How to Dress The Pear Body Shape [Look Your Best, Feel Your Best] | ChatterSource (2024)

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It’s no secret that most women don’t like to think of their bodies in terms of fruit. But someone, somewhere (we’re guessing a man?), decided that some women have bodies shaped like apples and pears.

There are other body types that aren’t fruit-related, such as the inverted triangle, the rectangle and the hourglass. And sometimes you’ll even hear the pear-shaped body referred to as the triangle (which we prefer much better).

Regardless of what you call it, the pear-shaped body is beautiful! But it can be tricky to dress.

From necklines to dresses to jeans, here’s how to dress the pear body shape:

What is the Pear-Shaped Body?

So what exactly is the pear body? You fall into this category if your hips and thighs are wider than your shoulders and bust. In general, the pear is smaller on top and larger on the bottom. Most pears also have a narrower waist, which means they’ve got some awesome curves!

Think Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, and Shakira. They’re smaller on top and carry most of their weight in the hips and thighs. The pear shape resembles the hourglass shape in many ways, with the biggest difference being that the pear has a slightly smaller bust and a more narrow upper body.

If you have this body type, you probably wear a smaller size on top than you do on the bottom.

The Right Garments Can Create Balance

The pear body is curvy and beautiful, but because it’s smaller on top and bigger on the bottom, you can look bottom-heavy in the wrong clothes.

Certain silhouettes, such as A-line dresses and structured jackets, can help to create a more flattering balance between your shoulders, bust, waist and hips. Other silhouettes, such as skinny jeans or drop-waist dresses, tend to make your bottom half appear even bigger.

But it’s not as cut and dry as wearing this type of jean and don’t wear that type of jean. It really all depends on which parts of your body you want to accentuate and which parts you want to draw attention away from.

Whether your style is super sexy, comfy and casual or ultra-conservative, here are the most flattering garments for pears looking to achieve that perfect balance.

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Best Tops for the Pear Body Shape

Pear-shaped women tend to have narrow shoulders, which can make their top half appear considerably smaller than their bottom half. In order to create the right top to bottom balance, look for tops with an open neckline.

Square necklines, V-necklines, off the shoulder necklines and boat necklines are all great options that will draw the eye upward to your collarbone and neck.

Tops with peplums and tops that cinch your waistline are also good choices. These help create a defined waist, calling attention to that small, narrow part you want to show off.

Structured, fitted tops and tops with puffed shoulders can also help to balance the body by creating the illusion of a wider shoulder. Unstructured tops, such as t-shirts, won’t accentuate your shape or add any volume to your upper half, and that will actually make your bottom half look bigger.

​Embellishments, such as ruffles, are also good choices, as those details will draw the eye up and help add volume to the upper part of the body.

Length is also important. It’s best to avoid tops that stretch across at the widest part of the hip. Instead, look for tops that hit right at or above the hip bone.

Here are some tops that are ideal for the pear body:

Ramy Brook Suzette Woven Peplum Blouse

Interesting sleeve details, an open V-neckline and a peplum hem make this Ramy Brook blouse a gorgeous option for any pear. Easy to dress up or dress down, this blouse looks amazing with either straight leg jeans or a midi skirt.

Charlize Eyelet Lace Blouse

We love this Anthropologie blouse for its delicate details, interesting texture and strong shoulders. It’s structured yet soft, feminine and dainty, and accented with tassel ties, which only make us love it more!

Off the Shoulder Puff Sleeve Top

With an off-the-shoulder neckline and puffed sleeves, this blouse (paired with a dark jean or dark pants) will surely draw attention to your top half. An elasticized waistband with a bow adds an extra touch of style.

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Best Bottoms for the Pear Body Shape

Sorry pears, but when it comes to bottoms, skinny jeans and tapered trousers are not ideal. They may be trendy, but they won’t do your body any favors.

Because the pear shape has wider hips, it’s best to balance with straight leg, flared or wide-leg pants as opposed to bottoms that taper at the ankle.

Need a great new pair of jeans? Skip the skinnies and opt for bootcut, straight legs or flare legs. High-rise jeans with a higher waistband are also a great way to accentuate your waist and show off your curvy body type.

It’s also best to stick to dark colors on the bottom. Most pear shapes prefer to accentuate their body from the waist up. Prints, layers and embellishments are great on tops and jackets – just keep your jeans, pants and skirts solid and dark.

When it comes time to wear shorts in the summer, steer clear of flowy silhouettes and light colors. It’s better to balance the body in dark-colored shorts that skim the hips without adding volume.

As for skirts, tight-fitting minis will accentuate your hips and thighs. If you’re looking to minimize the width of your lower half, stick to A-line skirts and flared skirts where the fabric skims the hips without clinging to them. Skirts that hit at the knee or have a midi length are the most flattering choices!

