Jumpsuits are cute and trendy, but they’re not exactly the easiest things to wear. Getting the correct length is tricky, choosing the right fit is crucial, and let’s not even talk about how they leave you fully naked when you need to use the bathroom.
But don’t let that intimidate you from wearing a head-to-toe, all-in-one garment. Consider it a small price for a chic-er alternative to the usual dresses, a quick pick-me-up to your t-shirt-and-jeans routine, and a fabulous way to get on a hot trend on and off the red carpet.
Miley Cyrus, Anna Passey, and Chandler Kinney demonstrate stylish versatility in jumpsuits, from casual to formal looks (Credit: WENN)
Want to pull off that pants and top combo and look like an expert? We got help from some of our favorite fashionable celebrities and put together this guide on ten dos and don’ts in styling a jumpsuit.
1. Casual Chic: Opting for Relaxed-Fit Jumpsuits with Gathered Waists
Casual one-piece garments generally come in relaxed fits, which make them perfect, comfortable pieces for daily coffee runs. It’s also easy to adjust their looseness as they usually come with an elastic or drawstring waist like Selena Gomez’s or Jessica Alba’s printed jumpsuits below.
Also, try a boilersuit style like Rihanna’s green suit for an edgier, heavier-duty look. Note how RiRi still chose one with a fitted waist.
Selena Gomez, Jessica Alba, and Rihanna embody effortless elegance in relaxed-fit jumpsuits perfect for casual outings (Credit: WENN)
Avoid casual jumpsuits that are too loose that they end up making you look frumpy and shapeless. Also, be wary of jumpsuits that give you that unflattering “long butt,” like what happened to Lucy Hale in the picture below.
It’s when too much fabric blouses over the waistband that the waist is completely lost, and your butt, hips, and back merge into one long, rectangular butt shape.
Heidi Klum, Alicia Keys, and Lucy Hale demonstrate the pitfalls of oversized jumpsuits: a cautionary tale in fit and style (Credit: WENN)
2. Elevate Your Evening: The Elegance of Tailored Jumpsuits for Formal Events
Tailored is the only way to go when it comes to wearing a jumpsuit to an evening gala or a cocktail event.
Famously curvy celebrities Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian, and Ariel Winter were all able to fabulously pull off tailored jumpsuits with wide legs that flattered their figures.
Tie your whole polished look together with elegant accessories like chandelier earrings, a box clutch, and bold, red lips.
Scarlett Johansson, Kim Kardashian, and Ariel Winter showcase the elegance of tailored jumpsuits, perfect for dressy events (Credit: WENN)
However, tailoring isn’t 100% foolproof. Tyra Banks, Taylor Swift, and Dascha Polanco all surely must’ve had their jumpsuits custom-fitted for their red carpet events, but they still ended up on worst-dressed lists.
Tyra’s black-and-white patterned jumpsuit is too bizarre, Taylor’s sparkly black catsuit is way too tight, and Dascha’s puckered tuxedo jumpsuit looks like it still needs more tailoring.
Tyra Banks, Taylor Swift, and Dascha Polanco illustrate challenges in jumpsuit selection: pattern, fit, and tailoring at red carpet events (Credit: WENN)
3. Defining Elegance: Cinching the Waist to Accentuate Jumpsuit Silhouettes
Break a jumpsuit’s monochromatic, straight-up-and-down line and define your waist with a belt. You can cinch it at your natural waistline like Kate Hudson and Elizabeth Banks did or a little lower on the hips to create a lengthier illusion.
In addition to belts, long-sleeved shirts and jackets tied around the waist work just as well in creating an hourglass shape in a jumpsuit. We love how Heidi Klum tied a denim jacket low on her waist to match her tropical-flower-print jumpsuit’s laidback vibe.
Kate Hudson, Heidi Klum, and Elizabeth Banks expertly accentuate their waists with belts and jackets, enhancing jumpsuit silhouettes (Credit: WENN)
Not all belts are created equal. British TV actress Gabriella Ellis wore her brown braided beltway too high under her bra line that it ended up giving her a paunch. Elle Fanning chose a grommeted belt that was too wide and too heavy for her polka-dotted jumpsuit and petite frame.
