all the help I can get ;p )

I've generally found that weighting the bottom with long dangly decorations will keep the belt from slipping up, but I don't want that to be my only option. Sometimes I'll sew an extra-wide hem at the bottom and secure heavy flat o-rings/washers from the hardware store strategically into it, to invisibly weight the bottom.

So -- what are your strategies for getting a belt to behave?

Do you have any tips for making ones that will lie flat on your hips?

Do you tie, clip, dart, make muslins... ? Do you have better luck with stretchy materials or sturdy ones with interfacing? Do you add secret elastic bits to safety pin to your pants or skirts?

Any tips for making ones that are longer in the back and flatteringly cup your tush?

Do you have any recommendations for where I can get the kind of crafty O rings for the tie-ing belts?

Thank you!

~Moxie~

Moxie, I don't have an hour glass figure, but I do have a JLo butt. I use a muslin, then dart the living daylights out of my belts (both top and bottom at times). It takes longer to get the base well fitted, but I don't end up fighting with the hook placement nearly as long. I don't generally use hidden elastic, as it just encourages the belt to migrate upwards on my back, but I do line the belt with microfleece. The fleece has enough "tooth" that it grabs both my skin and the skirt. It also wicks moisture, which is sometimes a very, very good thing!

shelf liner on the inside, grips and helps prevent sliding.
stretchy plastic elastic (sortta like clear bra straps... sortta) is also great

I also have big butt and hips compared to waist.

What I do with my belts when I make them is not make them too wide in the front or back (still wider in back than in front though). I also make a TON of SMALL darts on the top of the back portion of the belt only before I cover the belt base with fabric and anything else. Then the darts are pretty much invisible. I find that the heaviness of beaded fringe and whatever else I put on there tends to keep the belt down unless I'm wearing a belly cover... in that case, I just pin the belt to pants or skirt in a couple places.

Another good thing to do... make sure to test your darts before you sew them.

Cut three darts (one in middle of back and two a little farther away from the middle). PIN them together instead of sewing and then hold the belt on to see how well it fits, then sew them up. Continue to add more darts in this fashion one at a time and trying it on each time to see if it fits until you've got it fitted just right.

I really appreciate the tips & advice thus far, thank you :) I'm really a novice seamstress and my tush is, er, on the high end of juicy ..l;, so everything is really helpful.

i make a paper template first and fit that with the darts then i lay it out on stiff interfacing and cut out the actual "belt". It will be pretty curved at this point...then add a layer of felt some grosgrain ribbon to the top...you are ready to add the decorative fabric : )

Cory Zamora gave an awesome tip..she sews in small bits of ribbon on the interior center of her belts and uses it as a pin bar. She pins the ribbon into her skirt so the belt won't slide around. I added one to the back and one to the front of my heavy coin belt.