If you have the hourglass body type, you are blessed with feminine curves that are coveted by every woman. However, not all the coats will look equally flattering on you, because of your generous curves. In this guide, we’ll take a deep dive to fully understand your body features, and take you through the most suitable coats for your figure.
MAIN CONSIDERATION
Coats are typically meant to keep you warm and cover you up, which is why it’s understandable why they usually look a bit “bulky”. However, if you know how to work around the features of your hourglass figure, you’ll dodge the struggle of looking for the perfect fit to hug your curves.
So to find the right coat, you first need to understand what should be taken into consideration.
Rounded Shoulder Line
Your shoulder width is very much in balance with your hips – one of the hourglass body shape’s most defining features! Hourglass shapes also typically have nicely rounded shoulder edges, which significantly contribute to the curviness of your frame.
As your shoulders already feature a flattering definition, it’s important to look for coats that don’t have excessive shoulder details. The goal is to keep the shoulder line details minimal in order to bring your natural shape the best way possible.
Full and Pronounced Bust
Coats may be worn with the buttons left open or fully closed. Either way, you should have the chance to make the beautiful and pronounced shape of your bust stand out in your chosen ensemble.
You can do so by carefully choosing coats that have a streamlined structure, vertical details, and strategic seams.
Small Waist
What better way to fully accentuate your small waist than cinching it in? Your hourglass figure takes pride in its small and pleasingly defined waistline so you always have to make sure that this area is getting the recognition it deserves.
It’s very important for your small waist to be seen as this is the key that brings your entire frame together, preventing your voluptuous curves from looking “heavy”.
Curvaceous Hips
Curvaceous hips are one of the most desirable features of an hourglass body type, as they showcase fullness and a well-defined appearance. When seen from the side, your hips create an elegant curve that gracefully extends outward and then tapers back towards the thighs.
This is also something you need to greatly consider when looking for a coat that fits because the coat needs to have the proper structure to not overwhelm the shape of your hips. They tend to lean towards the bigger side so you have to be careful not to wear coats with heavy details around the hips.
FIT
One may think that coats are simply the type of functional outerwear that just needs to “fit”. This is why some end up with coats that look too big for them, therefore drowning their natural silhouette.
This can especially be disadvantageous for hourglass figures because you need to let your desirable features be efficiently emphasized. So instead of settling for bigger sizes just to warm you up, look for those that have polished seams such as those with a tailored fit.
Additionally, coats that feature a tailored fit eliminate excess fabric while still keeping you warm without looking too bulky. The proper coat fit is very important, as this can also help make your entire ensemble look more dimensional and put-together without concealing your hourglass feature’s best features.
STRUCTURE
There are a wide variety of coat structures out there, so it might become overwhelming for you to narrow your style choices down. But worry not, I’ll guide you through it by sharing with you the specific types of coat structures that will surely flatter your hourglass figure.
A-Line
Whichever type of wardrobe piece it might be, the versatility and charm of the A-Line structure are still pretty much unparalleled. A-Line coats possess very flattering features that will surely bring out the best in your hourglass beauty.
A-Line coats are basically designed with a fitted top that gently skims the bust and waist as it gradually flares out towards the hemline mimicking the shape of an “A.” This particular silhouette produces a pleasing sense of balance and proportion by mirroring the natural curves of your hourglass body shape.
Princess Seam
If you want a coat that exceptionally traces your curves, the princess seam structure is absolutely worth a try. This type of coat is intricately constructed with contoured seams that run vertically from the shoulders to the waist, which are one the main key features that allow the seams to follow the natural curves of your figure.
In addition to its ability to bring your prominent curves to the spotlight, the princess seams in these coats also give your frame an elongating and slimming effect. This results in a more polished and streamlined appearance that’s easy to layer with many other types of wardrobe pieces.
Single Breasted
There’s little to no chance of committing a fashion mishap when you go for timeless classics. Single-breasted coats are very simple on their own, which makes them quite versatile and universally flattering.
They have a neat and sleek appearance due to the fact that they tend to fit closer to the body for a minimal look. This structure also helps enhance your curves without dramatic details that may add broadness to your upper body.
It’s also important to mention that most single-breasted coats feature a lapel or collar that frames the face and neck in the most flattering way. This specific neckline detail can draw attention upward to balance the lower curves of the figure and add a bit more visual depth to the overall ensemble.
