thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge

The Thrifty Six Belt It

April 20, 2026 / 10 Comments
The Thrifty Six Belt It
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge

It was my turn to choose our thrifty theme for April and I settled on Belting It.

I never used to check the belt section in thrift shops because I always assumed that most donated belts were generally those cheap matching belts that are attached to garments when you buy them but you never wear them because they look, well, cheap. Then a few years back, Jodie had mentioned that she always finds lovely belts in secondhand stores so I started paying closer attention whenever I go on thrifting adventures.

My assumption was partially correct…most of the belts hanging in my local thrift stores are pretty much junk. However, Jodie’s recommendation was worth following because you can find some real gems amidst the junk if you take a moment to browse through the belts.

Since I started paying attention to thrift store belts, I have acquired two so far…a thin rainbow belt and this recently thrifted brown beaded macrame belt.

thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge

I think a lot of my issue with preloved belts is that even a good quality belt quickly gets wonky as it assumes the shape of the original wearer’s waist, the hole that is most frequently used gets all worn out, and the leathers get cracked from too much bending and snapping.

But if the belt is not made of leather, fake or real, it is less susceptible to misshaping and cracking. And if it has no designated holes then they can’t get worn out. Enter the macrame belt! Be still my thrifty bohemian heart. It checks all the boxes for a worthwhile thrift store find.

When I spotted this cute brown beaded macrame belt a few months back, I didn’t hesitate to add it to my cart. It was just $3 and I have worn it quite a few times already, quickly reducing its cost per wear to under $1.

thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge

When I chose this month’s Belt It theme, I was unsure which of my two preloved belts to style for this challenge. But then I found this adorable dress and robe combination on a recent thrifting trip and the colors were perfect for featuring the brown beaded macrame belt.

But I didn’t stop with just one belt. I doubled down and added a very old brown braided belt as a hat band on my tan Panama hat. I had contemplated styling a third belt as a purse strap but we were traveling for the weekend when I took these photos and I totally forgot about that idea!

To complete my accessories, I stayed with neutral earthy tones and added my favorite floral scarf, a thrifted triple strand wooden necklace, a preloved wooden zebra necklace, wooden leopard print flea market earrings, and a brand new pair of blue and tan cowgirl boots. There is a tiny bit of blue in the contrasting print on the back of my robe so I decided the blue boots would be a fun and unexpected addition.

A quick thrifty note about my new boots. I recently purchased these Ariat Women’s Almond Buff & Baby Blue Eyes Edgewood Bantamweight Western Performance Boots from Country Outfitter. The retail price is $214.99 but they are currently on sale for $129.97. When I purchased them, they were reduced even further and I had some rewards to spend so I ended up paying a total of $72.99 for these adorable yet unnecessary cowgirl boots. I was a bit unsure of them at first but now I kind of love them. And how cute is their name…Almond Buff & Baby Blue Eyes? Almost as cute as the price!

thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge

I was really pleased with how this mixed print outfit came together with mostly thrift store items. I wore it for the drive to Lake George, New York, two weekends back for a date night with my husband. It was comfortable and cute for the 3 hour car ride but I did change into something else for the evening which I will share with you in a future post.

Now let’s check out how my thrifty friends have creatively Belted It. Just click on the links or images below for details about each outfit. 

The Thrifty Six is a group of international fashion lovers who meet once a month in our little space on the internet to share our thrifty outfits. On the third Monday of every month, we will all share an outfit based on a theme that features preloved wardrobe pieces. Shopping and reselling preloved clothing is so much better for the environment and you can find some of the best fashions in thrift or charity shops. The Thrifty Six are here not only to inspire you to shop second hand but to also get creative in your closets.

