Tips For The Pear-Shape

During the holiday season, some events call for a dressier look. Making the most of my shape and being comfortable for the evening, rather than showing lots of skin, is always my choice. A skimpy cocktail dress has never been my personal favorite, so I certainly won’t be showing bare arms, legs, and lots of cleavage now.

Pretend for a moment that I have a pear-shape that has a smaller measurement at the shoulders and bust than at the hip area. Tips for dressing the pear-shaped figure include wearing straight-fitting dark pants that fall straight or taper slightly from the hip area. Pockets that are too small, have flaps or rhinestones, are placed at odd angles, or gap opens all bring attention to the hips. Fading or any ornamentation, such as embroidery or prints, also draws attention to the hips.

Wearing a large shoulder bag that rests on your hip rather than under the arm or tucked in at the waistline adds visual weight to the hip area. So does wearing large bangle bracelets or watches. You might think that wearing a long top covers the area, but it often accentuates the hips even more. A better choice might be to wear a long open jacket or cardigan that moves freely across the hips and is in the same tone as your pants.

Better accessory choices for you might be bold, colorful earrings that draw the eyes up to your face. Any neckline that extends across your shoulders makes them appear to be wider. It need not be a drop shoulder style, such as the one I am wearing here. Any ornamentation or design feature that extends in a horizontal line across your shoulder area will do the trick. Carrying a bag in your hand instead of over your shoulder or on your arm places the bulk away from your hip area and helps to balance your silhouette visually.

If you have a petite (5’4″ and under) pear-shaped figure, wearing one tone of color from your shoulders to the floor will help you appear taller. Every break of color or design on your body makes it appear shorter and broader. Long sleeves should always end at your wrist bone. Shoulder seams should be on your shoulder socket, not dropped below that line. Skirts should end at the most slender part of your leg above the knee or just below it. Pants should almost touch the floor if they are wide enough not to puddle on the top of your foot. In the case of slim leg pants, always wear shoes the color of your skin or match the color of the pant and the shoe as close as possible. The dressier your look, the more sheer your stockings should be.

The pear-shaped figure and the petite woman benefit from tops that end above the area where your hip is fullest. Showing the entire length of your leg is always flattering.

I want to thank my friends at My Fair Lady for sending me clothes that I would not usually try, which allows me to share more diverse style lessons with you. This Clara Sunwoo top was a gift from ShopMyFairLady.com.

The bag and shoes are a couple of years old. The earrings were from Stein Mart a few years ago.