Typically associated with geishas, thick Japanese obi belts, knotted and looped around the waist, are among this summer's slickest (and most figure-flattering) accessories. For the office, though, you may want to ditch the kimono.
1) Gucci designer Frida Giannini had the bright idea to pair jazzy metallic obis with pencil skirts in brilliant jewel tones. In real life, however, you'll want to stick to one statement colour.
2) Don't limit yourself to a pencil-skirt-and-blouse combo: If that A/C is blasting, wrap the belt around a light-gauge knit sweater and trousers or use it to add shape to a maxi dress.
3) Besides Gucci, labels such as Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton featured glitzy, satin or sequined takes on the obi. For work purposes, stick to a piece without the flashy fixings, preferably in soft leather and neutral tones.