Springtime is right around the corner, which means it's almost time to put away our down coats in favor of lighter outerwear options. Translation: It's about to be jacket weather!

The wonderful thing about a great jacket is that it can provide the curvy girl with a chic way to contour her shape, as well as offer her a means of hiding figure imperfections she hasn't quite had a chance to work out before summer hits.

Even though there are a few more weeks until the temperature rises, we thought we would give you some useful tips to help you shop in the meantime, so you're ready just in time.

1. Make sure the shoulders fit properly. Worse than any other part, ill-fitting shoulders are a dead giveaway to a poor overall fit. If jacket shoulders are too wide, you risk looking sloppy. If they are too narrow, everything else can fit perfectly, but the jacket on the whole will look too small. When you try a jacket on, consider wearing a sweater or layers so that you know it fits what you're likely to be wearing in real life. Michael Michael Kors Leather Field Jacket, $425, saksfifthavenue.com

2. Good material goes a long way. Besides looking great, quality leather, heavy trenches and fine wools will last several seasons and survive any slight weight fluctuations better than cheaply-made alternatives. Here, Laila Ali shows us how a cute leather can be worn.

3. Know that a jacket with a nipped waist will give you the illusion of a cinched middle, even if you don't have one; belted options will do the same. If the jacket doesn't come with a belt, use your own, like Tina Knowles (left, below) did!
Eye Spy coat by La Dan's Closet, $280, monifc.com

4. Don't go too cropped. A jacket that is too short can tend to cut your body into awkward proportions and leave you looking boxy or truncated. The perfect length is often right at the widest part of the hip (avoid jackets that fall more than a couple of inches above that, especially if you're busty).
5. Look for thin sleeves. While it is important that the shoulders are wide enough for a good fit, a narrow (but still well-fitting) sleeve makes arms look leaner. For the curvy girl who wants some coverage, sleeves that slightly cling to the arms also keep jacket styles that drape from looking unflatteringly baggy.


OTHER STYLES TO TRY:
Mossimo Supply Co. Ebony French Terry Jacket, $44.99, target.com Old Navy Canvas Anorak, $44.50, oldnavy.com Levi's drawstring-waist jacket, $60, macys.com


What are your favorite jacket styles? Tell us!