Looking great is a cinch with these spring belts

Better start doing those sit-ups and crunches. The belt is one of the key accessories of the spring season, and that means all eyes are on your middle! There are belts to highlight your waist, belts to blouse a skirt, dress or jeans ... in short, there's a belt for every style and trend. We've rounded up the best and we show you how to wear them right here in the latest edition of The Trend Report.

Firstview / Michael Kors A feminine look with a rugged touch, from Michael Kors.

Pretty tailored
One of the most interesting trends of the season is the contrast of tailored — even rugged — leather belts with oh-so-pretty romantic and lace styles. That's the number one way to keep your look chic and polished and to prevent “girly-girl” overload in the middle of all of spring's feminine looks. The tailored belt du jour looks best at 1-1/2 inches to 2 inches wide, and can be belted at the waist or worn slightly loose and long right above the hips. Wear it with blouses, skirts and trousers — the more feminine the look, the better!

Trend tip: Your father, your husband or your boyfriend may have a slightly worn-in, tailored trouser belt that is slightly oversized on you ... just the look you want this season. Borrow it!

firstVIEW / Ralph Lauren Ralph Lauren offers a classic nautical touch.

Posh prep
The preppy little web belt is reborn for spring! This tailored number looks fabulous with nautically inspired red, white and blue, especially when it has a bright and shiny gold buckle to pull it all together. We love it with tanks and polos or a natty navy or white blazer worn atop a crisp white skirt, a pair of slim white capris or even with a pair of jeans. Our advice? Steer clear of the “cute” little printed web belts you'll see around town and go for the classic look — they're totally failsafe and work with everything.

Trend tip: If you want to go ultra trendy, opt for a metallic gold trouser belt with your preppy attire ... ooh la la!

Gap.com The hip belt: stylish and comfortable.

The hip belt
Not every belt has to sit at the waist this spring — the woven belt (like this one from the Gat) can be adjusted to sling low on your hips and gracefully blouse a tunic (worn with shorts or slim pants) or even a loose peasant dress. The rugged look of woven leather or suede is especially chic with white for summer (think lace, floral prints, even sheer cotton or linen). These belts are available at all price points, so go for several different colors to carry you through the season — luggage, black, olive and even a fab metallic gold. A bright goldtone or brass buckle is your best bet, and make sure that the belt is adjustable to any length!

Trend tip: This is a wonderfully forgiving look that melts off the pounds — especially if your waistline is not ready for primetime viewing.

BostonProper.com Summer is for the bohemian life.

A dash of sash
The sash belt — with a difference — is coming on strong this season. Instead of a full-length scarf sash, these belts mix goldtone or leather rings or woven medallions with interesting links, and tie things up prettily with a fringed leather or ribbon sash (like this one from Boston Proper). They're meant to be worn at the hip over a peasant skirt or even with slim shorts or pants (no pleats, please!). These wonderfully bohemian belts are one way to add a little ethnic-inspired flair and a personal statement to your wardrobe.

Trend tip: This is one trend that will be gone by Labor Day, so work it now — and don't spend mucho bucks!

BananaRepublic.com A wide tooled leather belt is always in style.

Leather luxe
In a season of belts, we couldn't forget the fashionable and always stylish look of a wide tooled leather belt. These beauties go all out for spring — don't be surprised to find surprisingly high price tags that reflect the handiwork that goes into a gorgeous metal buckle, tooled leather or embroidered or metal trim. (Of course, you'll also find lower priced versions, like this big, bold $38 belt from Banana Republic.) These belts are perfect with all your casual wear, from jeans to shorts and trousers — but we also love to throw them on with very feminine styles for a total Spring 2006 fashion statement.

Trend tip: If you love the look of the hand-tooled belt or the beautifully carved metal buckle, you can safely splurge here. These belts are classics that you will treasure forever.

Judy Gordon is a New York-based style consultant and the “Today” show’s style editor. She has been covering the fashion and beauty beat for the past decade. To learn more about Gordon, you can visit her Web site, TheTrendReport.com, which highlights style trends in America and across the world.

firstVIEW is the primary supplier of photos to Fashion Friday. Go to www.firstVIEW.com for the latest pictures from top fashion shows around the world, including New York, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Milan, Brazil, New Zealand, South Korea and more.

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