Meanwhile, Indian actress Priyanka Chopra showed the effect of not wearing a belt at all: she lost all her waist definition in a billowy khaki jumpsuit.
British TV actress Gabriella Ellis wearing a belt too high around her midsection, Elle Fanning accessorizing her jumpsuit with a too-wide belt, and Indian actress Priyanka Chopra not wearing a belt at all and losing her waist definition (Credit: WENN)
4. Perfect Proportions: Choosing Ankle-Length in Cropped Jumpsuits
While a wide-leg jumpsuit is the most universally flattering, a more closely fitted jumpsuit can give you a more sleek and streamlined look.
The best hem length for this type of jumpsuit is just right at the ankle, like how Julianne Hough wore hers in the pic below. This length still gives you the long, lean look of a jumpsuit while also allowing you to show off your shoes at the same time.
If you want to try a shorter, at-the-knee length, choose a jumpsuit in a gaucho or culottes style like Alesha Dixon’s and Vanessa Hudgens’. The extra width from the flared style balances out the jumpsuit’s short length and will not stunt your height.
Julianne Hough, Alesha Dixon, and Vanessa Hudgens in chic cropped jumpsuits: Ankle-length, culotte, and linen styles showcased (Credit: WENN)
Gemma Arterton, Emma Watson, and Kristen Stewart below show what can happen when you wear a jumpsuit that’s cropped a little too short.
The awkward above-ankle length scrunched their height and made them appear shorter than they are.
Gemma Arterton, Emma Watson, and Kristen Stewart all wearing too-short cropped jumpsuits that stunt their height (Credit: WENN)
5. Full-Length Finesse: Embracing Straight to Wide-Legged Styles in Jumpsuits
Jumpsuits with straight or wide legs are the easiest to pull off. Just ask the Queen of Jumpsuits, Jennifer Lopez, who has never met a flared jumpsuit that she didn’t like.
Jennifer Lopez showing that she’s an expert at wearing flared jumpsuits, be it red carpet formal or everyday casual (Credit: WENN)
The one thing to be most careful about in wearing a wide-leg jumpsuit is the hem length, especially if you’re short in stature. The jumpsuit’s hem should hit just right at the tops of your feet, enough to show the tips of your shoes.
If your jumpsuit forms a puddle around your feet like Jessie J’s, bunches around your ankles like Marion Cotillard’s, or needs to be pulled up in order for you to walk like Kylie Jenner’s, then schedule an appointment with a tailor ASAP.
Jessie J in a sparkly brown jumpsuit that needs to be hemmed, Marion Cotillard in a striped jumpsuit that bunches around the ankles, and Kylie Jenner in a too-long jumpsuit that gets in the way when she walks (Credit: WENN)
6. Tailored to Perfection: Finding Jumpsuits that Flatter Your Torso
Since the pants can be hemmed, the fit of a jumpsuit on your torso is more crucial.
Below are the fits that you want to avoid: Myleene Klass’ gray jumpsuit that’s saggy at the crotch, Kristen Stewart’s red jumpsuit with weird puckering in front, and Gal Gadot’s swimsuit-cum-palazzo pants jumpsuit that gave the “Wonder Woman” star an unfortunate camel toe.
Myleene Klass in a saggy gray jumpsuit, Kristen Stewart in a poorly tailored jumpsuit with weird puckering at the crotch, and Gal Gadot in a swimsuit-cum-palazzo pants jumpsuit that gives her camel toe (Credit: WENN)
7. Layered Look: Mastering the Art of Pairing Jackets with Jumpsuits
Adding a jacket is one of the easiest ways to dress up a jumpsuit.
Michelle Dockery upped her style meter with a black blazer, model Kendall Jenner looked even taller when she paired a cream duster coat with a white jumpsuit, and Katie Holmes epitomized casual chic in a gray sports jacket worn over a cuffed denim jumpsuit.
Michelle Dockery, Kendall Jenner, and Katie Holmes demonstrate how to wear a blazer, a long coat, and a jacket with jumpsuits (Credit: WENN)
Emma Watson, unfortunately, overdid the jacket and completely engulfed her small frame in a bottom-heavy long blazer and wide-leg pants ensemble.
