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| Photos by Christopher Yoon |
Trying to channel my inner Olsen twin all bundled up for winter. This outfit is the result of Boxing Day sales and a lovely gift from my sister. I saw
this jacket at H&M a few months ago, and decided my search for the perfect wool, camel jacket was over. But I looked at the price tag and balked – $99.00?! My experience with H&M jackets hasn't been the best, and because this wool is pretty loosely knit, I was worried it would pill too fast to make it worth it. (I'm lazy and hate dealing with pilling, and then the jacket is tossed to the back of my closet to be mourned next season.) So I put it down and walked away, set on a more fitted, 4x the price coat from
Club Monaco.
Of course that didn't happen either, and with a friend insisting we go Boxing Day shopping, I dropped by H&M again. And lo and behold – one oversized, camel cocoon jacket in my size. I snatched it up, along with a pink, wool jacket (also the last one in the store), and my winter closet was complete.
I posted this look on
Instagram the other day, and a friend asked me if I had any tips for styling oversized jackets. Now that story time is over, read on to know how not to drown in the oh so trendy cocoon coat.
What are your favourite tips for styling an oversized jacket? Let me know in the comments!
1. Watch for bulk
One of the number one worries about wearing oversized anything is looking bulky. Layering too many thick fabrics together, or just wearing the wrong chunky sweater under a now too tight jacket is a recipe for disaster.
The easiest way to escape this is to not layer. But where's the fun in that? The amount of layers and what you can wear under a cocoon jacket is of course dependant on your jacket. You won't be able to wear as much under something more fitted. This particular jacket has drop shoulders, so chunky sweaters aren't a problem. If the oversized jacket is more tailored in the shoulder, you won't be able to wear as many thick layers.
As long as your shoulders and sleeves fit well, layer as much as you want. As soon as they start to feel tight and/or have limited movement, you'll need to wear something else under neath. Too tight shoulders = a bulky, ill-fitted mess.
2. Oversize everythingThis tip is a little trick, but it'll create a really cohesive look.
With an oversized jacket, wear your favourite boyfriend jeans (I chose my baggiest – these
7 From All Mankind Josefinas), an oversized scarf, chunky sweater, or even
oversized aviators. Ultra chic streetstyle, no?
3. Wear heelsWorried about looking short and squat in oversized clothing? The simplest solution is to wear a pair of heels.
Shoes are the one thing I don't recommend going oversized on while wearing boyfriend jeans and a cocoon coat. You want the heels to be elongating, and ultimately slimming, and a platform sole isn't going to do the trick. A slightly chunky heel like these
sock boots is both trendy and slimming. Bonus points if you go for a pointed toe.
4. Add some height
While accessories can make or break an outfit, so can your hair.
To add extra height and help balance out the width of an outfit, tying your hair up can be a godsend. A topknot or ponytail are easy to do (especially if you're like me and fail at even the most basic of hair tutorials) and will give the illusion of looking taller. Oh, and it's the poor man's way of creating a mini face lift, creating definition and making the focus on your face, not how many layers of clothes you've piled on to beat the snowpocolypse.
5. Pay attention to length and never forget about the tailor
Where the hem of a jacket or shirt or sweater hits is important. That line can crop off unwanted weight, accentuate a waist, or make you look taller. This is different for everyone and different heights, torso length, and inseams is not something the fashion industry tends to account for. Especially fast fashion. For longer jackets (and even dresses), I find just above the knee to be the most flattering length universally. If the jacket or dress is longer, the hem should hit somewhere lower than the widest part of your calf.
But as I said, fashion retailers don't take everyone's body into account, so what's a girl to do? Take it to the tailor. A good tailor will not only hem your jacket, but can also suggest further adjustments (such as added darts for shape) to make sure the coat is perfectly fitted and flattering for you.
