I Love a Roomy Blazer—These Outfits Look Better With One In the Equation
While I genuinely believe that anyone can wear absolutely anything so long as they feel comfortable doing so, being petite does present its own unique set of dressing challenges. That doesn't mean anything is off-limits. Still, as a 5'3" fashion editor who has also helped countless other petite women hone their aesthetics, I know that it's not quite as easy for us to copy and paste every trend onto our frames—at least, not without a bit of extra consideration. Often, I'll reach out to my petite followers on Instagram and ask them which trend or piece they could use some styling pointers on. Their latest request? Oversized blazers.
Oversized blazers are one of my favourite items to wear—at least, they are now. When they first started trending, I was admittedly stumped. I'm also pretty curvy with an hourglass silhouette, so I'd spent the best part of my adult life dressing in more tailored or nipped-in silhouettes under the pretence they balanced out my frame better. Still, I wanted nothing more than to add an oversized blazer to my wardrobe. So I ordered one, and I started assembling outfits around it as soon as it arrived. Some worked, some didn't, but what quickly became evident was that petites could wear oversized blazers just as well as anyone else. And you know what? I have proof.
Below, I've assembled an edit of eight chic (and easy!) oversized-blazer outfits anyone can wear, be they 4'11" or 6'6". Scroll on to see them. Soon, you'll want to supersize all of your clothing.
1. White Shirt + Straight-Leg Jeans
Style Notes: Balance out the oversized silhouette of your blazer with a pair of classic, straight-leg jeans.
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2. Column Dress + Mules
Style Notes: Elongate with a column-shape dress is a dark block colour to draw the eye up and down the entirety of your look.
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3. Minidress + Chunky Trainers
Style Notes: Mirror the oversized silhouette up top with a pair of chunky trainers on your feet. This look works particularly well with miniskirts and dresses.
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& Other Stories has such a strong tailoring selection right now.
A playful style you can dress up or down.
4. Leggings + Fancy Bag
Style Notes: Blazers and leggings have become a favourite fallback outfit for many a fashion person over the last few months. Add in sporty touches and then balance things out with a slick shoulder bag.
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5. Crop Top + High-Waist Jeans
Style Notes: Over time, I've come to love the combination of a crop top and high-waist jeans. Throw in an oversized leather blazer and you've got the perfect "fashion person" uniform.
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High quality is a key feature for Hush.
Abercrombie's curve love range hugs in all the right places.
6. Matching Separates
Style Notes: It completely depends on my budget, but I always buy matching pieces in any set if I can afford to do so. Not only does a two- or three-piece suit look sleek, but much like the white ensemble above, it can help to balance out your entire look, allowing it to work as one instead of having single pieces fighting for attention.
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Wear as the full suit, or separate to recreate other looks.
The Frankie Shop's tailoring is truly exquisite.
7. Simple Vest + Knitted Skirt
Style Notes: Adding in different textures is a subtle way to break up an outfit. I love the way knitted skirts and dresses sit on my frame, and they make for a slinky addition layered under an oversized blazer.
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Next Up: The We Try Before You Buy: The Best Winter Coats of the Season.
This story was published at an earlier time and has since been updated.
Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.
Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.
Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.
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