We need to talk about belts. Specifically, Meghan Markle’s belts. Never one to shy away from a fashion statement, whether it's bright, bold color mixing or trendy, eye-catching accessories (remember those ear crawlers?), the duchess has proved time and time again that belts aren’t an outfit’s worst enemy. Far from it, actually, as they can be the most stylish accoutrement for any lewk—but only when worn correctly. Here, the five best tips for belting a dress or a skirt, according to a princess.
How to Wear a Belt Like a Princess, According to Meghan Markle
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Published Aug 1, 2019
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Play With Proportions
In December 2017, just one month after Meghan and Harry announced their engagement, the royal couple stepped out in Nottingham, England. The duchess anchored her swingy midi-length khaki skirt by Joseph, knee-high black boots by Kurt Geiger and black turtleneck sweater with a skinny belt from Aritzia that tied everything together. Royal belt tip #1: Never shy away from playful silhouettes and full skirts. Just add a subtle skinny belt that matches with your shoes and/or top to balance out the outfit right at the middle.
Get the look: Madewell ($45); Ralph Lauren ($98); Saint Laurent ($445)
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Go One Shade Deeper
At Prince Louis’s christening, the duchess offered a masterclass in color coordination by pairing her bespoke olive-green Ralph Lauren sheath dress with a darker-hued suede belt, finished off with a gold buckle. To emulate Markle’s accoutrement, try an updated take on the monochrome trend that’s still going strong by adding a thin belt from the same color family, but one that’s a slightly darker or lighter hue than your getup. The belt calls just enough attention to itself without being a loud distraction from your outfit.
Get the look: Banana Republic ($28); Treasure&Bond ($45); Rag & Bone ($160)
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Dress Up A Casual Frock
As the duchess can probably attest, denim dresses are notoriously difficult to style. Seriously, how do you look fancy when you’re wearing jeans...all over your body? During an outing to Prince Harry’s charity polo match in July 2018, Meghan dressed up her Carolina Herrera dress with a matching wide belt, also in denim, that added a touch of polish to an otherwise casual summer dress. Add a wide-buckle belt to any linen or cotton dress for an instantly elevated look—keep in mind, it doesn’t have to match the exact shade of the dress, but that certainly helps.
Get the look: Something Navy ($59); B-Low the Belt ($108); Carolina Herrera ($990)
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Mix In A Discreet Logo
Givenchy is one of the duchess’s go-to designers (yes, even for her royal wedding dress) and one of the only logos that she dares sport in public (the royals don’t often endorse specific brands so blatantly). For her first solo event with the queen, Markle wore her Givenchy Double G belt in black leather, and another similar Givenchy logo belt to the Royal Ascot races in 2018. The takeaway: Subtly adding in your favorite brand label via the clasp of your skinny belt can add a touch of cool-girl maximalism to even the poshest of dresses (read: if it works for audience with Queen Elizabeth, it works for us).
Get the look: Tory Burch ($178); Gucci ($350); Givenchy ($490)
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Add A Subtle Bow
Not all princesses wear bows, and Markle almost never does. But there’s something to be said for the sweet femininity of this leather belt, which serves as a quiet echo to the bows on her Aquazzura Deneuve pumps and structural ribbon of her Philip Treacy fascinator. Worn with a Club Monaco pleated-skirt dress to a friend’s wedding on her birthday, Markle’s Miu Miu knot-tie belt served as the perfect anchor for her outfit, without going bow-verboard (sorry, had to). When in doubt (and feeling under-accessorized), make like Meghan and Kate Middleton during her recent Wimbledon appearance and add a bow belt for a touch of girly to an otherwise laid-back ensemble.
Get the look: Halogen ($45); Isabel Marant ($160); Prada ($380)
