Per your requests, I’ve compiled my favorite belt tips and tricks into one video. It was nice and awkward lying down while filming the trench-tying tutorial, but hopefully the neck strain and burning abs were worth it : )
Products mentioned: Belt Hole Puncher (a must have!) and Belt Ring Hanger
You can also buy the hole puncher on eBay, or at Michaels or ACMoore. Be sure to look for coupons!
What I’m wearing: Details in this outfit post. Nude nail polish is Zoya Shay.
What I’m wearing: Details in this outfit post. Nude nail polish is Zoya Shay.
The half bow loop for trench coat belts and longer fabric belts:
Burberry sz 2 short trench (similar) from this post, Banana Republic Mad Men Leopard Pumps
And the simple loop for shorter/thicker fabric belts or skinny leather belts:
Fellow coat lovers, please see my Burberry coat archives including my very first outfit post : )
When you purchase through the links on this blog, I may earn a commission. Thank you for your support!
You are gorgeous…am also petite but like you I manage to style as per my wish
Jean, you should do a blog on what to wear on rainy day. I am 5'1 and I do not know what type of rain boots to buy.
You are too cute, Jean! I loved how you flopped around your belt (2:57 mark)- you made my day! =]Thanks for your super insightful post!
Thank you everyone so much for watching, and for taking the time to leave a comment! I can't take credit for coming up with most of the ideas, just trying to pass them along because I've found them to be so helpful : )
@Anonymous@La Professionnelle So many unexplored alternative uses for this hole puncher! ; )
@Anonymous Decide on what style you want (single breasted, double breasted, khaki vs. black, etc). As for fit, make sure the shoulders fit you. Total length I prefer to hit above the knee. If the sleeves are long, you can have them shortened to fit. Fellow petites have had luck at Banana Republic petites, Ann Taylor also had a petite trench, and Old Navy has petite sized trench coats as well.
@Itsher Hi Itsher, I usually just wear a suit, or skirt with blazer over opaque black tights (bought at H&M; or Target) and then flats to commute. If it's precipitating I'm in my black rainboots. Really nothing changes too much from summer except darker colors, thick coat layered over plus scarf, and the tights.
@Sue C. LOL!
@Melissa E. Thanks for sharing the news! I get so many recommendations to try the Limited. Fellow petite women have had luck there even without their 00 Short, so I'm sure this well be a welcome surprise for them. I'll look online to see if they exist on the website, and tweet to spread the word.
@Anonymous Thanks for sharing with us! The lace cardi is cute.
@Tara D Hmm…my shortest belts amongst my collection are from Banana Republic outlet (they have some XS) and also the stretchy elastic banded ones that I find at H&M.; If you don't want extra length hanging out, give those a shot, or take your leather belts to the cobbler to get them shortened.
Love that belt hole making tool – hahaha. You look so silly holding it. My usual techinical is to use a hammer and nail – I know I know, it's just faster and easier for me than to run out and buy another tool that will take up space in the house 😉
Thanks for the great tips! I tend not to wear the belts on my coats cause I usually don't know how to deal with them but I'm looking forward to trying your bow method now.
Thanks Jean! We all really appreciate the ab burning to give us first-person perspective on the belt tying – very helpful!
Thank you so much for this! I used your video this morning to tie my trench 🙂
Excellent post, I've wanted to know a lot of stuff about belts especially how to punch additional holes in them.
Jean, do you have retailer resources for belts that are meant to be worn at the waist? I'm okay with punching holes, but most of the belts are nowhere near the length I want, and that's especially awkward when the belt is a little bit wider than skinny. I tried on this dress at LOFT, loved it, but sadly left it because I thought it looked silly without a belt, but there were no belts at any of the stores that were small enough. http://www.loft.com/loft/product/LOFT-Apparel/LOFT-Dresses/Textural-Wool-Blouson-Dress/261143?colorExplode=false&skuId;=89923252&catid;=catl000054&productPageType;=saleProducts&defaultColor;=8880
Brilliant, thank you! I have a couple of Burberry trench coats so I'll be trying out the 'bow' method!
Thanks jean for the knot tying video. I have always intrigued by the half knot on J Crew catalog and I finally got the tip. I immedately tried it on my trench and it looks fantastic. Thank you so much, you are always so informative!!!
General alert – I have snagged some GREAT petite finds in the Target girls department lately.
In particular they have some fabulous detailed cardis right now that are very well-proportioned and whose grown-up versions would be significantly more expensive.
I picked up this today in a girl's large. Just adorable and really nice detailing…fit perfectly.
http://www.target.com/p/Chero-BG-LS-Lace-Cardigan-Heather/-/A-13399123
I may go back and do some more plundering.
They also have some adorable coats for rock-bottom prices including some well proportioned if low end trenches.
Love your blog! Just came back from the mall & wanted you & other fellow petites to know that The Limited just started carrying dress trousers in Size 00 Short! They have got to be THE BEST fitting pants I have ever tried off the rack, which is pretty darn exciting for someone who hardly ever fits anything "as is", especially pants (I'm 5'3" & about 110). The price was a little steeper than what I'd typically pay ($74.90), but I had a 25% coupon & Limited has sales all the time & there was no way I was going to pass them up. When I asked the SA for any other pants in that size fully intending to buy them all lol, she informed me that they only came in that 1 color & style (Black, "Drew" fit). She said they're doing a kind of test run first to see how well they sell before deciding whether to offer 00 in other colors & styles.
