The Best Coats For An Hourglass Body Shape – 2023 Coat Guide

Finding a coat that fits and flatters you when you have an hourglass figure, can be a real struggle.

Most coats aren’t typically designed to cater to a large bust and a defined waist, so you end up compromising on fit and look.

That’s not OK. You should not, and do not, have to settle for poorly fitting coats that make you feel crap.

I’m a Personal Stylist, and for the past 18 years I’ve worked with hundreds of hourglass women from a size 0 to a size 20+.  

I understand the frustrations you’re experiencing when looking for coats for your larger bust.

I know which coat styles will fit you best.

And I know where to shop for them them...

Look for a coat that has a V-neckline like this, or that has long lapels like this coat does. This will give you some room across the chest, and the v shape will help to narrow the appearance of your bust, whilst drawing the eye down to your defined waist. For extra waist-defining elements, choose an A-line coat with a v-neckline like this - it will fit you well, and highlight your beautiful curves.

The best option is a wrap-style coat like this. You’ll be able to wrap it as tight (or loose) as you need to fit your bust, and you can use the belt to cinch in your waist - it’s the most effective way to showcase your feminine curves in a coat.

My go-to’s are: Princess style coats like this, or Crombie style coats that have a long lapel and a single button that fastens under the bust.

Whatever you want to know about choosing a coat for your gorgeous, curvy, hourglass body type, this post has the answer (and if it doesn't, please send me your question here!). 

Scroll down to see my tried and tested tips on choosing coats for an hourglass shape, and make 2023 the year when you look forward to putting on your coat! 

what is an houglass shape?

Before you scroll down, it’s worth checking that you have an hourglass shape. These tips and recommendations are specifically for women who have an hourglass-shaped body, so if your body shape is different, you will probably find that my information doesn’t work for you, and doesn’t solve your frustrations.

The classic characteristics of an hourglass body shape are:

Some of those characteristics are shared by the other body shapes (namely, apple body shapes and pear shapes) so it’s highly likely that you recognize some of them, but not all of them.

This is perfectly normal.  In fact, I expect it.  Few women slot neatly into one body shape category. 

Your body shape is probably a combination of two body-shapes, but knowing what your primary body shape is (the one that you align with the most), is a great place to start when you’re leaning which clothes will work best for you. 

As you become more familiar with your shape, and you better understand your unique characteristics and which clothing styles fit you best, how you define your body-shape becomes less important. 

want to get a better understanding of your body shape?

Here are 4 resources that will help you:

5 things to look for in a coat, if you have an hourglass shape.

I’ve shared my favorite coats for hourglass women further down this post, but before you take a look, I want to share a few of the elements you might want to look for when you’re choosing the right coat for your hourglass frame. 

2

look for elements that define a waistline

The best elements for defining a waist are waist ties, belts, and structured banding that wraps around the waist.

3

Keep an eye out for coats with structure & shaping

A little structure and shaping is a great design element to include in your coat choice, especially if it's in a fabric that has a little stretch. It will help to showcase your curves and will prevent the coat from swamping you and your shape. 

4

look for design features that draw the eye to your waist

This is a great tip if you're wearing a bulky or padded winter coat that doesn't have a lot of shape. elements such as banding, chevron prints, and color blocking will draw the eye to your waistline to show that you have some shape under all that coat.

V necklines are another great design feature for this - they are literally an arrow pointing down to your waist!

5

choose elements that narrow your bust

If you feel self conscious about your bust, there are some elements that will help to narrow your chest a little.  The best one is a V-neckline - It draws the eye in from your shoulders, and down you torso in a vertical line to narrow your chest and draw attention to your waist.

Coats that wrap will also narrow your bustline.

18 tips for choosing the perfect coat for an hourglass figure

The biggest frustration my clients share with me when there're trying to find a winter coat, is that most coats are too tight across their bust, or are too shapeless and boxy, that they end up looking larger than they are.   If you can relate, I have 18 tried and tested tips that will help you find a coat you enjoy wearing.

BUT - before you even begin to look for a winter coat that works for your hourglass shape, do this:

Make sure you’re wearing the right bra size.

If you’re not, your bust could be looking larger than it is; and it’s probably sitting lower than it should, too.  Both of which will make it even harder for you to find a coat that fits you.

When you wear the correct bra size (and the correct bra style, because the bra shape matters, too!) you’ll find you have a more defined waistline, your bust may look a little smaller, and your chest will be more lifted.

And this will give you a better chance of finding a coat that fits you well. If you want more information about choosing the right bra size, I have a pretty in-depth article right here

1

choose v-neckline.

V necklines are a great choice because they draw the eye in to narrow your bust, and they draw the eye down to highlight your waist.