Emma of Style Splash
Style Splash
“I decided to recreate an outfit I’d worn before for a previous Thrifty Six challenge (metallics) as I liked it so much. I’ve only changed the bag and shoes. The gold jacket is vintage 1950’s, from eBay, and I bought the belt in a charity shop. Belts (other than the fabric type that come with a dress) are usually not on my radar, but this theme has reminded me that a belt can really make an outfit!”
Jane of Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
Preloved-Vintage-Handmade
“This was an 80’s vintage dress, now cut to make a blouse – I’ve removed the skirt, leaving this stunning peplum – peplums being bang on trend right now!
To exaggerate the silhouette, I’ve added an original 1950’s waspie which acts as a belt nipping in the waist to create a perfect hourglass.
I’ve further enhanced the effect using a waist cincher belt with a huge statement bow at the front.
Peplum, waspie and waist cincher together create this dramatic Alexis Colby inspired ensemble – I’m back in the early 80’s, fresh off the set of Dynasty…
‘Put a belt on it’ is the T6 theme for April – I did just that, in fact, I did it twice!!!”
Jodie of Jodie’s Touch of Style
Jodie's Touch of Style
“I’m a huge fan of these wide, elastic belts, and I found this one at a vintage shop. Of course, my maximalism brain said I should decorate it with a necklace and earrings. The dress and shoes are all thrifted, also.”
Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style
Nancy's Fashion Style
“I bought this Diane von Furstenberg top on Vinted, or perhaps in Lewes, England. I don’t remember it correctly. I loved this wrap top and wore it until it was too ugly from washing and wearing. This skirt was a high waist and the wrap straps got in the way of the skirt. So I used the straps as a belt!”
Sally of Within a World of My Own
Within a World of My Own
“I had to get creative for this challenge because I’m not a belt person and I don’t have any that fit me right now. So I used an old thin green woven leather belt (which I had kept because it was so pretty) to create a leather scarf ring.  I tied the two ends of the long thrifted scarf together, then wrapped it twice around my neck like a faux infinity scarf. Then I wound the belt around the scarf and buckled it to make a scarf ring look. I thought it turned out really well! It definitely added more interest and texture to my scarf (yes, now even my scarves wear “jewelry” ha!). I liked how the lime green color of the belt picked up that color in the scarf and related it to the aloe green pants I’m wearing. The scarf is the only thrifted piece in my outfit, but the clothes and shoes are such old favorites that the outfit’s total cost per wear was only $4.62, and $3.00 of that was the recently purchased scarf – I’d say that’s pretty thrifty!”
And Me!
thrifted style, preloved dress, preloved kimono robe, thrifted belt, blue and tan cowgirl boots, tan Panama hat, spring boho style, thrifted outfit, brown and orange, earthy tones, Shelbee on the Edge
“Recently, macrame belts have been popping up all over the place and I am definitely here for it! I found this brown beaded macrame belt on a thrifting adventure not too long ago and it is proving to be quite handy. I belted a newly thrifted dress layered beneath a newly thrifted robe for a cool print mix in earthy tones and added two preloved wooden necklaces and a pair of flea market leopard print earrings. But I didn’t just belt my dress, I also belted my hat with an old brown braided belt. I love using belts as hat bands to add a unique detail and better coordinate my hats with my outfits. I was going to also attach a belt to a handbag as a purse strap but I got lazy and skipped the third belt. I figured two belts would satisfy our thrifty theme! But keep in mind that belts aren’t necessarily just for your waist. You can get creative and belt anything you’d like!”

I hope you have enjoyed this edition of The Thrifty Six and our creative ways of Belting It! If you would like to see more preloved outfits created by this budget- and environmentally-friendly group, please stop back on May 18, 2026, to see how we style Sally’s choice…Hemlines. Until then, happy thrifting…and styling!

Keeping it on the edge, 

Shelbee

I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.

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10 Comments

  • jodie filogomo

    April 20, 2026 at 1:25 pm Reply

    I am so glad you’ve started looking at belt, and you’re right.Some of em are wonky, but I have found so many cute ones.
    And I didn’t even realize you’d added a belt around your hat… Now that’s being the boss of your clothes, brava!
    As for the boots, I never call boots unnecessary… Footwear is just something we need every day. And if they happen to be so cute and functional, I call that necessary.
    Xoxo
    Jodie

  • Marsha Banks

    April 20, 2026 at 10:24 pm Reply

    What a unique theme! I would have been completely stumped even though I have gobs of belts. The trick is to feature it and yet not have it be the star of the show. You did that perfectly with all of the mixed prints, layers, and those fabulous boots! I love all the fun jewelry, too!

    https://marshainthemiddle.com/

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