For All Shapes and Sizes
Loving your body is a lot easier when you know how to style it. A pear shape is a blessing, and there are so many versatile ways to show off those stunning curves. Luckily for you, this is the only guide you’ll need when it comes to working with your body.
1. Wide Necklines
Eyes tend to follow the shape of fabric, which means a narrow and long neckline will stretch out the shape. To work with your body, try a wide neckline instead, one that touches on the shoulders and bust.
2. Off-Shoulder
Working with wide necklines opens up plenty of opportunities for off-shoulder looks. Tops that drape or fall off the shoulder are feminine, stylish, and versatile, making them a solid pairing for any look.
3. Upper Body
By focusing on the upper body, it’s easier to take attention off the thicker bottom portion. Fashion is all about balance, which is why you want to even out wide hips with some stylish tops. Try a cropped denim jacket or a puffy sweater to create a balanced silhouette.
4. Short Tops
Another thing to consider when picking out a top is the length and size of it. The last thing you want to do is wear a top that extends past your waist. Instead, go for cropped tops or those that finish at the waist. You can always tuck them into your pants if in doubt to further accentuate the curves.
5. Flared Coats
If you like those cute little flared coats that pinch right at the waist and open up into a flattering skirt, then you’ll be thrilled to hear they suit pear-shaped bodies perfectly. Not only are they snug, but they’re fairly fashionable too.
6. A Little Lift
Pear-shaped bodies benefit from a good push-up bra, as it helps even out the silhouette. Bringing attention to the chest through jewelry, fun prints, or interesting materials are all ways to draw the eye.
7. Long or Cropped Jackets
When it comes to layering, you want to preserve the shape of your body, which is why a long jacket with a well-placed belt, or a cropped jacket that ends right below the chest, is ideal. These jackets don’t crowd the hip area or take away from the curves.
8. Color Theory
Another interesting way to balance the silhouette is by using color theory. For instance, darker colors help de-emphasize things, so wearing black jeans or dark navy leggings will take attention away from the legs.
9. Embrace the Hips
While most pear-shaped tips stress de-emphasizing the hips, in reality, wide hips and thick thighs are all the rage these days. Rather than hide them, let them be the star of the show in some skinny jeans or short shorts. Whatever makes you comfortable!
Maude Frédérique Lavoie on Unsplash
10. Bootcut Jeans
With so many different kinds of jeans to choose from, fans of retro styles can rest easy knowing bootcut, high-rise, and flare-cut jeans go perfectly with pear-shaped bodies. This is because they accentuate the waist and help soften the hip lines, making it a fashion do.
However, to avoid the fashion don’ts, here are 10 things to definitely avoid when styling a pear-shaped body.
1. Narrow Collars
While a wide collar helps create balance in body shapes, a narrow collar does the opposite. It makes the upper half look narrow and slim, which in turn makes the hips and legs look even bigger in comparison.
2. Baggy Tops
Baggy tops have a way of drowning out curves, which can be pretty detrimental when styling a pear shape. If you wear long, loose tops, they will make wide hips look even bigger and hide the natural separations that give your body its shape.
3. Medium-Length Jackets
Jackets that perfectly fit your top half and end at your waist should be avoided, as they hide your hip lines and make them appear bulkier than they are. These jackets basically turn you into a rectangle. If that’s what you’re going for, then more power to you.
Marie-Michèle Bouchard on Unsplash
4. Tight Sleeves
Another thing to avoid in a pear shape is tight, form-fitting sleeves, as you don’t want a constricting top piece. Instead, try loose sleeves, ruffled sleeves, or even the aforementioned off-shoulder looks. Similarly, you want to avoid sleeves that are puffy or open up at the bottom.
5. Hip Embellishments
When choosing trousers or jeans, be sure to avoid those that make the hip area clunky. For example, pants with buttons along the waist or heavy pockets will unbalance the entire look. Similarly, a tapered-fitting pair of pants doesn’t do anything for your shape.
Isabela Kronemberger on Unsplash
6. Boxy Coats
Similar to jackets, you want to avoid straight-cut boxy coats, as they will also give you that rectangular effect. Most of these coats also come with vertical and pointed necklines, making them even worse.
7. Low Rise
From jeans to shorts, you want to avoid anything low-rise as it creates an imbalance between your top and bottom half. Plus, it doesn’t really do anything for your shape and can be a bit uncomfortable to work with, especially when high-rise items are far more flattering.
8. Short Skirts
While there’s nothing wrong with wearing short skirts, longer skirts will do far more for your shape. A short skirt just muddles your hip area and leaves your bottom half looking a bit bare. Meanwhile, a longer skirt can help accentuate your curves.
9. Straight Dresses
By now you’ve probably realized that the key to styling a pear shape is avoiding items that drown out the hips or straight-cut items that make them disappear. Straight dresses suffer from this very issue, as they give that rectangular shape that hides all your hard-earned curves.
10. Skinny Jeans
At the end of the day, you really should wear whatever you want, but if you want our advice, it’s better to avoid skinny jeans, especially if you have thinner legs. This is because the thin legs will make the thicker hips look a bit out of place. However, you might be able to get away with this if you have thicker legs.
