Summary: For easy, one-hour style, try a “patternless” elegant wide belt. The bias-cut, wide belts developed by author Joyce Murphy — one dressy, one tailored — each take only about an hour to sew.

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With elegant wide belts all over the runways, it’s also a hot commodity in modern fashion. The wide belt is truly an amazing acces­sory because it helps define the waistline of any figure, large or small.

The bias-cut, wide belts I’ve developed­ one dressy, one tailored-each take only about an hour to sew. If you’re looking for a stylish obi to wear to the office, you will absolutely love my tailored rendition. To spruce up an evening ensemble, the dressy bow option is just the ticket. If you can’t decide between the two, I encourage you to go ahead and try one of each style.

Showcase amazing fabric

The elegant wide belt is a great oppor­tunity to focus on the fabric. Light­weight home-dec and

medium-weight garment wovens are excellent choices for the tailored belt. Textured, striped, and ribbed designs, in particular, work well on the bias. For the dressy version, the silkier and softer the fab­ric, the better.

Consider using a brocade, like the midnight blue rendition shown at left. Using an expensive fabric won’t break the bank because my designs don’t require that much yardage. I cut the fabric on the bias, which, besides being economical, also ensures that each belt gently hugs the waist’s curves.

Fashion a tailored wrap

This 4-inch-wide by 86- to 100-inch-long belt is designed for a 30-inch waist or smaller.…