Knit Sweater Coats for All Body Types - Fall Fashion

With the right cut, a well-textured sweater-coat can be as sweet on a petite or plus size as on someone tall and willowy.

O, The Oprah Magazine | From the November 2009 issue of O, The Oprah Magazine

Petite

Bonnie St. John
Age: 44
Occupation: Writer (latest book: Live Your Joy)

At 52, St. John worried that she'd be swamped by a sweater-coat, but this silver-flecked knit (Eileen Fisher, $238) is "sheer, loosely woven…it floats!" So does this ebullient survivor: A skiing medalist in the 1984 Paralympics (her leg was amputated when she was 5), St. John is matter-of-fact about her prosthetic and loves the contrast between its "mechanical look" and her sequined skirt (Sir Alistair Rai, $630). Thanks to her adjustable ankle, St John says these glamorous heels (Talbots) are the highest she's worn. "I feel so tall!" she says. Inside and out, St. John has stature. Shells, Eileen Fisher, $168 (cream) and $138 (black). Earrings, Ann Taylor. Necklace, Costello Tagliapietra. Bracelet, available at Jennifer Miller.

If you're short…

Delicate knits won't overwhelm you.
To-the-knee hem and bracelet-length sleeves avoid that droopy "bathrobe" look.
No-closure style lets a coat hang straight down, so the body looks longer.
Necklaces add more height by emphasizing the vertical line.