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So, you found out you have a pear body shape.. Now what?
The question is, will you choose to embrace it or leave it? Afterall, each body shape comes with specific clothing items that can show off the silhouette in the most flattering way. Hence, why it is useful to dress according to your body shape. Not only will this concept make your outfits look flattering, but it will also make you feel confident in your own body shape.
What is a Pear Body Shape?
When you think about the proportions of a pear, the first thing you would probably think of is the difference between the upper and lower part. The top part is much narrower than the bottom part. These are exactly the characteristics of a pear body shape. Therefore, if you're shoulders and bust are much smaller than your hips and make your silhouette appear as that of a pear, you are most likely a pear body shape.
The pear-shaped body is one of the most popular body shapes out there. Some examples of real-life pear body shapes can be taken from Celebrities such as Beyonce, Kim Kardashian, Paris Hilton, and Rihanna. Just remember, even if you have a pear-shaped body, that does not mean your body needs to look a certain way. You can be a skinny pear-shaped body, a plus size pear-shaped body, a muscular shaped pear body, and so on.
What are the Different Body Shapes for Women?
There are 5 main types of body shapes, including the pear-shaped body, that we can categorize women into. In case you aren't quite sure whether you have a pear body shape, have a look at the different body shapes and their characteristics. You could also be a mix of two if you notice yourself leaning into more than one category.
- Hourglass-shaped body: Shoulders and bust are in proportion. The waist is defined and small.
- Apple-shaped body: Shoulders and hips are in proportion. The waist or abdomen is larger than the shoulder or hips, creating a round silhouette.
- Inverted triangle-shaped body: Wide shoulders or large bust that are wider than the hip.
- Rectangle-shaped body: Shoulders, waist, and hips are all of the same proportion. The waist is not as defined and the body appears lean.
Pear Body Shape Vs Hourglass Body Shape
The hourglass-shaped body can often be confused with the pear-shaped body. Overall, they do have similar appearances, which makes it difficult to differentiate the two. However, there are certain factors that stand out when comparing the two shapes:
Pear-shaped body:
- Most weight is carried on the lower body
- Hips wider than bust
- Usually wear a larger size for bottoms than the top
- Defined waist
Hourglass-shaped body:
- Weight carried evenly on upper and lower body
- Bust and hip are of similar length
- Wear the same size on both parts of the body
- Defined waist. Significantly smaller than a pear.
How to Style a Pear Body Shape:
To find the best outfits for a pear-shaped body, we need to understand the psychology behind it. The main focus when styling a pear shape is to balance out the different proportions, between the upper and lower body. Since the pear shape carries more weight on the thighs and hips, we want to balance this out by accentuating the upper part of the body, in order to create a harmonious silhouette. Here is a quick guide on how to find the perfect clothing items:
- Updress your outfit with fancy tops. Bright colors and eye-catching patterns are perfect, as these will highlight your upper body part.
- Highlight your defined waist: It's best to avoid boxy or oversized tops and opt for well-fitted clothes to show off your gorgeous waistline.
- Tops with exaggerated pads or shoulder sleeves are great, as these will elongate your shoulder line.
- Wear dark-colored bottoms with few details, to draw attention to the upper body part.
Ideal Tops for a Peared-Shaped Body:
The top is the most treasured piece of the outfit and should gain most of the attention. That's why wearing a suitable top that ticks all the boxes for a pear-shaped body shape is a huge bonus. Let's go over the characteristics of what makes the perfect pear-shaped top:
Sleeves:
Sleeves are most suitable for a pear-shaped body when they contain structure and volume on the shoulders. This adds much more emphasis on the upper body part and creates more balance. Some ideas for short sleeves are puff sleeves, flutter sleeves, cap sleeves, or bishop sleeves.
Of course, we need to also take notice of the length of the sleeve. Longer sleeves have a different effect than shorter sleeves, as they reach the hip. In that case, it's best to highlight and add volume on the shoulders, however, the sleeves should taper. Long sleeves with a wide length at the end will only add more weight to the lower body, leading to more imbalance. Try out sleeves with shoulder pads to maintain the volume on your shoulders.
