A coat is definitely the winter item you want to splurge on since you can make quite a fashion statement with one (yet be totally dressed like a bum underneath it). But if you don’t choose the right coat, you’ll be giving off the statement of ‘I don’t care how I look’.

Let’s dig in….

Petite:
Please note that Petite is a special size not a body type so you will still need to pay attention to the other tips for your body type and then scale them down for your frame. The ideal coat length is anything above the knee. You want to show as much “leg” as possible to appear long and lean (you can also achieve this by wearing shoes and pants in the same color). Go for bold colored solids and avoid very large prints that will swallow your frame.

George Simonton Studio Convertible Stand Collar Jacket

Big Breasts:
Wrap coats work best on a large chest. The diagonal line created by the wrap helps to minimize the bust. Avoid jackets with big buttons or prints on the bust line.

Andrew Marc ‘Kelsey’ Double Breasted Cape Coat

Plus-Size:
Always remember plus-size is not a one size fits all category (i.e. you can be plus size and petite, plus size and have a boyish frame, etc). Follow the tips for the other body types, but since you’re plus-size, be sure to go for coats that hug your frame as opposed to trying to hide your body in an oversized coat. Be bold with color and make sure any details are to scale (i.e. small prints on a plus-size frame will make the body seem larger).

Gallery ‘Tapestry’ Walking Coat (Plus)

Long Torso:
If your torso is noticeably longer than your legs, you’ll need a coat with an empire waist to help visually shorten your torso and lengthen your gams. Wearing bottoms and shoes that are the same color will further help to elongate your legs.

Jessica Simpson Double Flap Pocket Coat

Short Torso:
If your torso is noticeably shorter than your legs, grab a coat that has detailing that sits lower on the waist to help balance out your frame.

Calvin Klein Double Breasted Walking Coat

Boyish Frame:
To visually add curves to a boyish frame, go for a form-fitting coat with extra detailing. Excess material and details like pockets on the hip area will help give the appearance of curves.

Mackage Stand Collar Jacquard Walking Coat

Maternity:
A-line and wrap coats are ideal to keep your baby bump warm and chic.

Kristen Blake A-Line Topper

Style Tip: Take note of the cuts of these items and use them as a guide for when you go shopping.

(from left to right) Vera Wang Jeweled Origami Tank at net-a-porter.com; Zac Posen Lace Trim Pirouette Blouse at net-a-porter.com; Rachel Roy Embellished Top at net-a-porter.com; Mike & Chris Pacey Silk Top at net-a-porter.com; Moscino Cheap & Chic Bandeau Fan Dress at net-a-porter.com; See by Chloe Bow Neck Dress at net-a-porter.com

Not just for keeping your pants from falling off your waist, belts are multi-function, coveted fashion accessories. However, when done wrong a belt can make even those with good intentions look like a squeezed tube of Pillsbury biscuits (yikes!). So how do you wear a belt without looking like the Michelin Tire Man? I’ve compiled some style tips on how to wear a belt the right way. Read on!

1. Scale. First things first, scale is SUPER important to understand when it comes to wearing a belt. Generally, the larger your frame, the larger the belt. A super big and too-wide belt will drown a petite frame while a very thin skinny belt can add unnecessary visual poundage to a plus-size frame.

2. Positioning. Where you place your belt is also very important or you can risk looking a lot larger than you intended. Avoid placing a belt on the widest part of your body. The horizontal line belts form make anything placed on it appear bigger and wider.

To balance out a body with a short torso, place your belt lower on the body to give some visual balance. For a long torso, place the belt higher on the body to give the appearance of a balanced frame. The “ideal” shape to go for is the hourglass shape (shoulders and hips in proportion to a defined waist).

Also ladies, please, if you have ample sized breasts, avoid putting a wide belt directly underneath them.

3. Styling. There are times when adding a belt to an outfit is overkill. The idea is to keep your look balanced so the eye grazes over it easy as opposed to having too many things for the eye to focus on. For instance, if you’re wearing long, detailed earrings, it’s safe to say to nix the belt or vice versa. Also avoid being too matchy-matchy: red earrings with a red belt and red bracelets is overkill! Your belt also need not match your shoes, they just need to agree (i.e. complementary colors)

If you want your booty to look great:

Pocket placement and design is key. Look for pockets (or designs) that are large, spaced out, and are placed somewhat on an angle. This will give the appearance of a more shapely booty. Avoid small pockets that are placed too close together.

