Dressing for Your Body Shape – the Pear-shaped Woman

If you have smallish breasts, a flattish tummy, long waist, but thick hips and heavy legs then follow these style tips to learn how to flatter your figure.

Out of all the standard body shapes such as apple, strawberry, pear, hour-glass and boyish, the pear is the most common.

This common body shape does have its positive side – your bust, arms, stomach and waist are your best features. Knowing how to choose the right clothes can work wonders when it comes to accentuating the best bits about your shape.

What is a Pear-shaped Woman?

The pear-shaped woman suffers from carrying her weight around her bottom, hips, thighs and calves, and for many pear-shaped women “saddlebags” (that expanse of fat around the thighs) are the bain of their lives.

However, it pays to note that skinny women can be pear-shaped too. It simply means that when it comes to proportions, the bottom half (i.e. butt, hips and thighs) of your body is wider than your upper half.

Pear Shapes - What NOT to Wear
Pear-shaped women tend to have thick legs and calves so beware of the mini dress. Bearing your legs above the knee is a big fat NO! The same goes for shoes with ankle straps, which only serve to make calves and ankles look larger and will give the illusion of shorter legs.

In simple terms, any garment that overtly draws attention to your lower half, such as skinny jeans, leggings, harem pants, jodhpurs, bias-cut skirts, pencil skirts and heavily patterned trousers and skirts, are best avoided. Even stilettos heels should be given a wide berth, in favor of a chunkier platform heel to balance out your silhouette.

Seven Style Tips for the Pear-shaped Woman

If you are pear-shaped, then these 7 style tips can ensure that you are wearing clothes that flatter your figure, cleverly minimizing your bottom half.

1. When it comes to creating a slimmer figure, it is all about proportion. In order to give the illusion of a more hour-glass silhouette, then you need to make your top half look bigger by widening your shoulders to balance out your hips and thighs. This can be done with big necklaces, gilets, wraps, oversized jackets, puff sleeves, detailing on shirts, and layering.
2. Choosing the most flattering tops can work wonders. Shrugs are a clever way to broaden your shoulders, and a well-cut (slightly oversized?) jacket will look good over a T-shirt or vest. Try to widen your shoulders with a shallow neckline such as a boatneck or slashed-neck. According to British TV stylists Trinny and Susannah, a contrasting band at the hem of a top will shorten your waistline and elongate your legs. A horizontal-striped top with give you some extra feminine curves.
3. Skirts in an A-line cut will balance you out. Steer clear of clingy pencil skirts that will bring more attention to your bottom half. Flattering hemlines are a must, finishing just below the knee. This season’s fashionable midi-lengths that end at the calf (the fattest part of your leg) will make legs look thicker, but an on-trend long-line maxi skirt is your new best friend!
4. A belted, A-line style, knee-length coat will put the focus on your waist and skim over your hips, hiding those saddlebags. Go for narrow lapels, which will broaden your shoulders.
5. Avoid tight fitting pants. Trousers should be wide enough in the leg to skim over heavy thighs. Flat-fronted styles are the most flattering and avoid styles with side pockets, which add bulk to the hips. Avoid straight-leg cuts and go for flared styles to balance out your bottom half.
6. Dresses that accentuate your top half, such as a strapless dress with a full skirt, will serve to widen your shoulders and skim over your saddlebags. Strapless tops and dresses will broaden your shoulders, and you can always add a shrug for good measure. The same applies to maxi dresses, as the length will also cover your thicker calves.
7. Pretty, feminine shirts in delicate fabrics with plenty of detailing will serve to accentuate your top half. Puffed sleeves (long or short) will add volume to your upper half, to balance out your figure.

The pear shape is the most common body shape of all and those women who fall into this category are in good company. Famous pear-shaped celebrities include Hollywood A-listers Sandra Bullock and Katie Holmes, and the sexy Colombian singer, Shakira.
by: Gill Hart

Posted in: Women’s Fashion