3 Tips That Will Slim Your Figure in an Oversized Coat | Fleurdille (2024)

FAQs

3 Tips That Will Slim Your Figure in an Oversized Coat | Fleurdille? ›

MONOCHROMATIC CLOTHING – go for monochromatic clothing underneath to elongate and slim your figure. This neutrals or black. LEAVE UNBUTTONED – rather than button up your coat, leave it open. This lets your silhouette be seen and the oversized, unbuttoned coat will accentuate your figure!

Resizing an oversized coat can be done in a few different ways. The easiest way is to take it to a tailor or seamstress and have them take in the sides and sleeves. This can be done by removing the existing seams and stitching them back together at a smaller size.

Pair an oversized coat for women with equally oversized jeans or dress pants. You'll be giving, not absolutely serving, a street fashion-forward outfit. Prefer a more sophisticated look? Try fitted pants or skirts to create contrast and dimension.

It's Too Big

To make a wool coat smaller, the tailor will open the coat's lining in the side seams or the bottom. The coat will be turned inside out and buttoned up. It will be pinned to your measurements then new seams will be sewed to fit you perfectly.

Most outerwear can have alterations performed. However, there are some exceptions. Any jacket or coat with a down-filled interior (puffers, ski jackets, or parkas) is very difficult to alter. However, this type of outerwear can have repairs completed on its exterior (buttons, zippers, and lining).

Stand in front of a mirror and look for signs that the fit isn't right. If the sleeves don't cover your wrists and the bottom of the coat rides up — like the image on the left — the coat is too small. If the sleeves go down past your thumb, and the shoulders are much wider than your shoulders, the coat is too big.

You might need to size up to get a true oversized fit, but that isn't always the case, so if possible try on your usual size and the size above to achieve your desired fit. Make sure you can layer.

For a woman, choosing a coat with a straight cut or a down jacket not exceeding knee-length can balance her silhouette and visually reduce the width of the hips, whilst it is better to avoid short jackets with a fitted waist to avoid emphasizing contrast with the hips.

Lucky for you, there are no rules to follow for this style. And best of all, you don't even have to follow a coat size guide of any kind to achieve this look. Investing in an oversized coat that's the next size up may be the missing piece to completing your entire outfit.

I wouldn't recommend just grabbing any coat and going up a size or two. True oversize coats will be labeled "oversize" clearly on their product name when you shop online (or on the tag if you're shopping in person) and are made this way intentionally, so you should take your normal size.

How many sizes down can a jacket be altered? ›

You can generally alter trousers and shirts down by as much as two sizes. Suit jacket alterations are much more involved, making only one size down a realistic endeavor. Sometimes you're simply better off buying new.

However, it's not major surgery to cinch (“take in”) the sides, waist, chest, and arms (more on these alterations later). The rule of thumb is that you can go down two sizes at a maximum, but a suit jacket or blazer, only one size too large, is a safer option.