With the current media frenzy over “curvy” women and all their attributes, it’s no wonder why the average pear shaped woman is considered very attractive right now (long past due recognition, in my opinion). However, some women take this positive light on their particular shape as an excuse to flaunt whatever they have, no matter how or where it may fall. Yes, Jennifer Lopez has the kind of pear shape that allows her to dance in music videos wearing mini skirts and midriff baring tops, but that doesn’t mean we all do. If you’re not quite sure how to dress for your pear shape, read on for a few great tips and tricks.
First, when it comes to selecting clothing for a pear shape, the pants can be the downfall of the entire outfit. Despite what many think, curvy women can wear tight jeans. As a matter of fact, pear shaped women need to stay away from extra fabric at the thigh area. However, the area below the knee should always flow away from the body, never tapering or tightening. Keeping things somewhat tight on top and loose on the bottom of the pants visually evens out the leg’s proportions, taking attention off of heavy thighs. Also, a pear shaped woman should stay away from high-waisted trousers, which unfortunately is a huge trend right now. Trendy or not, though, a high waste accentuates the natural curves above the hips, where a pear shaped woman tends to store excess fat, and these pants are made to accentuate a flat hipline. The bottom line is, neither “skinny” jeans nor high waistlines are attractive for pear shapes, no matter how hard we may try. Leave them alone.
Next, as cute and comfortable as those extremely popular ballet flats are, have you ever noticed that no pear shaped celebrities are wearing them? That’s because their stylists are telling them not to. Women with pear shaped figures have to work hard at balancing out their look, and that almost always mean wearing something with a heel. Luckily, pumps and boots are very stylish for winter, and even flip flops have heels for spring and summer now, so you won’t have a hard time finding great footwear for your shape. Unfortunately, anything with a low heel (under two inches) makes the feet go flat, the calves look too stumpy no matter how tall you are, and makes those big hips look, well, big. None of these are flattering features, in case you didn’t know, so take a hint from the pros and leave your flats at home. If you feel you must have a flat shoe during office hours, keep a pair of heels on hand for meetings and important events for a more flattering (not to mention professional) look.
Because belts around the waist can be so stylish, it can be hard to let this trend go. You don’t necessarily have to just because you are pear shaped, but be careful with placement and size. A small “skinny belt,” as they’re called, wrapped around the smallest part of the waist looks fine, but wearing a large belt around your stomach can create lumps on those ever-present hips. This gives the illusion of major love handles, even if you don’t have them. For best results, stick to belts no larger than ½ an inch in width, and wrap them around a cardigan or jacket that has been left unbuttoned over a fitted top.
Finally, try to remember that anything creating the visual illusion of length is a pear shaped woman’s best friend. This means pairing high heels with long pants and tops that are slimming. As a general rule of thumb, stay away from tight shirts that drape over the hips, such as tunics. Again, not a great look for women who store most of their fat in the love handles and rear. However, shirts that touch the middle of the hipline are usually much more flattering than anything cropped or that hits at the natural hipline. For overall success, when dressing for your pear shape, lengthen your body, hide only what you’re still working on, and accentuate the curviness to your fullest advantage.
