The belt is one of the most used fashion accessories for both men and women, young and old. As well as holding things up, belts are a fantastic addition to ANY outfit.
But sometimes, you need to secure your pants, and your trusted belt is nowhere to be found! It could be that your pants no longer fit, but you don’t want to let go of your favorite pair. Maybe the pants have broken loops, and you don’t have time to fix them.
The good news is there are a couple of ways you can wear your pants without a belt and still look fashionable.
1. Pin Those Pants
You can turn that pin in your bathroom drawer, purse, or travel bag into the ultimate tool for tightening your pants. Many of us think these pins only come in handy when keeping unsightly bra straps at bay or for replacing that missing button.
But in those desperate moments, when you need to tighten your pants and there’s no belt in sight, this little tool can become a miracle worker for you.
To use this technique, you must first turn the pants inside out (before putting them on). Next, do a rear-facing fold of the waistband so that it folds into itself. The fold becomes a tighter waistband. The next step is to secure the fold using a safety pin.
If you do this correctly, you’ll end up with pants that have gone down several sizes. Great!
2. Buy Elasticated
Times are rapidly changing, and fashion is also evolving to match modern our modern lifestyles. Of course, traditional jeans still come with belt loops ready to serve their purpose.
However, there is another emerging trend: elastic band jeans. Most of these jeans are made of 100% denim material. Some are a combination of denim and stretchy fabrics. The elastic is placed in the waistband to be flexible, eliminating the need for a belt.
The waistband is flexible enough that it’s able to fit anyone regardless of the size of their waist. These options remove the discomfort associated with belts by providing flexibility and comfort.
3. Clip It Up
You’ve got particular pants suitable for a given occasion, but the waist is too big. Not ready to relegate them to the bin just yet? In that case, you can use a trick from the fashion archives to help you do a quick fix for your pants. You can use a binder clip, strong clothespin, or any tiny clasp at your disposal to gather the fabric around the waist area.
First, put on the pants, get a mirror, and an extra pair of hands to help with the next steps. Gather the material around the waistband and clip them at the rear of the pants. Before clipping, ensure that the waist is the size that fits you properly.
Although you can use any of the clips or clasps at your disposal, you can buy them designed especially for clothes. The clips will give you a more practical and fashionable choice as their design works similarly to how you adjust the straps on your backpack.
Clip the hooks on the waistband of your pants, and then twist it to 90 degrees so that the excess fabric is gathered and secured at one point. This technique can help you cut down the waist size by 10 inches if you use two clips. You can shop for specialty clothing clips from online stores according to your taste and budget.
PS: Not recommended if you need to sit for a prolonged period as it could become a tad uncomfortable!
4. Wear Multiple Layers
Another good alternative to a belt is to wear multiple layers and tuck them into the jeans, filling any excess space with material.
Some of the extra layers that men can tuck in include a sweater, undershirt, a button-up, or a t-shirt. All these choices help fill the pants’ void so that the waistband becomes tighter and holds everything firmly in place.
The technique is even more effective during cold weather. It’s like killing two birds with one stone; you get to keep warm while at the same time keeping your jeans in the right place on your waist. You can even skip using a jacket if you’re layered up – and make a statement at the same time!
5. From Saggy to Stylish
Who said that belts must have holes and a buckle? Sometimes, it’s good to rock your style just by thinking outside the box.
For example, what if you took a long sash and converted it into a belt? Whatever pattern, weight, or color – the choice is all yours. It’s an opportunity to rock a Bohemian vibe, especially if you like wide-legged pants, suits, casual capris, or boyfriend jeans.
And it doesn’t have to be a sash you’re using in the place of a belt. You can also use a rope, as it’s not just meant for docking boats or tying up horses. However, don’t rush for the thick, rough rope in your garage!
The ideal option here is a clean, thin rope of a neutral color, even if it’s a section of soft curtain cord. This technique will turn your otherwise saggy look into a stylish nautical look, especially if you pair it up with a loose blouse or high-waisted denim shorts.
Alternatively, use a white rope and throw in some decorative design to help you make a bold statement.
6. Wear Suspenders
Many people consider suspenders to be old and out of fashion. But depending on the twist you throw in, this can result in one of the most stylish looks that will have everyone complimenting you.
Suspenders are an exceptionally comfy option since most are made of elastic and flexible materials. They don’t irritate the skin around your waistline, leaving you feeling great throughout the day. They come in various designs and colors, so regardless of your taste, you’ll find something that matches your needs.
You can stylize and customize your look so that the suspenders blend in with the rest of your style. You can turn them into your signature look!
7. Shrink the Jeans
For oversized jeans, you can shrink the waistline’s size so you don’t have to use a belt. You’ve got several options that will leave you with perfectly fitting jeans.
One of the options is to wash the pants in hot water. Then, dry them using the high-heat setting on your washing machine. Some say you can even take a hot shower or bath with your pants on; the high heat will cause the jeans to shrink. It doesn’t sound too enjoyable though…
It’s proven that when you expose garments to heat in general, they end up shrinking in size. If you’ve got 100% denim jeans, you stand a higher chance of getting the best results with this method. But be sure you are positive about shrinking – there’s no going back!
8. Create a Makeshift Belt
If you feel you’ve had enough of the discomforts and inconveniences of the traditional belt, you can also create your own. Creativity is essential here, given that you’ll need to take locally available materials and turn them into the ultimate custom belt.
For instance, you can use beads or any other material that can easily be turned into a functional belt. The good thing with makeshift belts is that you don’t have to spend much – saving $25 on average.
You need to use this approach with an open mind. For one, it might not give you a belt that looks all that, but it can do the job. But if you’re only interested in a quick fix to save the day, looks aren’t the priority; this method will do the trick.
9. Get the Right Fit
Given you’re already here, chances are you have poorly fitting jeans that are causing you trouble. With so many of us online shopping nowadays, it’s not unusual to end up with the wrong size or fit.
This scenario is because most brands use the ‘vanity sizing method,’ which sometimes doesn’t reflect the actual size of REAL people – but doesn’t it feel good when your size comes up big?! Also, there’s another measurement usually ignored by people when shopping for clothes: the inseam measurement.
The best way to deal with this problem once and for all is to visit a tailor and have them take your accurate measurements. Ask the tailor to give you the exact size of your waistline that you should be wearing. That should be the measurement around the midsection of the waist near the navel.
If you get this measurement wrong, you’ll buy pants with the wrong sizes nearly all the time. Measure twice, buy once!
10. Use String
When you desperately need to tighten up your pants, and there is no belt to be found, why not use string? With this option, you can either allow the ‘belt’ to be visible or hide it by untucking your shirt.
It’s likely one of the alternatives you resort to when you’ve exhausted all the other options, or you don’t have a lot of time on your hands. Since string works more or less like a belt, you’ll need to determine how tight you need it to be so that it doesn’t cause discomfort.
In short, it’s not a long-term solution.
The Bottom Line
All of the above are viable options you can use to tighten your pants without a belt. But get the RIGHT pants size once and for all, and you won’t have to go the extra mile to fix this irritating issue. So get measuring!
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Tim Thomas is a renowned writer and entrepreneur specializing in finance, investing, and money matters. With his extensive knowledge and experience in the financial sector, Tim offers valuable insights into the world of personal finance, stock market trends, and investment strategies.
