What’s a pear-shaped body? Think about a pear and its shape – narrow at the top and wider at the bottom. Now apply that to a woman’s body shape and you get potentially narrow shoulders and small waist and bust with wider hips and thighs. Overall, it’s a curvy and attractive look and one that you should celebrate if you’re a pear shape. Shopping for dresses as a pear shape involves looking for something that will highlight the upper body, while balancing the hips. In this article we’re going to take a look at the best dresses that suit pear shaped body types.
Characteristics of the Pear Shape
For someone with a pear shaped body the shoulders are usually narrower than the hips. Your top half will generally be smaller so a small bust and a well defined waist. Hips (and thighs) may be noticeably fuller, with full and possibly muscular legs. Weigh gain tends to be visible first on the hip and thigh area.
Not everyone can be categorized as just one particular shape – in fact some can have a secondary shape as well. You might have a large bust which means you lean towards an hourglass figure. If weight first appears in the bust and tummy area you might be leaning towards an apple shape. With a slightly wider and less defined waist you may have a rectangle as your secondary shape.
Difficulties Dressing as a Pear Shape
Although the pear shape is quite common, it can still be tricky to find the right dress that works for your body shape. Dresses that fit well on top might be tight in the hip and thigh area. Vice versa, those that fit well around the hips and thighs could be loose around the upper body. The pear shaped torso can sometimes be longer than the legs, which also makes it difficult to get the waistline of a dress to sit in the right place.
How to Style for Your Pear Shaped Body?
Because the pear shape is smaller on top and heavier on the bottom this creates and imbalance. However, you can mitigate this by dressing in a way that draws attention to the upper body and de-emphasizes the wider lower body.
To highlight the upper body you can try some of the following:
- Wear brighter colors or eye catching prints on top to draw the eye to the upper body. Also layering on the top half can draw the eye upwards.
- Wear a good push up bra to list and emphasize your bust
- Structured shoulders can visually widen this area of your upper body to create balance in the silhouette
- Fitted clothes will emphasize your well defined waist.
- Play down your lower half
To de-emphasize wider hips and thighs wear darker colors but avoid skinny or tight bottoms that will only highlight your hips. Any embellishments on the lower body, bright colors, patterns, interesting details such as hip belts etc. will also draw the eye to this area. Keep things simple on the lower half of your body.
The Best Necklines for Pear Shapes
A good neckline can make all the difference when choosing a dresses that suit pear shaped body types
V-Necks
V-necks are great for pear-shaped bodies because they draw the eye upwards. This neckline can make the torso look longer and slimmer, and highlights the face and shoulders. The vertical line it creates can also enhance the overall balance.
Scoop Necks
Scoop necks are wider than V-necks and expose more of the chest and collarbone area. This can make the shoulders appear broader that they are, and adds some width to a narrow upper body. Of course this in turn will help to balance wider hips.
Scoops can be deep or more shallow, depending on how much you want to show off. A deeper scoop though will definitely keep the eyes more focused on the upper body.
Strapless Tops
Strapless tops can be flattering on pear shapes by showing off the shoulders. They highlight the upper body which draws focus away from the hips. Strapless styles work well for formal occasions as long as the top fits well and provides good support and shape. Adding a statement necklace can also add to the effect by attracting attention upwards.
Dresses that Suit Pear Shaped Body
There a lots of different types of dresses that will suit a pear shape beautifully. There are a few style tips to take into consideration though if you want to make the most of your shape. A dress for a pear shape should draw the eye upwards towards the upper body or draw attention to the waist, while de-emphasizing the lower body.
What may seem contradictory though is that dresses that have a wider shape at the bottom actually work well to balance out the body shape. This is because a wider shape will skim over the hips whereas a tight fit will only serve to show off the hips. A line dresses are particularly suitable for the pear shape (we’ll go into more detail on that in the next section).
Avoid dresses with a dropped waist and those in thick fabrics. Also straight cut dresses that take away from the definition of your waist will only make you look bulkier and bigger than you actually are.
A Line dresses
An A- line dress or skirt is probably the most perfect dress for a pear shape. These are fitted at the waist and flare out over to skim the hips. This makes the waist look smaller, and gives the frame a more balanced look. The best thing about A line dresses is that you can find one that fits perfectly on top, and you’ll probably find that because it flares out on the bottom it will still give you enough room for your hips and thighs.
Wrap dresses
These are a classic dress that look good on most shapes, but particularly on an hour glass or pear shape. They’re great for all times of the year and for all kinds of occasions. The adjustable waist of a wrap dress lets you cinch in your waist, showing off the definition and the v-neckline balances your look and draws attention away from the hips.
Swing dress
Swing dresses, also known as trapeze dresses, have a fitted bodice that skims your upper half and then flows out from the chest down. They do hide the waistline unfortunately but they draw attention to the upper body and away from the hips and thighs, which is what works best for a pear shape.
Halter Dress
A halter dress can be super flattering on a pear shape. The trick is to find one that balances things out though. Look for a flowy skirt with an A-line, fit-and-flare, or circle cut to downplay your hips. A v-neckline inside the halter top helps elongate your upper body too. And comfy straps are a must!
Tiered Dress
Tiered dresses are an awesome option for pear shape bodies. A tiered dress features horizontal layers of fabric sewn together, creating a cascade of flowy ruffles down the skirt. The loose, flowing silhouette of tiered dresses can help balance out wider hips by adding volume in the skirt area and drawing the eye upwards. Opt for dresses with more volume in the upper tiers closer to the waist. This creates a more defined waistline and balances out your proportions better than dresses with all the volume concentrated in the lower tiers.
Wide-Leg Jumpsuits
Just in case you’re looking for something a bit dressy, but not quite a dress, we decided to include wide-leg jumpsuits. They’re a great dress alternative but still look awesome on a pear shape. Wide leg jumpsuits with a belt and V-neck are particularly flattering.
Conclusion
You’ve got a pear shape body? Count yourself lucky. You’ve got curves in all the right places! There are so many different dress options that will suit you – what we’ve mentioned above is just a few. If in doubt though, always start with A Line or a wrap dress as these are classics for pear shape. Remember, for a pear shape it’s all about balancing things out. Adding a bit of volume or some visual interest to the upper body while taking away the emphasis on the lower body.