Necklines:
The neckline is an important aspect of a top, especially for a pear-shaped body. Our main focus is to elongate the shoulders, so they are in proportion with the hips. For instance, going for wide collars is a much more suitable option than narrow collars. Furthermore, tops with fancy accessories on the collar, such as a stylish scarf or a fancy ribbon are a wonderful addition to your top and will maintain attention to your upper body part.
Length:
The length of the top should not surpass the hipline, as this will only widen the lower body part. Tops are best kept at the waist or just by the hip. If your top goes beyond your hipline, feel free to tuck it into your bottoms so you are able to highlight your waist.
*Take notice of the color and pattern you wear for your top. Pear-shaped body types want to highlight the upper part, so vivid colors or tops with patterns or other dazzling accessories are always a great option. Avoid dark colors or simple-looking tops, as these will not have the same effect on your figure.
Tops for the Pear Shaped Body
Crop tops, fitted shirts, chunky knitwear, neck blouses, ruffle shirts, tops with bust pockets or off-the-shoulder tops are a lovely options for a pear-shaped body. Overall, tops that are more extravagant are actually a good choice.
Bottoms for the Pear Shaped Body
A few general rules to follow when choosing bottoms for a pear-shaped body:
- Go for dark colors. Avoid bright colors, as this will draw attention to your lower body.
- Wear loosely fitted bottoms. Tight-fitted clothes will only maximize the hips.
- High or mid-waisted bottoms are a better option than low-waisted bottoms, as these will bring more attention to the hips
Pants for the Pear Shaped Body
Generally, pants with wide or straight-leg cuts are ideal. Contrarily, tapered fits or pants with the volume on the hips, e.g, sailor front pants, are not the best option. Overall, tight-fitted pants will maximize the lower body, bringing the figure out of balance. Here are a few pant ideas for pear-shaped bodies:
- Wide leg cut
- Flare pants
- Cigarette pants
- Boot cut
Jeans for the Pear Shaped Body
Mid- or high-rise jeans are the perfect jeans to work with. Moreover, a relaxed fitted pair with either a straight-cut, wide-cut, or flare is most optimal for the pear body shape. Similarly to pants, it's best to stay away from skinny jeans or jeans with large pockets on the sides, as this will only draw attention. In fact, jeans with bright denim colors or embellishments are also to be avoided, as they will be the first to catch people's eyes.
Skirts for the Pear Shaped Body
If you want to conceal your lower body part, then a skirt is a simple and elegant choice. Once you find a suitable skirt, you can create an elongated effect on your legs, reducing the weight of your lower body and giving you a more 'stretched' appearance. In order to create this effect, opt for A-line skirts, or straight skirts that are knee-length or just below the knee. We generally want to go for light, breezy skirts and avoid tight skirts, as these will only bring volume to the hips. Just like pants and jeans, go for mid- or high-waisted skirts. Some ideal skirts could include a skimming skirt, A-line skirt, wrap skirt, flared skirt, paneled skirt, or full skirt.
Shorts for the Pear-Shaped Body
Shorts should be well-fitted, without being too tight. They're a good way of displaying your curves without putting to much attention on the hips. The best shorts for the pear shape have a wide cut and are high-waisted. If you are looking to extend the legs, then go with knee-length shorts or shorts that end right above the knee.
Dresses for the Pear-Shaped Body
Dresses are all about showing off the waist - at least for us pear-shaped women. A dress is a gorgeous way of displaying a defined waist, hence why it's a good idea to opt for belted dresses with full skirts. This way, we can balance the proportion of the upper and lower body, while also displaying the curves. When choosing a skirt, pay attention to the shape of the skirt. The concept of styling a pear-shaped body is to conceal the bottom and emphasize the top - the same goes for dresses. Go for dresses with wider shapes at the bottom, but also with a suitable neckline. Adding a belt to a dress is also a good way to outline the waist, nevertheless, make sure the bottom is also wider. Some beautiful dress shape ideas are A-line, wrap, tulip, empire, off-the-shoulder, belted, X-line or sheath.
Are you struggling to find the perfect dress? We got you. Not only is the design of the dress important, but also the fit and comfort it offers. At Sumissura you can create your own custom dress designs and we will tailor them to your exact measurements. Discover it for yourself.
