The Question:
Dear Belinda,
I am an average-size, curvy girl with even proportions up top and below (for lack of better words…lol). The weather is really chilly here, and while I’ve been using the same puffy coat for the last two years, I think it’s time to update my winter outerwear. What coat styles do you suggest for a gal with my type of body shape?
Thanks,
Anne
Irving, TX
Belinda Says…
Dear Anne,
I’m so happy to be able to help you out here! If there’s one thing I’ve always emphasized is that one should dress in what flatters them. That said, I have some suggestions for your hourglass figure, as well as other body shapes and coat style suggestions for all your fellow fashionistas to look their best this winter, too…
Hourglass: For all the gals who are equally proportioned “up top and below”, such as yourself, Anne, a sleek coat with large pocket accents is the way to go. You want to play up your curves, so don’t be shy to show them off!
Some suggestions:
Straight/Rectangular: For the gal with a rectangular figure, you want to find a coat that will emphasize your minimal curves. Look for belted coats that will “cinch up” your waist and have skirted bottoms, wide collars, or fur detailing around the collar, to create the illusion of a curvier frame.
Some suggestions:
Pear Shape: Many women tend to fall under the pear shape category, with a bottom fuller and curvier than their top. In order to balance out this frame, look for coats that are full up top, with fur details or large pockets, and a sleek, minimalistic bottom/skirt.
Some suggestions:
Strawberry: Also known as the inverted triangle, strawberry shaped figures are top-heavy compared to their bottom. Here, you want to balance out your frame by looking for coats with sleek, minimal details up-top and a full, skirted bottom.
Some suggestions:
Hope these suggestions help you find the perfect new winter coat, Anne (and friends)!
Until next time, happy stylin’!
Belinda
Have a question for Belinda? Send an email to belinda [at] smarter.com with all of your fashion inquiries. I may not be able to answer everyone’s questions, but I will try to get to as many as possible. Be sure to stay tuned for next week’s Ask Belinda Column, the next one may be yours!
About Belinda
Belinda, I had heard that women with large busts should avoid double-breasted coats. Yet I see that these are recommended without regard for bust size. is this because of the practicality of the double-breasted panel protecting against the cold wind? If so, what should we look for in a double-breasted coat?
Hi Cathy,
It is often said that the double-breasted coats should be avoided by women with large busts; however, I feel that this is only something to consider if one is trying to minimize the appearance of her bust. If that is the case, then I would recommend choosing a coat with a single row of buttons, to draw attention away from the bust area.
As with the recommendations above for the strawberry shaped figure, where one tends to be top-heavy, coats with full, skirted bottoms help balance out a frame with large busts, by adding some volume to the bottom half of the figure. This Steve Madden trench gives you the best of both worlds, with a single row of buttons and a skirted bottom.
Hope these tips help!
Best,
Belinda