Wrap or Belted
The beauty of a wrap coat relies on the overlapping fabric at the front that acts as an enclosure. This is also made possible by the adjustable waist tie or belt that secures the coat on your hourglass body.
The wrap closure of the coat gives you that customizable fit that allows for flexibility in accommodating different bust and hip sizes while still accentuating the waistline. The same style principle also applies to belted coats as it features the same waist-cinching function.
Peplum
It’s hard not to love the peplum structure of coats thanks to their unique touch of feminine elegance, as well as their flattering design that truly brings out your curves. The design of peplum coats wherein the flared or ruffle detail sits at or below the waist brings your look all together thanks to its very distinct construction.
The peplum that flares out from the waist instantly gives definition to your waist while also neutralizing the broadness of your hips. This gives your look an instant frame balance between your upper and lower body.
FABRIC
The right type of fabric plays a very important role in keeping the coats structured and in shape. Here, we are aiming to go for thick and cozy fabrics, without the extra unnecessary volume that a lot of heavy coats tend to have.
Wool Blend
One of the most distinctive attributes of wool blend fabrics is its natural ability to mold to the body, without looking too voluminous despite its heavy material. The combination of wool with other types of fibers in the blend helps the coat maintain its shape while providing a slight stretch or flexibility.
Tweed
This is such a fun and super fashionable fabric to go with coats! They are quite thick and the texture of tweed is very apparent, which contributes to the coat’s entire structure.
Going for tweed coats is also something you will immensely love if you are a fan of the dynamics of well-incorporated colors. Tweed coats are usually woven using different combinations of yarn for added creativity and edge.
Cashmere
Yes, this is quite an expensive option but there’s no doubt that the exceptional structure, texture, and quality of cashmere will absolutely change your outerwear game! It’s the type of fabric that makes you feel warm and cozy, but without the usual thick and heavy structure often associated with coat fabrics.
PRINTS AND DETAILS
Details such as button placements or lapel collars have a significant influence on how your coat is going to look with the rest of your outfit. Prints and details on a coat can either enhance or disrupt the natural proportions of an hourglass shape so it’s important to choose figure-balancing prints and coat details.
For example, selecting prints with minimal, medium-sized patterns or details that are strategically placed can give your ensemble a more polished look without the unnecessary bulk. Belts can be a great option for those looking for coats with a prominent waist cinch.
Another example of a flattering coat detail is the lapel collar. This particular collar design creates a sense of verticality that allows your frame to run in a straight vertical line.
STYLES TO AVOID
Trench Coats
They are absolutely edgy and classy, no wonder why they will always be a go-to option for many. However, due to the fact that trench coats typically have lots of different details, wearing one may look too overpowering for your figure.
Trench coats have certain details that will most likely make you look top-heavy, such as shoulder epaulets and double-breasted buttons.
Boxy Silhouettes
Coats that are too big and shapeless will always be a big no-no for hourglass body shapes. You might think that boxy-looking coats are more comfortable, however, wearing something that doesn’t complement the natural beauty of your figure may only cause distraction and may also probably affect your confidence.
Oversized Puffer Coats
Hourglass body shapes should generally avoid oversized puffer coats because how they add excessive bulk and volume to the overall silhouette of your hourglass figure. The exaggerated proportions created by the puff can disrupt the natural presence of balance on your figure and therefore blur out your best features.
To add to that, they also relatively lack structure and tailoring, which are two very important elements for flattering an hourglass figure. The loose and shapeless nature of these coats will instantly camouflage your very defined waistline and conceal your gorgeous curves.
Cropped
Cropped coats often lack the length and coverage needed to highlight the curves of your hourglass body shape. They have the potential to cut off at a point that draws the eyes to the widest part of the hips, therefore creating a boxy or unbalanced appearance.
Since you have a well-pronounced bust line, the length of cropped coats may not just overwhelm the size of your hips, but may also make your upper half uneven to your lower body. In addition to these unflattering characteristics that cropped coats have, they can also limit your styling options when it comes to layering.
It’s because you might constantly struggle to look for clothing pieces of varying lengths to make sure they layer well with your coat.
Peacoat
Just like the trench coat, you might find peacoats unflattering too, due to their bulky double-breasted design. Most peacoats also have an unflattering, curve-hiding silhouette because their structure isn’t able to work around an hourglass girl’s curves.
To add to this, peacoats typically have a trapezoid-looking silhouette that is not designed to trace the curvy lines of your figure.