And although Kim Kardashian tried to cover up in a long, tuxedo-lapel coat, she still could not hide the tackiness of her underwear-exposing, sheer-lace jumpsuit.
Emma Watson is engulfed by her long blazer and wide-leg jumpsuit, and pregnant Kim Kardashian looks trashy in a sheer lace jumpsuit topped with a long, tuxedo-lapel duster coat (Credit: WENN)
8. Underneath It All: Stylishly Layering Tops Beneath Jumpsuits
If you can layer over a jumpsuit, you can layer under it! T-shirts, crop tops, and bralettes are casual favorites, while long-sleeved dress shirts like Julia Roberts’ are formal go-tos.
British model Katie Piper wearing a white t-shirt underneath a blue maternity jumpsuit, Julia Roberts wearing a long-sleeved shirt with a pinstriped jumpsuit, and Nicole Scherzinger layering a white crop top with a navy jumpsuit (Credit: WENN)
Be careful with proportions when layering under jumpsuits.
Marisa Tomei created too much bulk when she paired a collared shirt with a drapey satin jumpsuit, Alessandra Ambrosio wore a cap-sleeved shirt that didn’t balance with her jumpsuit’s thick shoulder straps, and British actress Kat Shoob made herself look top-heavy in a white tee with too-loose sleeves.
Marisa Tomei, Alessandra Ambrosio, and British actress Kat Shoob layering tops not proportional to their jumpsuits (Credit: WENN)
9. Stepping Up Style: Selecting the Perfect Shoes to Complement Your Jumpsuit
Jumpsuits have a tendency to draw the eye down because of their long length, so the best counterbalance to that is to wear heels. Wear point-toe pumps to peek out of wide-leg jumpsuits.
Show off ankle-strap heels or cute booties when wearing cropped jumpsuits like Emma Stone and Kim Kardashian.
If you prefer flats like Gigi Hadid, just be mindful of your jumpsuit’s leg hems. Make sure they’re not dragging on the ground or swamping around your feet.
Emma Stone wore pointy-toe ankle-strap pumps with her ankle-length jumpsuit, Gigi Hadid paired strappy flat sandals with her white cowl-neck jumpsuit, and Kim Kardashian wore peep-toe booties with her strapless jumpsuit (Credit: WENN)
Ditch platform pumps like Kourtney Kardashian’s; their clunky style will pull down your look, which is the opposite of their intended effect. If you wear flats like Claudia Schiffer, don’t slash the height you have left by rolling up your jumpsuit’s hem cuffs.
And, lastly, unless it’s the hammer pants look you’re really going for, don’t create unnecessary bulk and tuck your jumpsuit’s pant legs into your boots a la Kim Kardashian.
Kourtney Kardashian paired clunky platform pumps with her printed jumpsuit, Claudia Schiffer rolled up the thick hem of her denim jumpsuit to show her ankle-strap flats, and Kim Kardashian created bulk by tucking her jumpsuit’s pants into her lace-up boots (Credit: WENN)
10. Daring to Be Different: Embracing Quirky and Unique Jumpsuit Designs
Once you’ve mastered solid and tailored jumpsuits, go ahead and experiment with jumpsuits in quirkier styles. Add fun to your wardrobe with a twisted, geometric-printed style like Willow Shields’.
Look ready for the summer in a knot-front, candy-striped jumpsuit paired with flower earrings and a straw handbag like Kate Hudson’s. Try a flowy, feminine design with sexy leg slits like Demi Lovato’s.
Willow Shields in a polka-dot jumpsuit, Kate Hudson in a knotted candy-striped jumpsuit, and Demi Lovato in a flowy, dress-like halter jumpsuit with sexy leg slits (Credit: WENN)
Just stay away from overly revealing, garishly printed, and way-too-tight jumpsuits, and you’re golden.
Hailey Baldwin exposing underwear in a sheer lace jumpsuit, British TV actress Yazmin Oukhellou in a garish printed jumpsuit, and Nicki Minaj in a skintight chain-print jumpsuit (Credit: WENN)