Women's Body Shapes: How to Dress a Pear Shape Body

Women with pear shape bodies typically have small busts, slim or narrow shoulders, and nicely defined waistlines. The body flows downward from the waist into larger tummies, hips and thighs. Slim arms and shoulders balance the body and add the illusion of vertical height and slimness.

Dressing for Your Body Type

Here are basic tips to remember about women's body shapes when learning how to dress a pear shape body:

Interesting necklines draw the eyes upward and away from heavier parts of the body shape. Deep v-necks, boat or princess necklines, or the asymmetrical necklines created by wrap tops and dresses are all flattering for pear shape bodies.

Choosing Flattering Design Details

Choose garments accented by tailoring details such as ruching or smocking in the bust area; they enhance the bust and help balance the overall body silhouette. Focus details like pockets, darts, or pintucking in the bust or waist area when dressing women's body shapes because pockets or embellishments on the hipline edge of garments make the heavier body parts look bigger. Pear shape bodies should avoid color blocked or waist-banded tops for this reason.

Selecting Jackets

The best jackets for pear type bodies have padded shoulders and shawl collars. The height at the shoulders balances the body and the line of the shawl collar creates a vertical focus point for the eye.

Jacket length should hit mid-hip, no longer or shorter. Bolero jackets and shrugs are good for these women - drawing the attention to the bust and shoulders and emphasizing the trim waists.

Flattering Dress Styles

Clothing styles with fitted, tapered, empire or other interesting waist details flatter pear shape bodies. Wrap-style dresses and blouses are flattering and sexy, so look for styles with snug waists and A-line skirts or gracefully draping skirts when dressing for your body type.

The most flattering dresses for pear shape bodies are strapless or v-necklines combined with princess or cap sleeves, a fitted waist, and an A-line skirt. One-shouldered designs are perfect for these body shapes. Lightly gathered skirts on dresses are fine but choose styles flowing from a lowered or hip-line waist to avoid bulk across the stomach.

Choosing Slacks and Skirts

The best skirts are A-line or gored skirts; skirts should have flat fitted waistbands rather than gathered waists to play up the slim midsection and play down the tummy bulges.

Look for slacks with fitted waistbands and no pockets for the slimmest profile; avoid pleated pants - they draw attention to the tummy/hip area and do not flatter pear women's body shapes.

Key Body Shape Take-Aways

Here are five important tips to remember when dressing a pear shape body:

Use clothing details like darts, ruching, and pintucks to create a vertical slimming line.

A-line styles are best for pear body shapes.

Interesting necklines and padded shoulders slim the pear-shaped silhouette.

Draw attention to slim shoulders and trim waists to balance the body when dressing for your body type.

Two-piece garments should be monochromatic in color and jackets should end at mid-hip.

By following these simple tips, learning how to dress a pear shape body is easy and stress-free. Dressing for your body type helps you look slimmer and feel more confident any situation or circumstance.