How to Dress A Pear Shaped Figure

Choosing the right styles for your specific body type can make a big difference in your appearance. The following tips will guide you in choosing the most flattering clothes for a pear-shaped figure.

Instructions

1. 

   PANTS. Wide leg pants are great for a pear-shaped figure. They are often hard to find in stores, however. If they are knit wide-leg pants, even better. Women with pear-shaped figures often find it hard to fit into pants because when the waist is loose, the hips are tight. Knit pants have stretch, so they hug curves and conform to your shape better than regular cloth pants.

2. 

   SKIRTS. Steer clear of mini skirts. They draw attention to thighs! Instead, opt for sleek, simple, pleat-free styles that are just below the knee. A-line skirts do a great job of hiding wide thighs.

3. 

   TOPS. Choose light or bright colored tops and darker bottoms. If you wear a dark top with a light or patterned skirt or pants, you will be accentuating your bottom half (which is what you don't want)!

4. 

   TOPS. Try tops with fuller sleeves. They add balance to your top half.

5. 

   TOPS. Find and wear tops that are gathered or cinched right under your bust, in the middle. This style is a little hard to find. (More common are babydoll or empire-waist tops that have a clear, unbroken line between the bust and the bottom of the top; and can be flattering - but can also make you look like you have one big uni-chest, or are pregnant.)

6. 

   BLAZERS. Choose a blazer that has one button right under your chest, or that has buttons starting at your chest. Don't wear a blazer that has a button at your waist only. The lower the buttons, the less balanced you will look. You want attention to be drawn higher, not lower.

7. 

   SHOES. Heels help to elongate your shape. If you aren't used to wearing heels, try some. If you search diligently, you are bound to find some that are comfortable. You may need to buy tall pants rather than regular so that your pants aren't too short if you wear heels.

8. 

   SWIMSUITS. High-cut legs on a swimsuit make legs look longer. A mini-skirt bottom, if simple with little or no detail, is another good choice for balancing wide hips. Diagonal stripes on a suit are also something to look for. Tying a cute sarong around your waist may give you some added comfort and confidence at the beach. Land's End and many other stores have a great selection of suits for specific body types.

Resources

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