7 Ways to Wear an Oversize Coat Without Looking Sloppy

Speaking from my personal wardrobe experience, I don't know when the last time I acquired a coat that wasn't nice and loose was. And the more fitted coats I've owned in the past never got much wear, as getting them on over a sweater isn't particularly comfortable. So loose coats it is for me, and luckily, that's the trend when it comes to outerwear—and has been for several seasons. Given the popularity of oversize coats, I think it's worth discussing how to style them.

As with anything oversize, it can have the tendency to look sloppy. If that's not what you're going for but you want to wear a big coat, there are several easy tricks to keep your outfits looking polished, elegant, and sophisticated (the trending aesthetic this season).

Keep reading for all the ways to style your favorite oversize coats, with a little help from some of Instagram's most stylish.

Belt It

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(Image credit: @slipintostyle)

Belting your coat to create a cinched-waist silhouette is perhaps the simplest trick of them all, but it's also one of the most effective.

Shop a belted coat:

Wear Pointed-Toe Shoes

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(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

Pointed-toe shoes are incredibly sleek and polished, and their sharpness rubs off on the entire outfit. Case in point with this colorful look worn by Emili Sindlev.

Shop pointed-toe shoes:

Keep It Simple

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(Image credit: @nlmarilyn)

A simple, minimalist outfit that lets the coat take center stage is a timeless, no-fail styling trick. Here, an oversize coat is worn with nothing but jeans, a white T-shirt, and slingback flats, and it's perfect. No notes.

Shop simple pieces:

Make It Monochrome

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(Image credit: @anoukyve)

Wearing a monochromatic outfit is an easy way to look put-together. This allows you to wear whatever coat color (or print) you choose, as the rest of the outfit isn't busy in the least.

Shop a monochromatic outfit:

Wear a Belt

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(Image credit: @raeannlangas)

If your coat doesn't have a belt (see tip number one), leave it open and wear a belt underneath. Trust me—it's hard to look sloppy with a belt on. 

Shop belts:

Pair Polished Flats With Cropped Pants

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(Image credit: @annabelrosendahl)

Baggy pants paired with an oversize coat is a very cool-girl look, but it's also a bit sloppy. Instead, show a bit of ankle with a pair of slightly cropped pants. 

Shop cropped pants and polished flats:

Wear It With Fitted Pieces

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(Image credit: @elizagracehuber)

Last but not least, leaving your oversize coat open and wearing a fitted look is a no-brainer way to look chic this winter.

Shop fitted pieces:

Shop Chic Oversize Coats

Allyson Payer
Senior Editor

Allyson is a senior editor for Who What Wear. She joined the company in 2014 as co-founder Katherine Power's executive assistant and over the years has written hundreds of stories for Who What Wear. Prior to her career in fashion, Allyson worked in the entertainment industry at companies such as Sony Pictures Television. Allyson is now based in Raleigh, North Carolina, and is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She holds a BFA in theater. Her path to fashion may not have been linear, but based on the number of fashion magazines she collected as a child and young adult, it was meant to be.