America’s Oldest Furrier
Est. 1889

Finding the right fur coat for your body shape means, above all, that you must actually know your body shape before buying one. Whether you are an “apple”, an “hourglass”, or a “pear”, you need to find the cut that flatters your silhouette, and the right coat length. Difficult? Not at all, if you read our mini-guide below.

Shopping For A Fur VestThe Hourglass

Hourglass silhouettes have rounded arms and big busts. This is why your best bet would be a sleeveless fur vest with a belt cinching your waist to keep the balance between shoulders and hips. Fur on the arms or around the bust area can make you look bigger, so try a V-neck style that makes you look slender. The vest you choose should be short, so go for sheared fox, mink or beaver, preferably in a dark shade.

The Apple

“Apples” need to camouflage their round waists which makes fur coats with a straight cut ideal for them. Due to their generous busts they should wear short hair, over-the-hip coats that do not add extra volume to “problem” areas. Medium and dark shades minimize bulky parts, while double breasted styles are a total no-no.

The Rectangle

Because they don’t have defined waists, women with slender rectangle body types are the perfect clients for coats, vests and jackets made of long, fluffy fur, such as fox, lynx, sable, coyote, raccoon or badger. Pair a short fur jacket or vest with bright separates (brocade pants or embroidered loose jeans) to create the illusion of a curvier silhouette. In case you have a long neck, choose mink coats with ample collars, or wrap a voluminous scarf around your neck. Long fur flatters this body shape adding extra volume, so make it your first choice.

The Pear

Pear-shaped silhouettes have a curvy lower body, especially the lower belly, hips and legs. Although “pears” can choose from many styles, longer hair will add extra volume to the upper area making this type of garment a winner. Choose a middle-hip length and a belted design that emphasizes your beautiful waist. Short styles will make your hips appear bigger than they are while long fur coats will make you look shorter. An oversized collar and padded shoulders will also create a silhouette with the right proportions.

The Inverted Triangle Body Shape

This body type is known for broad shoulders, big busts and narrow hips, so a jacket with a lower fur insert (shearling coats with fur trim, we’re looking at you!) would be a super-flattering choice instead of a coat that would create too much volume on the shoulders making the upper body look massive. If you really must wear a fur coat, opt for a dark one with short hair to avoid the extra volume.

Now take a look in the mirror and decide “who” you are. After that it’s just a matter of finding time to shop.