7 For All Mankind Dojo Flare Jeans $155 at Macy’s; Joe’s Jeans Cigarette Jeans $158 at Macy’s; 7 For All Mankind Flynt Boot Cut Jeans $155 at Macy’s.

If you have thick thighs:

Look for boot-cut, flare, or wide leg styles which all help to even out your shape in a dark denim rinse. Avoid jeans with whiskering in the thigh area which will only make thighs appear larger. Skinny jeans, while not impossible, are difficult to help flatter this figure. Unless of course you like to emphasis the size of your thighs.

Joe’s Jeans Honey Curvy Bootcut Jeans; Hudson Flare Jeans $187 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Citizens of Humanity Pierre Hutton Wide Leg Jeans $229 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

If you’re petite:

Keep in mind that while this is a special size, you still need to pay attention to your overall shape (i.e. petite with a boyish frame, petite with thick thighs, petite and plus-size). Look for jeans with a shorter inseam.

Joe’s Jeans Provocateur Petite Harvey Jeans $158 ; Citizens of Humanity Petite Dita Bootcut Jeans $189 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Citizens of Humanity Dita Petite Bootcut Jeans $149 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

See also: Joe’s Jeans makes a fabulous line of petite jeans and so does Old Navy. Joe’s Jeans Provocateur Harvey; Joe’s Jeans Provocateur Ryder; Joe’s Jeans Provocateur Vincet; Petites at Macy’s.

If you’re plus size:

Like petite, while this is a special size, you still need to pay attention to your overall body type. Not all plus-sizes are the same shape. Follow the advise for the other shapes throughout this guide, but look for jeans that come in your size.

James Jeans, Salon Z Bootcut Jeans $207 at Saks Fifth Avenue; James Jeans, Salon Z Stretch Bootcut Jeans $198 at Saks Fifth Avenue; James Jeans, Salon Z Petite Bootcut Jeans $207 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Check out more plus size denim styles at Nordstrom and Old Navy.

See also Women’s Plus Classic Rise Wide-Leg – “The Flirt” Denim Trousers; Women’s Plus Classic Rise Boot-Cut – “The Flirt” Tummy-Trimmer Jeans; Women’s Plus Low-Rise – “The Diva” Flared Jeans; Calvin Klein Jeans Stretch Denim Bootcut Jeans (Plus)

If you’ve got an itty bitty waist, but you’ve got much back:

You want jeans with at least 2% spandex. This will help to keep jeans fitting on the waist AND your booty.

Joe’s Jeans Honey Stretch Jeans $174 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Hudson Bootcut Stretch Jeans $187 at Saks Fifth Avenue; 7 For All Mankind Stretch Bootcut Jeans $189 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

See also: Women’s Mid-Rise Boot-Cut – “The Flirt” Curvy Jeans; DKNY Jeans Soho Stretch Boot Cut Jeans, Orchard Blast Wash; BandolinoBlu Arianna Flap-Pocket Flare Jeans

If you’re pregnant:

Just because you’re with child, doesn’t mean style goes out the window. Gone are the days where sweats seemed like the only option for expecting mothers. Just remember to keep in mind that you’re overall shape still factors in with maternity jeans.

Citizens of Humanity Maternity Kelly Bootcut Jeans $180 at Saks Fifth Avenue; James Jeans Maternity Bootcut Jeans $185 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Rock & Republic Maternity Ritchie Eradic Jeans $143.90 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

See also: Maternity Full Panel Wide-Leg Denim Trousers; Maternity Real-Waist Trouser Jeans; Maternity Jeans at Old Navy.

If you have a boyish shape:

Look for skinny and straight leg styles which will hug the body and create curves. Also look for whiserking, pronounced leg seems, and detailed pockets which will all help to create curves for your frame.

