Oversized Clothing – The Perfect Trend For Restaurant Week

By Brian Maynor

 

It’s Restaurant Week across SC, which means 11 days of dining out and enjoying some of the best food in your area.  Isn’t that exactly what we need to jumpstart those healthy lifestyle resolutions?

To feel slightly better about indulging in moderation jump on the latest trend bandwagon of oversized clothes.  Let’s be honest nothing feels worse than the waistband of your skinny jeans gouging into your full stomach and it’s not a good look either.

When you hear oversized it’s natural to immediately think of the baggy jeans and sweaters you throw on around the house, but that’s not how the trend works.  There is a specific set of rules to pull off oversized clothing in a stylish way that actually work to make you look smaller, not frumpy.  Here’s what you need to know:

 

1.    Start with the proper definition.  Oversized does not mean simply baggy or too big.  Oversized pieces fit you and your shape like normal clothes they just have a little more room and fabric.  These pieces are specifically styled to be bigger, but you should still buy your normal size.  Simply going up a size or two does not create the proportional, loose trend that makes you look thinner; it just makes you look sloppy.

2.    Oversized Pants.  The general rule of thumb when it comes to proportion is to pair something loose with something fitted, but this trend goes against that norm.  If you want to pull off oversized pants in a 2015 style, skip the fitted tops.  Instead opt for a longer top or layer that falls just below your hips.  This elongates your torso, which helps balance the volume of the pants.

3.    The Oversized Sweater.  We all have an oversized sweater in our closet that we probably wear with jeans and boots, but next time try pairing it with relaxed fit textured pants.  Whether you choose a bold print or a monochromatic neutral is up to you.

4.    Oversized Coats.  One of my favorite winter topcoats is an oversized charcoal grey double breasted wool one that I wear with just about everything.  Common sense would say not to wear a big coat over a voluminous outfit because you’ll look like a blob, but that’s not necessarily the case.  You don’t want to wear both a oversized top and pants under a big coat, but one of them is okay.  Also you will want to keep the coat open and accessories to a minimum.  This isn’t the place for a scarf or big bag.

 

Oversized clothes tend to be our fallback for days we need a little more coddling and security because we think they are only comfortable, not stylish.  That is going to change for 2015.  As the new trends hit the market we will see a departure from the tailored and fitted styles of the last few years for more loose and relaxed ones that work together in the same outfit.

 

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

For all the details on Restaurant Week check out their website:  http://restaurantweeksouthcarolina.com.

 

I am always curious to hear from you and what you see in the workplace.  Send your questions, comments and pet peeves to [email protected].  Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

Sign up here to start your free subscription to MidlandsLife!