THE ONE WITH HOW TO DRESS THE PEAR SHAPE BODY

I talked in a previous blog about how to know your body shape.

Today I'm going to discuss the pear shape in specific. How to dress it, how to emphasis the good and hide the flaws, what colour and patterns to wear and so on.

The key to dressing a pear body type is to enhance and add volume (or the illusion of volume) to your upper body while emphasizing your waist and de-emphasizing your lower body to create a balanced, hourglass appearance. Learn more about how to dress a pear body type by by mixing and matching the below suggested separates .

Tops for a Pear Body Shape

When dressing a pear body type, look for tops that will will help balance your lower half while accentuating your defined waist:

• Tops with nipped or fitted waists.
• Off the shoulder, boat-neck tops, wide V or U necks.
• Structured shoulders, princess or flutter sleeves.
• Embellishments around the bust and shoulders.
• Bright colours and bold patterns.

1. Billowy tops that add volume to the bust with a snug fitting waist. Add flutter or princess sleeves for a more dramatic effect.
   
2. Shirts with a fitted waist, and embellishments around the bust and shoulders to balance your lower half.
   
3. Find dress shirts with structured or princess shoulders and a darted waist.
   
4. Wear wrap shirts that emphasize your small waist with full or structured shoulders and a wide neckline. Wear a padded bra for an enhanced effect.
   
5. Jackets with full or structured shoulders and a nipped-in waist in hip-length. Draw attention to your bust with pockets or details. Stay away from lower pockets.
   
6. Off the shoulder shirts or shirts with wide necklines and a fitted or nipped-in waist will widen and draw attention to your slim shoulders and emphasize your small waist.

Bottoms for a Pear Body Shape

To dress a pear body type, look for bottoms that will minimize your lower half:

• Lightly gathered skirts that skim your body without adding volume.
• Avoid details such as whiskering and embellished pockets.
• Pants that fall straight from the widest part of your hip.
• A-Line skirts.
• Darker colours, clean lines and simple stitching.

1. A-line skirts that gently skim your body help to de-emphasize your bottom.
   
2. Look for lightly gathered skirts that skim your bottom without adding volume.
   
3. Simple, dark coloured slacks with no (or minimal) pockets with a mid-rise waist. Choose relaxed fits that fall straight down from the widest part of your hip.
   
4. Dark washed, boot-cut or trouser-cut jeans that fall straight down from the widest part of your hip. Avoid whiskering and embellished or small rear pockets.
   

Swimsuits for a Pear Body Shape

To dress a pear body type, look for bottoms that will minimize your lower half and tops that add volume to your bust and create the illusion of an elongated shoulder line:

• Wide-set straps.
• Moderate to full coverage bottoms.
• Dark bottoms or waist bands.
• Scoop or high-cut legs.
• Light coloured tops that are ruffled, embellished, patterned or padded.

1. Light coloured or bold patterned tops with wide-set straps. Choose a padded or push-up top to balance your lower half.
   
2. Ruffled or embellished tops that will draw the eye up while balancing your lower half.
   
3. Choose darker coloured, moderate coverage bottoms with a higher cut leg. Bottoms that are too horizontal in cut or have too much coverage will make your bottom look larger.
   
4. One piece bathing suits with lighter coloured or embellished busts and wide-set straps. Choose a higher-cut leg to reduce the visual width of your hips.
   
5. Choose tankinis with light, patterned or embellished tops with wide-set straps. Pair with darker bottoms. Choose a top with under wire and padding to enhance the effect.

Dresses for Pear Body Types

Choose dresses with a-line skirts, fitted waists and cuts or embellishments that draw attention and add volume (or the illusion of volume) to your bust and shoulders. Wrap dresses with a full/flirty shoulder (flutter sleeves, princess cut) and a-line skirt are particularly flattering.

A wrap dress with wide shoulders and A-line skirt perfect fro pear shape bodies

Accessories for Pear Body Types

Chunky necklaces and earrings, padded bras, body shapers (like Spanx) that trim your bottom and modest, natural-looking shoulder pads.

Celebrities with a Pear Body Shape

Jennifer Lopes

Rihanna

Christina Aguilera