Cold Weather Styles That Flatter

I love all four seasons, but as with many people, Fall is probably my favorite season. Sure, the beautiful colors of the changing leaves are spectacular, but equally important for me is the opportunity to put away shorts, and comfortably break out my jeans, sweaters, and jackets again. I LOVE sweater weather. I love cardigans, I love turtle-necks, I loved ribbed-knit sweaters, pull-overs, sweater coats — anything knitted that keeps me warm and feeling cozy. The problem is, like any other type of clothing, some styles work better on my body than others, and while I do gravitate towards sweaters that make me feel like I’m wearing a hug all day long, I want to also make sure I don’t look like I fell into a pit of shapeless wool. Likewise, when I don my winter coat for the first time of the cold-weather season, I don’t want to get lost in clumps of puffy down that make me look like the Michelin man.

While many dread the summer season because they don’t want to wear shorts for fear of revealing their legs, they look forward to colder weather as an opportunity to cover it all up. But in order to really look your best, there is definitely a balance. It’s just as important to find the proper fit with cold-weather apparel as it is when you are searching for shorts that come down further than your butt cheeks (which I know was especially hard this past summer!). Since most of the styles we see in fashion magazines aren’t represented on women whose bodies reflect the sizes and shapes of most women in the real world, I sought advice from those in the know about how the rest of us can stay warm and look our best.

Though ultimately I think you should wear what you really love and feel good in, Style Expert Amy Gordon of Artfulwears.com offered this tip for as a general rule: “Larger women should avoid heavier/bulkier fabrics and opt for warm thinner fabrics. For example, cashmere is not thick but very warm. If larger women want to layer, it’s a lot easier to layer thinner garments. Keep the bulk to a minimum.”

Michelle Poteet, a Professional Organizer who also has a flair for fashion added that “sweaters and coats that are more fitted in the waste or right below the bust will help to flatter average-sized to plus-sized women. Pairing an empire waste top or sweater with leggings can be attractive and trendy for any body shape.” To prove the point, I found this adorable swing cardigan at Nordstrom.com.

Personally, my favorite sweater trends EVER are the draped and flyaway sweaters. I think the long, uneven lines create an optical illusion that elongates the body while drawing attention away from the middle. In my opinion, it’s the best of all worlds, where comfort meets style as each style offers a flattering way to keep warm. This plus-sized cardigan from Calvin Klein is a little pricey even at its sale price of $72.90 , but Kohls.com has a great selection of stylish draped sweaters at a reasonable cost, like the Apt. 9 Floral Flyaway Cardigan.

Of course, an easy way to quickly alter the look of any outfit is to accessorize. Jewelry designer Amanda Jaron pointed out that “long necklaces and bold rings, earrings and bracelets help draw the eye to the sparkle and create a more balanced look.” While it is definitely nice to have unique hand crafted pieces from boutique jewelers if it is in your budget, there are plenty of great places to pick up trendy pieces at a low cost. Once again, Kohls.com offers a great selection of jewelry at much lower prices so that you can afford to experiment a little and have fun with different looks.

And we can’t forget about footwear. Donnella Tilery, CEO & Founder of Donnella’s Closet suggested that for a warm but still seductive look, “invest in a pair knee high leather riding boots chocolate brown or black with a small heel. These boots look great with jeans or a dress, so not only can you layer, but expand your wardrobe.” If you are thinking tall boots are out of the question for you because of larger calves, think again. Many stores now carry boots with larger shafts, including Silhouettes.com which carries a large inventory of plus-size shoes and boots, like this pair of Two Buckle Riding Boots.

Tilery pointed to another good investment for your winter wardrobe –  a long, fitted wool coat. If you like to be a little adventurous, try getting one in a brighter color to offset an otherwise plain outfit underneath. This Bell Sleeve Coat in Plum from Old Navy is a great way to stand out in the crowd without looking like you are trying to make a statement. Lane Bryant also has a fabulous belted wool coat in red that is worth checking out. But of course, you can never go wrong with black, navy, or gray if you want to stay conservative.

I got a lot of feedback on puffer style jackets, and the general consensus was this just is not a style for larger women, since it seems to add to the bulk. I disagree that puffer jackets can never be pulled off if you are plus size. I LOVE this quilted hooded coat, also found at Lane Bryant, and the belt at the waist gives it shape to offset the bulk of the jacket.

An additional tip Racine Peters offered when talking about winter coats was to remember that the tailor is your friend. “Coats and jackets look best when they fit well in the shoulders.  However the dilemma with this tip is that coats and jackets that fit well in the shoulders do not usually close on plus size women.  Purchase a coat or jacket that you can close and that fits the largest part of the body. Hurry to your tailor to have the shoulder reset as well as any additional alterations that need to be done. This will create a proper fitting coat or jacket.” And finally, her last tip might be the most important: “Remember that women come in a variety of shapes and sizes.  What works for one may not work for another.  Are you pear shaped?  Apple shaped?  No curves at all?  Find out your body type and shop accordingly.”