2

opt for a single-breasted coat.

A double-breasted coat has two rows of buttons that run down the middle of the coat and over the bust, adding bulk and fuss where you might not want it…that’s also two sets of buttons that will likely pull and gape across your boobs.

A far better option is to choose a coat that is single-breasted, it's less bulky and helps to draw a vertical line down your frame to narrow your bust.  And if it buttons below the bust- even better.

3

choose a coat that has structure and shape.

Coats with structure at the waist are brilliant at highlighting your gorgeous waist, and a belted coat is even better as you can cinch it in and show off your waist.  Look for fabrics that have a little stretch so they contour your silhouette.

4

Choose a coat that buttons below your bust.

A coat that buttons below your bust will fit better, will pull less across the chest, and will cinch you in a little under the bust and across the middle to highlight your curves. 

5

Choose simple, fuss free styles.

Choose simple, fuss-free coats that are clear of bulky details like pockets and zippers. Not only will these elements add too much bulk across the chest, but they will draw attention to your bust.

6

long lapels look great on an hourglass shape.

Coats that have a long lapel are are great way to narrow your bustline and draw attention away from your chest, and down to your small waist.

7

Choose a wrap coat.

A wrap-style coat is a great option if you have an hourglass body shape and a large bust (as are wrap tops!).

You can wrap the coat around you to hug your curves; and you can belt the waist tightly enough to define your waist.

The diagonal line of the wrap will also help to break up the line across your bust, making it appear smaller. It's the best coat style for highlighting your best features.

8

opt for a belted coat.

Belted coats are one of my favorite coat styles for an hourglass body shape. A belted waist prevents an oversized coat from swapping you and hiding your curves. If you have to go up a size to accommodate your boobs, do so in a coat that belts.

9

Look for coats that flare out from the waist.

A-line coats and princess cut coats are great options for an hourglass shape.

Both styles have a neat top half that will fit your upper body well, and a fitted waist and flared skirt that do a fantastic job of highlighting and enhancing your natural curves. These are classic coat styles that rarely date, so are a great option for your collection.

10

consider the fabric choice

Think about the fabrics - a fabric that contains some stretch will be more forgiving than stiff, starchy fabrics that don’t contour.

11

Look at the sleeve style

I often find that a wide sleeve can make a large bust look larger, especially if it is seamless like a raglan, dolman, or kimono-style sleeve. This is one of the reasons why sizing up on a coat can look so dreadful.

A more flattering sleeve style will be a narrower sleeve that’s set into the coat.

12

use colour blocking to highlight shape

Color blocking is  when contrasting colors are used in solid panels on a garment to create shape and illusion. It's one of my favorite style tips when it comes to enhancing and minimizing parts of the figure.  A dark panel down the center of a coat (this is a great example)will draw the eye in and narrow your frame.

13

high necklines will be difficult to get in a good fit

High necklines are more likely to pull across the boobs, and they can actually make your bust look larger than it is as they add weight to your torso and bulk to your bust.

14

You might want to avoid shoulder pads

Coats that have shoulder pads can make your torso and bust look larger.  BUT if you have slightly rounded shoulders then shoulder pads can actually be a great element for you - this is one of those tips that you might want to experiment with.

15

The bulkier the fabric, the bulkier you might look

Bulky coats and heavy fabrics, such as faux fur, teddy, and quilted fabrics, have a tendency to add bulk and weight that can create a boxy silhouette and make you look and feel heavier than you are. Opting for warm, thinner fabrics, like a cashmere or wool coat, will be a more slimline option.  However, if you can find a quilted coat with a belt, snap it up!  It will be warm and flattering. 

16

Add some thin down jackets to your collection

If you struggle to find a winter coat that fits you well, and you don't enjoy wearing them in a size (or 2) too large, one option is to purchase some thin warm coat liners to layer under your less warm coats.

I like these ultra light down jackets from Uniqlo - they're super thin and have a round collar that can be fastened back to mimic a v-neckline, so they work well under a variety of coat styles.  They come in a range of colors, and there's a sleeveless option too.

17

Unbutton the neckline and add a scarf

If you cannot find a coat that fits you when done up to the neck, add some warm scarves to your collection and wear these to fill the gap when it’s cold.

18

consider repositioning the buttons 

And lastly, if the buttons are only slightly pulling across the bust, you might be able to move them a little to give you a little extra room.

these are the best choice of coats for hourglass women in 2023.

Shopping for coats when you're hourglass shaped and have a large bust, doesn't have to be frustrating! 

I’ve been a personal stylist for 18 years, and I've sourced coats and jackets for hundreds of hourglass women, and these picks are some of my favorites: