Each person has a unique body shape and it’s really up to us on how we can make the best of it.
There are so many different shapes that can be enhanced with clever styling, from super slim and boyish to apple and pear shapes.
In this story, we’ll be focusing on how to best dress for a pear shape body.
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Choose tops in bright colors and prints
The main goal of dressing a pear figure is to draw attention away from the hips and thighs by highlighting your upper body in bold colours and big prints. These catch the eye at the top, making your shoulders and chest look a bit broader than they actually are.
Look for the right neckline
The best necklines for a pear-shaped figure are the ones that broaden the shoulders and emphasise the bust. Wide necklines like boat-necks and scoop-necks visually widen your shoulders. You can also try bust-enhancing necklines like sweetheart necks draw attention to the bust, making it look fuller. Strapless tops and dresses can also make your shoulders and bust look wider, but not everyone will feel comfortable wearing it.
Pay attention to the fit
Deciding between tight and loose can be difficult, as there are pros and cons to each. Look for tops that are tight around the waist and highlight an hourglass figure. Loose tops should be worn a bit long so as to cover the hips and provide substance for the shoulders. In general, the fit of your shirts should aim to highlight your waist and shoulders, something that can be accomplished with the right combination of tight and loose.
Layer your tops
Bulking up with layers adds bulk to your torso, which evens out your body’s proportions. Use layers of tank tops, blouses, and cardigans to create visual interest and give the illusion of added size. If you’re using multiple layers which take away the smallness of your waist, use a thin belt to cinch them in and give yourself that hourglass figure again.
Look for embellished tops
Shirts that have adornment near the neck elongate the shoulder and neckline. Select a load of shirts which have beading, bows, or collars near your neck. These can be large or small, as they both accomplish the same task of drawing the eye upwards and away from your bottom half. You can also choose to wear a scarf to the same effect.
Look for tops with wide sleeves.
Although it’s not always easy to find wide-sleeved shirts, keep an eye out for styles like bell and kimono sleeves. Wide sleeves add volume to your arms, and as a result, your naturally voluminous hips and rear look more balanced and proportioned. If nothing else, try to wear shirts that have rolled or scrunched sleeves; these also add volume to your arms, but without making such a bold fashion statement.
Choose shirts that are the right length
Avoid hemlines that reach down to your thighs since these will only make the widest part of your legs look wider. Also, stay away from crop tops as it draws attention to your midsection. Try tops that skim over your hips; tops that extend just below you hipbone extend your torso and mask the widest part of your hips.
Stick to dark colours
Visually, dark colours give a slimming effect and aren’t distracting; the eye tends to skim over dark colours. Denim is appropriate too, but wear dark washes and stay away from medium and light wash jeans. Choose a variety of pants and skirts in shades of black, grey, navy, brown, and olive green. As a bonus to being slimming, these will match nearly any shirt in your closet easily.
Get the right shape of pant
Similar to your tops, you want to create proportional sizing in your legs and the rest of your body. Choose pants that are straight leg or flared at the bottom to create a bottom half with full volume all the way down. Pants that are very skinny will showcase the size of your hips/rear, while pants and jeans that are equal width or slightly wider in the calf and ankle area will draw attention away from your mid-section. Avoid cigarette-style pants, as these are the least flattering style for a pear-shaped body. SHOP: To purchase the pants below, click here.
Go for flattering skirts
Skirts that hit the knee or ankle are perfect for pear-shaped ladies. These draw the eye to the end point, rather than short skirts which forces the eye to linger on the widest part of your body. Look for skirts that start just above your hips near your waist, and are no shorter than just above the knee. Avoid tight-fitting skirts, and look for those with ruffles or beading along the bottom hem draw attention to your curvy bottom half without adding bulk to your hips. Placing these details at the knee or lower may even help balance out your hips.