Check out these jeans and skirts:

Joe’s The Veronika Bootcut Jean

The Veronika jean from Joe’s features a flat front with tonal stitching, making it easy to pair with all sorts of tops. The high waistband helps to accentuate your narrow waist, while the bootcut legs create a balanced, elongated silhouette.

Mother The Weekend High Waist Fray Hem Flare Jean

The perfect dark wash. A slimming high waist. Flared legs with frayed hems.

The Weekend Jeans from Mother literally have it all. Plus, the dark wash makes them perfect for wearing day or night, with any type of top.

High-Waisted Trouser Pant

A slim yet wide leg makes these pants ideal for any day in the office. They’re detailed with a hidden closure and a higher waistband for easy pairing with all sorts of blouses and blazers.

Flowy Midi Skirt

This flowy midi skirt from Forever 21 is perfect for a pear-shaped body. It’s lightweight and breezy with a high waist and a below-the-knee length that makes it easy to dress up or dress down.

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Best Dresses for the Pear Body Shape

Think you can’t wear a dress because you’re small on top and bigger on the bottom? Not true! There are plenty of dress silhouettes to flatter your pretty pear shape.

The wrap dress is perfect for the pear body. The tie at the waist will help to accentuate your small waistline, and in soft fabric, the skirt will skim the hip area.

A-line dresses, empire waist dresses, and fit and flare dresses that hit at the knee are also great options. By wearing a knee-length or midi-length dress, you can create the illusion of an elongated body, which will make your hips and thighs look more slender.

Here are some great options if you’re shopping for a new dress:

Diane von Furstenberg Angelina Velvet Burnout Wrap Dress

The DVF wrap dress is a classic that looks great on every body type. But the Angelina dress is especially great for the pear body, as the burnout bodice draws the eye upwards. Slightly puffed sleeves add extra charm, making this THE perfect day-to-night dress.

Ulla Johnson Gemma Smocked Satin A-Line Dress

Love to show off your legs but like to camouflage your hips? This mini dress features long puffed sleeves with smocked cuffs, a deep V-neckline and a flared A-line skirt to flatter your shape. We love this style for a dinner date, party or co*cktails with friends!

Delores Swing Dress

This fit and flare dress is the ideal way to flaunt the curvy pear-shaped body. Vintage-inspired with a surplice V-neck, this dress features a full skirt that swings and moves as you move.

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Best Jackets for the Pear Body Shape

If your body is a pear or triangle shape, avoid jackets that hit right at the hips. Instead, choose shorter, boxier silhouettes that hit at the waist, or opt for a longer length that hits mid-thigh.

Because the pear body is smaller on top, layering is a great way to add volume. And that volume helps to create the perfect head to toe balance. Blazers, wrap coats, princess cut jackets and A-line shapes are all super flattering options.

Here are some great jackets to try:

Sanctuary Kyle Cropped Denim Jacket

When it comes to layers, go short with a classic like this cropped denim jacket. This jacket hits just below the waist and above the hip, making it perfect for layering over jeans and sweaters or casual daytime dresses.

Mackage Azara Leather Wrap Coat

We love this Azara leather wrap coat for its silhouette, texture and super cozy feel. The oversized shawl collar adds volume, while a tie belt helps to accentuate your narrow waist. The mid-thigh length makes it a must-have for the pear-shaped woman looking for a body-balancing piece with a luxurious look and feel.

Start With the Right Foundation

Whether you consider yourself a pear, a triangle, an apple, or any other fruit or geometric shape, what you wear beneath your clothes is the most important element of all.

Ladies, it’s time to get real about our undergarments.

Those unsupportive bralettes and stretched out T-shirt bras need to go! Ditch those flimsy, worn-out bandeau bras and those old push-ups that don’t even push you up anymore. If you’ve lost (or gained) more than ten pounds, there’s a good chance you need new bras.

Buy a few good bras IN YOUR CORRECT SIZE that lift and provide maximum support. If your bra doesn’t fit properly, your tops and jackets will never fit the way they should, and your entire body balance will be off-kilter.

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What Are the Best Garments for the Pear Body Shape?

There’s one basic rule of fashion that’s worth mentioning right now: when you look good, you feel good! And the key to looking good is knowing how to dress your specific body type.

The best way to dress a pear-shaped body is to pay attention to balance.

Dress your narrow top half with waist-defining blouses, bold prints, embellishments, open necklines, puffed shoulders and full sleeves. Add volume by layering with a structured jacket or a thigh-grazing wrap coat.

Dress your bottom half in skirts, jeans and pants that fall away from the body from the widest part of the hip rather than clinging to it. Bootcut jeans, wide and flare leg pants, A-line skirts and wrap dresses are ideal.

No matter your shape or size, finding clothes to flatter your figure is easy – as long as you know what to look for!

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