IN PHOTOS: 5 tips to style oversized and exaggerated ensembles

Minimalism is passe. So is playing safe with colours, shapes and silhouettes. This is 2025, after all, where fashion is making a determined return to outrageous playfulness and theatrical whimsicality. Exaggerated silhouettes that combine volume, drama and elaborate construction are leading from the front, whether on runways or in high-street catalogues (Story by Anindita Paul)

Updated On: 2025-05-28 02:19 PM IST

Compiled by : Raaina Jain

Oversized and exaggerated silhouettes are sashaying down runways and into everyday wardrobes. Here’s how you can style them

Tamannaah Bhatia in an exaggerated fishtail ensemble (Photo Courtesy: Instagram/@shaleenanathani)

Let the exaggerated piece be the focal point of your look, advises image consultant Greeshma Thampi. The rest of your outfit, including your accessories, should be relatively subtle so that they support and not compete with the statement piece. Pick bags, shoes and belts in clean and structured shapes to create a visual contrast against the bulk of oversized garments

Exaggerated pieces pair well with streamlined separates (Photo Courtesy: Instagram/@evelilycp)

Thampi recommends pairing an oversized piece with a more structured and streamlined garment. An oversized skirt, for instance, wears well with a tailored blouse, while an exaggerated jacket will stand out when paired with a column or sheath dress

Cynthia Erivo’s all black take on the trend  (Photo Courtesy: Instagram/@ashistudio)

If you are wearing two or more oversized pieces together — such as a jacket and wide-leg trousers — stick to neutral or monochrome colour palettes. This makes the outfit look less busy and more put together

Tracee Ellis Ross wears puffy satin pants (Photo Courtesy: Instagram/@traceeellisross)

Depending on the fabric, use a belt or a corset to cinch your waist and define your silhouette. Another way to make the look more defined while still being effortless is to show a hint of skin, says Thampi. You could roll up the sleeves of your jacket, wear pants or skirts that end at your ankles, or choose a wider neckline

Halle Berry (L) and Hayley Atwell (R) don exaggerated silhouettes at Cannes 2025 red carpet (Photos Courtesy: AFP, Instagram/@wellhayley)

Sleek hairstyles and minimal make-up keep attention focused on the statement piece

Read full story: Big, bold and beautiful: Here's how you can style oversized silhouettes in daily life

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