When you’re looking at your body shape, do you tend towards full hips and a fuller lower body? You may have what’s termed a “pear shaped” body.
Other indicators of a pear shaped body include:
- Smaller shoulders than your hips;
- A small bust in comparison to your lower body;
- Hips which are wide, so your waist seems small;
- When you gain weight, you gain in your tummy, hips and thighs.
At Styled by Sally, we say: focus on balance
As your personal shoppers and stylists here at Styled by Sally, we don’t believe in categorizing you into any one body shape, particularly not the fruit or vegie shapes, including apple, carrot or pear shapes that are commonly used.
We prefer to look at your body’s overall proportions, because it makes more sense for the broad range of body shapes and sizes, and provides the freedom to still look great and feel great in a range of styles. The key is finding balance, while highlighting your assets. As long as you remember to check your proportions in whatever you’re wearing, you can choose the best clothes for a pear shaped body, even when shopping for formal or special events.
You can style a pear shaped body to look wonderful. Celebrities with curvy pear shaped bodies include: Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé.
What styles should a pear shaped body wear?
When choosing the best clothes for a pear shaped body, consider drawing attention to your best asset. This may mean choosing clothes to frame your face and shoulders, or choosing a design which celebrates an ample bust. You can dress to showcase shapely legs too.
Balancing your silhouette means accentuating your upper body, because clothes for a pear shaped body should draw the eye away from the hips and thighs.
You can do this in many ways. Consider wearing accessories, or prints with bright colours above your waist, as well as using a good bra to emphasize your décolletage. Dresses, jackets and blouses shaped to your waist are good too, as are contrasting textures and layers on your top half.
Generally, styling a pear shaped body means avoiding drawing attention to your hips and lower body. For those areas, think in terms of darker colors and clean uncluttered lines for your bottom half; skirts, jeans and trousers.
When choosing tops for pear shaped bodies, draw attention upward
Your goal is to balance your silhouette. Aim to create an illusion of wider shoulders with open, bigger necklines. Off-the-shoulder necklines are great for evening. For day wear, consider open necklines like square or bateau shapes. Alternatively, add volume with a cowl neckline, lots of lace or ruffles.
When you’re drawing attention upward, your sleeves can help. With short sleeves, add volume with ruffles, flutters, bell or batwing sleeves.
Avoid volume in long sleeves because they pull the attention down to your hips. Choose tapering sleeves, while increasing the volume at your shoulders with shoulder pads or wide puffs or ruffles.
Get creative with your tops: draw attention to your waist. Look for cropped tops which end above or at the hipline. You can still wear longer blouses and shirts, but tuck them into whatever you’re wearing on your bottom half.
Trousers and lower-body styles for a pear shaped body: avoid drawing attention to hips
For your lower body, avoid styles which draw attention to your hipline. Consider higher waists in jeans and trousers, as well as darker colours. Flared trousers can work, as can relaxed-fit trousers; avoid skinny-fits and details such as big pockets, large buttons, or embroidery.
With skirts, emphasize your waist, while skimming over your hips. Full and A-line skirts can work, as can draping or swinging bias-cuts. Avoid pockets at the hipline, as well as any design details which draw attention to your hips.
Summer clothes for pear shaped bodies: light, airy and hip-skimming
Choose light and airy styles in summer, showcasing your shoulders with tiny straps, or no straps at all. Dresses and tops which draw attention upward, while skimming your hips can look amazing. For work, think of a lightweight, fitted blazer, with a tank top and A-line skirt.
Consider summer-weight A-line, empire line, or shirtwaist dresses—dresses which draw attention to your waist. Emphasize your small waist with cropped tops, and high-waisted shorts and trousers.
If choosing a long maxi dress, the best style is one that has a waist band or that you can wear with a belt to draw the eye up to the narrowest point.
Winter clothes for pear shaped bodies: cropped knits and trench coats
In winter, aim to draw attention to your upper body and skim your hips with jackets and jumpers. Choose cropped knits and jumpers which end at the hipline. Alternatively, go big, with full, loose sweaters which drop to your thighs.
When choosing a coat for a pear shaped body, draw attention upward with wide lapels or a cowl collar. A loose belt works too; classic trenches will look great on you.
Dressing for special occasions: formal and cocktail dresses for pear shapes
Nervous about an upcoming wedding, formal event, or other special occasion? Fear not. When you’re choosing special-occasion clothes for a pear shaped body, remember to focus on your favourite asset, whether it’s your bust or fabulous legs.
This is your chance to wear silks, satins and laces. Consider outfits shaped to your waist, while skimming your hips and ending at knee-length. For additional support, always consider your underwear. A boy leg short is perfect for supporting the hips and thighs under more fitted garments.
If you’re attending a wedding, or the races, remember to choose a hat. The right hat will add style and glamor, but as always, remember balance. Check your silhouette in a full-length mirror.
Love your pear shaped body: dress with confidence
As you can see, you’ve got endless options to dress with confidence and style. Many celebrities rock their pear shapes, and so can you.
Category: Fashion Advice, Personal Style, Style Tips
