How to Style It… A Long Coat and Scarf
This classic winter outfit is tried and tested, but often tricky for petite women. Here’s 6 ways to style it.
Dressing for the long-winter ahead (without the fun holiday party outfits in the mix) can seem like a daily chore. When you have to wear more layers than an onion to stay warm, your confidence can plummet during this stretch of the year. As a 5 foot woman, bundling up for the freezing temperatures leaves me feeling more like the “Michelin Man” than a stylish and confident city-dweller.
Luckily for us, there’s a well-trusted outfit formula when the forecast drops below 10 degrees. The long coat and scarf combination is nothing new, but its timeless formula leaves plenty of room for personal style or trendy iterations.
If you're a fashion-lover, your social media feed is likely flooded with this classic combo, adventurously styled with a pair of ballet flats, a baseball hat, or a cross-body bag. Inversely, a trench coat and scarf can be an easy go-to for those who enjoy dressing a little more understated. It’s a formula that never fails, with an oversized wool scarf feeling (almost) as cosy as a warm blanket.
While some feel petite women should not wear long coats at the risk of looking overwhelmed, we can look just as polished and put-together with the right styling. From playing with proportions to incorporating trendy colours, there’s plenty of style hacks to make this classic look work uniquely for you and your frame.
Consider the length of the coat
While the perfect length for a coat is a hotly-debated subject, the ideal length for short women would be around mid-calf. That said, you can’t deny the powerful feeling from wearing a nearly floor-length, cape-like coat. A long trench, wide-leg jeans, and a fitted t-shirt can be an easy way to effortlessly pull-off this look. If you’re styling a dress and coat, your outerwear should be longer than the dress underneath for a proportionally-optimised look. It’s all about balance.
Play with colour-blocking
While the winter weather may be dull, our outfits don’t have to be! If you’re missing bright pastel colours, reminiscent of spring and summer, pair a coloured scarf with a neutral winter coat. Use the opportunity to experiment with colours you maybe wouldn’t dare wear otherwise (such as bold neons, personally). Contrasting against a darker wool coat, a pop of your favourite colour can be a fun, cheery addition to any weather-proof outfit.
Pair with your favourite winter boots
If the only thing stopping you from wearing that long coat is its length, opt for a platform shoe to borrow some extra height. Long coats look great with every shoe, but even better with a cool pair of boots. Add some edge to your outfit with a pair of black boots, either an ankle-length Chelsea boot or a pair of tall vintage leather ones. You could also style for an elegant, Parisian-style look with a pointed heel, best worn peaking out under a pair of jeans.
Go for an all-black look
There’s a reason why this colour never goes out of style. Black screams stylish, sophisticated, and maybe a touch intimidating! Use this for your winter-wear by pairing a black long coat with a black scarf. For shorter women, black can be both flattering and elongating. Playing with geometric patterns (like the ultra-trendy black and white check) in either your scarf, coat, or trousers can be a fun expression of personal style while retaining the chic-ness of all-black.
Experiment with your scarf’s shape and silhouette
An oversized scarf can be styled a million different ways, with the only limits being your creativity. Drape it over your shoulder to resemble a stylish shawl or wrap it around the top of your head for a chic, Audrey-Hepburn-inspired look. You can also opt for a really oversized scarf, using your height to your advantage with this styling trick. Add a touch of dramatic flair with your scarf by finding one that just nearly reaches the ground. You can also play with proportions with a large scarf, off-set with a more slim-fitting coat.
Cinch in your trench coat
Accentuate your natural waistline by choosing a coat with a belt. Not only are belts on trench coats a thoughtful design detail, but they create an incredibly flattering silhouette, especially on shorter women. Belted jackets allow you to keep your frame and not feel too swallowed by your winter-wear. Thanks to this coat’s sleek fit, you can rock your largest, most oversized scarves with full confidence. A buckle detail on a trench coat brings an impactful textured element, while a classic tie-belt adds a touch of movement.
There are infinite ways for shorter women to style this winning combo. Versatile, chic, and timeless, a long coat and scarf is a look you’ll want to wear over and over again with these tips in mind! I’ve linked some products I love this season, perfect for pulling off the described looks above.
—
Your most pressing questions about long coats answered:
Should petite women wear long coats?
Yes! Petite women should wear long coats for a stylish, weather-friendly winter outfit. However, there are some styling tricks that keep petite-women from looking overwhelmed with its oversized silhouette and long length. Minimise the potential bulkiness of a long coat by such as opting for ones with a belt and choosing one that falls at the mid-calf.
How do you pull-off a long coat if you're short?
Long coats look best on shorter women when they are more slim-fitted and tailored, enhancing your natural silhouette. Single breasted coats and trench coats naturally create a sleek, narrowing effect, adding a touch height (with no platform shoes required). Playing into the optical illusion of colour, darker-toned or monochromatic coats appear more streamlined and svelte.
What is the best jacket length for petite women?
An ideal length would be around mid-calf, as ankle-length or longer tends to shorten your frame. A heeled shoe can achieve a more elongated look if paired with a full-length coat. Cinching the waist not only adds definition to your silhouette, but also helps adjust the coat’s length, tailoring it to your frame.
Can petites wear oversized coats?
Extra-petites shouldn’t shy away from oversized coats, even though they remain a notoriously tricky item. Styling these coats with more slim-fitted items, such as fitted tops and narrower trousers, can help balance your proportions and avoid bulk. Let’s be honest: we all want to bury ourselves in layers on cold winter days!
What style of coat is most flattering?
Thanks to their flattering belt and monochromatic look, trench coats are a sophisticated and versatile type of long coat that’s especially stylish on petite women. These are an accessible item that looks chic on everyone. Wool coats are great for providing fashionable warmth (while leaving behind the bulk)!
What length coat makes you look taller?
To appear taller, find coats that are knee length or slightly longer. Never underestimate a well-tailored long coat, as ones that fall mid-calf create a sleek, vertical line. If in doubt, throw on your favourite winter boots to borrow that extra bit of height. However, remember that fashion knows no height limits, so wear whatever makes you feel most confident and empowered!
2 comments
Thank you @Gemma – we hope you love the guide as much as we do writing and filming for it!
I really like the idea of How to Style but the best part is detailing items that feature which will suit/fit a petite person. I get so fed up trawling sites and shops looking for items.