Finding the perfect fitting jacket for a woman is key to making any outfit look stylish and polished.
Whether you are looking for a casual bomber or a tailored blazer, knowing how it should fit your body type is essential to achieving a flattering and comfortable look.
In this article, we’ll go over the key points of what makes a jacket fit perfectly on a woman, from the shoulders to the hem.
How Should A Jacket Fit You?
The Arms
Proper arm length is essential when choosing the right jacket or coat. For the perfect fit,
- The end of the sleeve should end between the bottom of the wrist and the top knuckle of your thumb.
- If it’s any longer than that, it can look too long and sloppy.
Petite people in particular will want to make sure they try on different sizes to get one with arms that are just long enough but not too long.
Just because raising your arms causes the sleeves to shorten up slightly doesn’t mean that they should cover your hands when your arms are down.
The trick is knowing how far up your arm you need to pull it for it to stay securely and hit at just a few inches above the wrist bone when sitting naturally.
If you find yourself having to pull up the sleeves constantly throughout wear, chances are they aren’t quite right for you and don’t provide sufficient coverage properly to ensure comfort and flexibility.
The Shoulders
The shoulders of a jacket are an essential part of the overall look and fit and must be chosen carefully.
- They should fit snugly and should not go past the outside of your upper arm, allowing you to move your arms up and down comfortably while keeping a line.
- It is important to make sure that the shoulder pads end at your natural shoulder, as this will give you room to move without restricting your arms.
- If there is too much material or if the back is so tight that you can only keep your arms straight down, it is not ideal, and you should opt for something else instead.
When looking for a jacket, it’s important to assess the fit of the shoulders first. A good-fitting jacket should hug and contour your body shape without being restrictive or oversized in any area – especially around the shoulders.
Even if tailored after buying, a cushion feeling across the top of your arms gives you permission to confidently show off your personal style!
When trying on jackets, ensure that you’re able to lift both arms above waist level without feeling like something needs to give way – that’s key in finding a great-fitting blazer that won’t become uncomfortable.
The Length
When it comes to selecting a jacket length, the most important factor is proportion and fit.
- A classic blazer-style jacket should never be longer than the start of your palm when your arms are down at your sides.
- This ensures the correct balance between the waist, arms, and shoulders and gives you a crisp silhouette.
- Anything longer than this tends to look sloppy and detracts from looking polished.
Different styles of jackets such as Chanel cardigan jackets also require different lengths as they are cut shorter and boxier around the waist.
Or for trend pieces like shorter fitted jackets that only just cover the hips or longer, straighter toppers which fall between mid-thigh and the knee area may be appropriate for certain occasions.
However, always consider how it looks on your body shape before purchasing.
If it doesn’t look put together or you feel like it’s not quite right then find something else or have it tailored to make sure you get that flattering fit that looks effortless each time you wear your jacket.
The Waist
The waist of the jacket is one of the most important factors to consider while shopping for a new piece.
- The positioning of the buttons can help you determine where the waist should sit on your body, but not always accurately.
- It’s important to look at the darts and seams, noting where it’s narrowed or taken in to fit the shape of your body.
- Ideally, this will be at or just below your natural waistline; this is often where it looks most flattering. However, it can sometimes fall higher than expected – higher waists actually make legs look longer – so be sure to take this into consideration too.
Similarly, pay attention to any extra fabric that appears between the shoulder and waist (Also check out Ways To Tie A Sarong) when you button up your jacket; this indicates that the fit falls lower than required for optimal style.
You want to make sure that the fit is snug across all areas without appearing too tight or too loose, which can detract from an elegant look.
Knowing how to evaluate a jacket’s actual fit and sizing can help you select pieces that perfectly complement your physique and ultimately result in more stylish outfit combinations over time.
How To Tell If Your Jacket Is Actually The Correct Size
When shopping for a jacket, be sure to consider how you plan to wear it in order to ensure the correct size.
Lightweight jackets, such as spring blazers and linen dusters, should fit more snugly against your body than winter wear like parkas or wool overcoats, which often require more room within their design due to the layers of clothing underneath.
No matter the type of jacket you select, however, it is important that it fits comfortably and without being overly tight or constricting.
- Make sure that zippers and buttons close without excessive pulling or straining in order to guarantee a full range of movement.
- If the shoulder pads don’t protect from bunching fabric, then that is also a sign that you need a different size.
- Additionally, check pocket placement; if there’s gapping fabric directly under them or above them, then it’s not for you – find one that has features placed where they look natural, and keep in mind the proportions of your body evenly across chest hems.
Final Thoughts
Finding the perfect jacket for any woman is all about making sure the fit is flattering and comfortable.
By taking into consideration your body type, checking for proper form, and testing out how flexible the garment is, you can ensure that you find a piece that looks stylish and serves its purpose.
Once you find the right fit, then you can start playing around with different colors and styles to create a truly unique wardrobe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Women’s blazers can sometimes be tricky to fit due to bust size. Generally, it is fairly obvious when a blazer does not fit appropriately, which can lead to uncomfortable and unflattering looks.
Smaller-breasted women face the problem of excess fabric, creating an unflattering sagging in the midsection, whereas larger-busted ladies can experience pulling on the sides of the garment.
When shopping for blazers, it is highly important to discern what type of darts and seams have been used, as this will impact how well it fits.
My whole life, I have always been a little bigger than my friends. I was always a bit taller, wider and just bigger built. From my late teens, I would say that I was curvy. I really struggled to find clothes that fitted me, as my hips went out, but my chest didn’t really.
I created WarningCurvesAhead.com because I wanted other women to feel the sense of empowerment I have felt since changing up my wardrobe and finding out what clothes suit my body shape, skin tone and style.
I hope that you too can join me on this journey, and start making some amazing fashion choices that celebrate your beautiful body- instead of hiding it!
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