A coat may always keep you warm, but not all of them will work for your body type. Why not stay cozy and look your best this holiday season?

One of my favorite things about Fall and Winter are the influx of coats I see online and in-store. I love wearing coats because they can really pull an outfit together and give it the polish it needs. They make such a bold statement and can easily conceal any areas on your body you are less comfortable with if you know which shape of coat to choose. In times past, I used to buy coats left and right without considering their effect on my body’s silhouette. I simply purchased them because I liked the way they looked on a hanger but not necessarily on me. I would walk past a mirror, grimace, and then realize maybe I should have bought something more flattering for my figure. You don’t have to make the same mistakes I did.

Here are 6 of the most common body types and the coats that will flatter their figure.

1. Pear:

Pear shaped women tend to carry more weight around the hips and bottom in relation to their shoulders. There will often be a marked difference between the measurement of their hips and their bust. Focus more attention towards the upper half of the body, as this will draw attention away from the hips. Try a fluffy collar, or a coat with large lapels. A coat with a skirt that gently flares and skims over the hips is flattering as well, as long as the flare isn’t too dramatic.

2. Busty:

An ample busted woman should avoid coats with large buttons, especially on a double breasted coat. They draw more attention to the chest and have a widening effect on the eye. Instead, choose something that is single breasted, with a linear silhouette. Instead of a coat with a high collar, choose a coat with a V-line instead. It will break up the space around the bust and will minimize the focus in that area.

3. Hourglass:

A woman with an hour glass shaped body typically has shoulders and hips that are the same width, with a well-defined waistline. It’s best to choose a coat that compliments your waist and works well with the curve of your hips and bust. Showing your tapered waistline is key, which is why an hourglass shaped body should avoid cuts that are too boxy or wide. However, I learned in a styling class that defining the waist TOO much can create too dramatic a contrast between the waist, shoulders, and hips. In summary, avoid boxy shapes but be careful of overemphasising your shape.

4. Petite:

A woman who is short and slender looks best in a coat that won’t overwhelm her figure. Avoid frivolous prints and embellishments, and make sure you don’t look like you are drowning in fabric because a petite figure is easily overwhelmed. Instead, try fabrics in a rich color or simple texture and dress up the outfit another way. I find that petite women look fabulous when wearing a coat that doesn’t extend further than the hips.

5. Long & Lean:

Women with this body type tend to have an elongated look to their frame, much like a ballerina’s. A figure that is tall and slender will look best in a jacket that is also long and sleek, with clean lines. If more curves are wanted, you can opt for coats that have more frill or embellishments, but I’ve always loved a sleek coat on a tall, slender figure.

6. Boyish:

A boyish figure, or the “H-Line” tends to have a slender appearance, without a well-defined waistline. They can also have an athletic physique, and look wonderful in a jacket where curves are created with a belt, frills, peplum, or other embellishments. It would be best to avoid coats that are too linear, because that will overemphasize the straight silhouette to your body. They key thing to keep in mind with this figure is to avoid anything too linear and create curves instead.

What if you’re a combination of body types? Maybe you’re a pear body type, but you just so happen to have a full bust even though your shoulders are narrow. Or maybe you have a slender frame everywhere else, but you just so happen to have a fuller bust. In that case, you may have to combine some of the tips above to hone in on the coat that’s right for you. A perfect coat will help you take on the season in style.