Slimming Jacket Styles

A fitted coat with strategic shaping at the waist or hips can minimize problem areas.

Clothing choices can have an impact on how a person looks, particularly jackets since they tend to be a larger piece of clothing. If a jacket does not fit properly, it can accentuate problem areas, such as a heavy middle or thick thighs. Paying close attention to jacket details and how they look on specific body shapes can make a person look slimmer.

Tapered Waist

A fitted jacket that gradually tapers in toward the waist, rather than being the same width from top to bottom, is one of the most slimming jacket styles because the tapering fits over the body and gives the illusion of a narrowed waist. A looser jacket with a wider waist may seem like it would be slimming because it doesn't cling to any bumps or bulges, but it can end up making the wearers look wider than they actually are. A tapered waist jacket may be especially flattering to people who carry their weight in their midsection, but will look slimming on the majority of body types.

Belted

A trench-style jacket that ties shut with a belt can also be slimming because it helps break up the midsection by cinching in at the waist. People with wide torsos may look thinner by wearing a belted trench coat because it can add a curve at the waist and prevent them from looking block-shaped in the middle. The belt can also work as an accessory that distracts the eye and keeps attention away from trouble areas in the midsection or bottom half. A belted trench-style jacket may not be slimming if the jacket fits too tightly because it can actually accentuate problem areas.

Flared

A jacket that flares out at the bottom, similar to an A-line skirt, can be a slimming style of jacket for women who are pear-shaped or carry their weight in their bottom halves. To be the most flattering, the jacket has to be fitted at the shoulders and waist before lightly billowing out into a skirt shape around the hips and butt. This style is slimming for bottom heavy women because it helps camouflage any extra weight in that area, while still maintaining a tailored shape.

References

• Good Housekeeping Magazine: Flattering Outerwear
• Glamour Magazine: Sport the Right Jacket