Cabin Fever

Like many of you in the Midwest and the Northeast I am not leaving my home today. In fact, I really can't. I opened the front door to my apartment building and was greeted by 16 inches of snow. Therefore, I used this snow day as a low stakes opportunity to try out an outfit idea (and because SME is also home I didn't have to snap my own photos using a timer).

silk dress - Edme & Esylte/Anthro (eBayed)
sash - self made
cardi - Ann Taylor
tights - LOFT (remixed)
maryjanes - New York & Co.(remixed)
amber earrings - The Corcoran Gallery, DC (remixed)
necklace - Urban Outfitters

I bought this dress on eBay last summer to wear for my anniversary and it worked out great. It especially worked out great because I had tried on the dress in Anthro the summer before. eBay buys are often successful when its a brand/size that I know for sure works for me and they are most successful when I was actually able to try on the item.

After layering the GAP sweater over the Twinkle Twinkle dress two weeks ago it occurred to me to experiment with more summer/silk pieces for the colder parts of the year. I also have been inspired by L.'s belting with sashes and scarves especially since I'm reticent to invest in belts when I'm weary of my midsection and not quite sure how to incorporate them into my repertoire.
That's where the sash came in. The dress was designed with a blue sash, but the eBayed dress did not come with one. When I went to the fabric store to buy blue silk material I also found a burnt orange that matched some of the specks on the dress and liked the contrast better. But does the sash work on the outside of the cardigan? The cardi is a bit roomy (despite my efforts to shrink it)--I should have bought a PM instead of a PL and I suspect the sash would look better if the cardi was more snug. There was some bunching that happened sometime between getting dressed and taking photos, which I fear could be worse if I actually wore it out and about. Hmmm.

Are their any reformed beltphobics out their who have embraced it? How about those who were especially worried that belting would be the most unflattering thing possible to the midsection/belly area?

detail of light blue and amber accessories