So I figure we petites are always saying how we wish retailers would cater more to people our size- so here's our chance to show them that we are out there & more than willing to buy well made, attractive clothing that fits! I know it sounds like I work for the company but I promise I don't lol! I would just be really sad if I went back 6 months from now & they say that they stopped carrying that size b/c there wasn't a big enough market for it. So hopefully the pants work for some of the other ladies out there 🙂
Thanks for the tutorial! The belt-tying tip was super helpful, and I love that it's simple to do and looks so chic.
Thanks for this great video! I have several skinny belts that do not fit properly and the belt hole punch appears to be a must have. I am adding it to my list of things to get ASAP. Thanks again!
So simple and so chic – thank you!
Off to Michael's to purchase a belt hole puncher in my nicely tied trench coat. Thanks for the great informative video.
Hi Jean,
Can you do a blog entry / video about wearing business clothes during the winter season? I'm having a difficult time dressing for the colder weather 🙁
Thank You!
Jean, you always have the most useful tips! Thanks for all you do!
Do you have any tips on how to find the perfect trench coat for a petite woman who is 5'1? Thanks!
AWESOME video! Thank you!
Jean, great video! I bought the belt punch after you showed it in a past post. I love it and have used it several times. Just recently to help my son with a Halloween costume that needed a belt around his head. Ha Ha Also, a tip I learned somewhere for that extra belt material, is to put those teeny tiny hair rubber bands around the belt and simply slip the extra through it. They come in packs of about 100 and come in clear, black and brown. I find they work really well. Patti
Jean, your videos are always so helpful. Thanks for taking the time…
awesomeee! very helpful 🙂
withloveshmon.wordpress.com
Thank you for this video. It is very helpful. I have always seen those belt hangers and I probably have one somewhere. But I never knew what they are for. Also I need to run out and get belt hole puncher.
great video and thanks for the tips. i'm gonna try the trench coat tying method once i receive my coat. lol. you have some nice burberry coat collection there…..i'm still on the lookout for mine. 😉
I am so in love with your felted wool coat. Thanks for the review, Jean. Your tips are always helpful and informative.
i'v been DYING to figure out how to do the trench coat tie! thank you so much for demonstrating it (especially at the lying down angle! genius ;p)
My belt hole punch is one of my favorite "tools" because I secretly punch holes into my boyfriend's belts without him noticing and then wear them with hipsters 😉
I've ALWAYS wondered what to do with my too-long belts on my coats! This is a life saver for this winter season! Thank you, Jean!!! 🙂 🙂
Thanks for the video! I really appreciate your blog. I was just dealing with belt issues this morning, so the timing is perfect. 🙂
Your tips are amazing! Love your coats as well!
I love how you tied the Burberry coat. I'll have to see if my Zara one is long enough to do so as well!! It definitely saves all that looping time!
For more belt (and other fashion) tips, I highly recommend Chriselle Lim. I LOVE this video and have been using the techniques she taught nonstop (specifically the fish & infinity loops). The fish loop is super adorable and the infinity loop is really cool if your belt is long enough. Have fun ;D
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-ILTAhnLws
@I am Khatu How'd you guess? : )
@AlexandraHi Alexandra! In the 7 links of reviews/posts, I have kept: #2 black raincoat, #3 black wool coat, #4 blue/gray jacket, #7 khaki trench, and then I have one super warm toggle coat that I don't think has gotten any blog love yet!
I'm so glad you posted this video, I've always had so much problems with my belts haha. Love you
Hi, Jean. Just a personal curiosity: how many (and which) of the Burberry coats that you blogged about do you still have today?
thanks for the tutorial, Jean!! i always wondered how to properly tie a trench coat and this tutorial was perfect! and the top-down view was definitely the most useful!
Great tutorial! I'm going to have to try that with my trench coat!
Lol!!! I love your intro pic and was laughing so much at your "unsightly length" portion of the clip! Too cute!!
Your felted wool coat is gorgeous!!
Thanks for the tips! 🙂
Thank you so much for the tips! I never knew how to dealt with the floppy belt =p I would just keep circling the belt around..
I love this and I love your blog! You have such great style and ideas.
xo,
Sarah
http://comingunstitched.blogspot.com
Great video Jean! Love how you are always so informative!
Thanks for the tips! I recently got a trench coat from goodwill a few weeks ago. Will try out the belt tying method!
It's crazy talk, but learning how to tie the cute half-knot may be the final convincing I need to get that Burberry trench, hahaha. Jean! Look what you've done. I kid 🙂 Thank you for always being so helpful with your tips!
Thanks for the vid! This gives me an idea of what to do with a new dress that has a trench-like tie w/ buckle on it!
THANK YOU, JEAN!! going to test the knot on the trench NOW (instead of cleaning house..haha).
Your vids have such personality and are so useful! Many thanks for going to the trouble to film that laying down, lol. I'm direction challenged and didn't get it until seeing it from that angle. I've actually always stayed away from belted coats bec I find the simple knots cumbersome but cinching in the waist makes a world of a difference. If JCrew ever restocks on their townhouse trench in camel 00P, I'm going to have to buy now!
Love to see how to's on closet organization! Especially for us petite and tiny gals, that belt hole puncher is a wardrobe staple! You're always so on top of the best ways to save babe…Props!
xo-Julie
Peace. Love. LOL!
http://www.HauteKhuuture.com
is this what you were doing yesterday? 🙂