Citizens of Humanity Ava Straight-Leg Jeans $198 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Citizens of Humanity Ankle Jeans $158 at Saks Fifth Avenue; 7 For All Mankind “A” Pocket Stretch Jeans $165 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

See also: Women’s High-Rise Flared – “The Goddess” Utility Jeans;
7 For All Mankind Front Seam Jeans; Rock & Republic Dark-Washed Stella Jeans; Women’s Lowest Rise Skinny – “The Diva” Jeans; Gray boot cut jeans

If you’re tall:

Look for tips on your overall shape in this guide and then look for jeans that have 34″ inseam or longer. Lucky for us tall drinks of water, many designer jeans come with long inseams by default.

Rock & Republic Roth Low Rise Jeans $191 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Hudson Bootcut Stretch Jeans $187 at Saks Fifth Avenue; Rock & Republic Scorpion Utility Jeans $202 at Saks Fifth Avenue.

See also: Rock & Republic jeans normally have inseams of 34″ and up, perfect for long-legged vixens. Old Navy also carries many of their regular jeans line in tall sizes. Women’s Mid-Rise Skinny-Leg – “The Flirt” Jeans; Women’s Lowest Rise Skinny – “The Diva” Jeans; Women’s Classic Rise Boot-Cut – “The Sweetheart” Jeans.

Big boobs: If you want to deemphasize a big bust, look for open necklines like V-necks or U-necks to help “seperate” your boobs and make them visually smaller.

Small boobs: If you want to vamp up a small chest, look for ruffles and other textures at the neckline to visually created more curves at your bust.

Big Tummy: Dressing to cover up a tummy isn’t as simple as finding the biggest shirt you can find to cover it up—what you want to do is find clothing that brings the eye to other fab areas like your arms or chest and that don’t cling to the belly.

Boyish Frame: To dress a slender frame, look for clothing that mimics curves like well-tailored jackets, cinching at the waist, and details like ruffles and pleating to visually create curves.

Long Torso: A cute belt is the long-torso gal’s best friend because it allows you to create a waistline at a higher point than your own naturally lies. A non-belt option is to choose a top or dress with cinching or banding high enough on the torso area. High-waisted pants, jeans, and skirts also have similar balancing effects on longer torsos since they allow the legs to appear longer than they are. Steer clear of drop-waist dresses as they will further elongate your torso.

Petite: High Heels and a Tailor are always your best friends. If you want to wear a flat, go for something minimal and strappy that shows off your skin. Be mindful of how you use color: dressing in one color from head-to-toe has a very elongating effect on your body. Nude panythose and nude shoes also have a similar elongating effect (i.e. Say you want to wear a cute pair of capri pants. In order to avoid making yourself look shorter, pair them with a shoe that shows off the most amount of skin as opposed to say a sneaker). Vertical lines are slimming as well as elongating. Try to create a vertical line in your dressing wherever possible. Horizontal lines are widening and shortening. Try to avoid them below the waist line.

Plus-Size: If you’re plus-sized, look for clothing that is close to the body; trying to hide your fabulous figure underneath baggy clothing will only make you appear larger. Keep clothing simple and add stylish accessories like bags and shoes to make an outfit pop. Keep proportion in mind when dressing your body–plus-sized bodies come in different categories, too (small/large breasts, short/long torsos, petite/tall, etc.) and dress for them accordingly. Check the categories (listed at the top) on this blog such as big breasts, big tummy, long torso, and what to wear if to get additional style tips that can also be used for plus-sizes.

Shopping online for full-figured fashions has become easy thanks to So What If: The Ultimate Guide to Plus-Size Fashion!

Thick Thighs: Sleek, tapered styles work best on the bottom. Steer clear of pleats, ruching, horizontal patterns, etc. as they can over-emphasize the thighs. Make sure hemlines on skirts do not end at the widest part of your thighs—this will only make your thighs appear wider. Instead go for knee-length pencil skirts. Wear lighter colors on the top and keep the bottom darker–you’ll visually balance your frame out this way. The leg opening on your jeans and pants will need to be slightly wide in order to balance out the curve of your thighs (i.e. boot cuts, wide legs, and trouser cuts are great for thick thighs).