Have you ever met an accessory that peaked in high school, felt so purposeless that it had an existential crisis, took out a loan for grad school, and now the only time you think about it is when it resurfaces in a questionable Facebook meme? That was the life and death of of the wide belt. We lived through the trauma in the early 2000s, and witnessed our collective style devolve into a cross between The Simple Life and Ashley Tisdale in High School Musical. Never did a butterfly sleeve blouse go without a chunky pleather snatch. And let us not forget the low-slung pirate belt, hanging on to your hips for dear life. But really, it's the waist-high style that haunts us. And for some reason, they're making a comeback.

Maybe it's the Baader-Meinhof phenomenon, but these thick belts are everywhere. From high-end designers to high street brands, retailers are compelling us to participate in the this second coming. The issue with the accessory is that it begs the question, Are you wearing the belt or is the belt wearing you? After all, it's too big for belt loops and can easily constrict your torso into a black hole. The end result looking more Lego man than hourglass.

If you're still intrigued, the key to wearing it is to think about proportions. My rule is to not venture into corset territory, and hover somewhere below three inches in girth. The midi skirt look above is a great example of playing with scale, where the belt operates as a break between two voluminous items. Just whatever you do, do not wear one over an extra-long, extra-tight, ribbed tank top. Ever. Leave that nonsense in 2005.