Did you know jacket collars can be slimming?

Stylish plus-size clothing means something different to everyone. Some ladies love rocking high-waisted skirts and cropped tops, while others prefer structured shirts and wide-leg pants – it’s all a matter of personal style. However, there’s one universal word women of every shape and size think about when picking out clothing: flattering. Flattering clothing enhances your body (rather than covering it up). And whether you tend to look for clothes that cover your “problem” areas or ones that highlight your best assets, the word “flattering” should predominately mean that you feel beautiful and confident in what you’re wearing.

For plus-size ladies, understanding your own body shape plays a huge role in knowing what clothes will flatter your figure best. However, while understanding the various styles that look amazing on you is important, it’s also crucial to understand how even minor details can help you look your best. Where a hemline hits, how seams help to enhance your shape and even the type of collar a women’s leather jacket has can all have an effect on how flattering the garment is. Yes, you heard that right – even jacket collars can be slimming.

Are you in the market for new fashion jackets for fall? Here’s what you can look for in flattering collars and lapels:

Understanding proportions

Men have mastered the art of wearing lapel sizes that are proportionate to their bodies, but that isn’t something many women think about when choosing a jacket. Instead, it’s all about how the size and collar enhance the garment’s overall style. However, how big the collar and lapel are can really make a difference when it comes to how flattering the jacket is. For example, a petite woman in a blazer with a huge collar and wide lapels may look a bit dwarfed by the garment. On the other hand, a tiny and thin collar could look disproportionate on a woman with a large bust.

Jackets with collars and lapels of an average size are the most universally flattering, so they’re a great place to start for any woman.

Choosing a style

Proportions matter when finding flattering collars, but the style of the collar and lapel play an important role as well. Here’s a guide to some of the most common jacket collar styles, and how they can be used as a slimming strategy:

• Basic jacket collar: A basic jacket collar is one that lines the top of the article of clothing and doesn’t include a lapel. Think of one you may see on a casual denim or leather jacket – it often includes a button right underneath (or a zipper) that can secure the collar around your neck. This style is perfect for a casual flattering look, but if you have a shorter neck or a curvy upper body, it’s best to avoid buttoning the jacket to the very top. This can make your neck appear shorter.
• V-neck collars: V-neck collars typically do have lapels and often button starting at the chest (think of a blazer style of jacket). This collar is flattering because the V shape elongates the neck for an overall slimming look, but it’s important to consider the proportions of the lapel.
• Long straight lapels: Straight lapels are much less common, but can actually be very slimming. These are most often seen on blazers that have a single button, and they fall in a straight line down the front of the jacket. As with anything that creates a straight vertical line down your body, these lapels draw the eye upward, making you look long and lean.
• Collarless jackets: Collarless jackets are typically round, although they can be in a V-neck shape as well. Either way, this style is slimming because it shows off the whole length of the neck, making your body look tall and slim.

Enhancing your look with embellishments

After you understand some of the basic collar styles, you can start to play with other details that may slim down your appearance. Look for embellishments, like a chain or fun pattern around the collar or a ruffled lapel. Any of these will create visual interest around your neckline which has double the slimming power: It draws the eye up and elongates your neck. Not to mention, these details just look fun and stylish!

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