Dressing a pear-shaped body might just be quite tricky, especially if you don’t know which styles really work for your figure. As much as there is a myriad of options to enhance your shape, so are the common pitfalls that can detract from your natural silhouette. This article shall consider what not to wear for a pear-shaped body and how to avoid the common styling mistakes. Follow the tutorial to make the best choice of clothes to enhance your figure and avoid the worst, with visual comparisons supported by corrective tips.
Clothes That Don’t Suit Pear-Shaped Figures
The key to dressing a pear shaped body is to focus on creating balance by drawing attention to your upper half and minimizing your lower half. Unfortunately, many clothing choices can do the exact opposite. Here are a few styles that pear-shaped women should steer clear of:
Low-Rise Jeans and Pants
Low-rise jeans sit on the hips and emphasize the widest part of the body, which is the area pear-shaped women often want to downplay. These pants can make the hips appear wider and the legs shorter, creating an unbalanced silhouette.
- Mistake: Low-rise jeans visually widen the hips and create a stunted leg line.
- Corrective Tip: Opt for high-waisted jeans or trousers that sit at your natural waist to elongate the legs and create a smoother silhouette.
Oversized or Baggy Tops
While comfort is important, wearing oversized or baggy tops can overwhelm a pear-shaped frame, hiding your waist and making your upper body appear heavier than it is. These tops can also make your hips look more pronounced by drawing attention downward.
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- Mistake: Baggy tops add unnecessary volume to the upper body, creating an unflattering, shapeless look.
- Corrective Tip: Choose structured tops that are fitted at the waist or have design elements like puffed shoulders or detailed necklines that draw attention to your upper half.
Clingy or Tight Skirts
Form-fitting skirts that cling to the hips and thighs can accentuate the lower half in a way that may feel unflattering. These skirts emphasize the pear shape rather than balancing it, and can draw attention to any areas you might prefer to downplay.
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- Mistake: Clingy skirts highlight the hips and thighs, throwing off your body’s proportions.
- Corrective Tip: A-line or flared skirts are a better option for pear shapes, as they skim over the hips and create a balanced silhouette.
Bold Prints and Patterns on the Bottom Half
Wearing bold prints, patterns, or bright colors on your lower half can draw attention to the hips and thighs, making them appear larger. For pear-shaped women, the goal is to keep the lower half more subtle and let the upper body shine.
- Mistake: Bold patterns on skirts or pants emphasize the hips and thighs.
- Corrective Tip: Stick to solid, darker colors for the bottom half, and use brighter hues, prints, or patterns for your tops to shift the focus upward.
Mistakes When Dressing Pear-Shaped Body
Certain styling mistakes are common when dressing a pear-shaped body, and avoiding these pitfalls can make all the difference in how your outfits look. Here are the top mistakes to watch out for:
Wearing Skirts or Dresses That Hit at the Widest Point of the Hips
Skirts or dresses that fall at the widest part of your hips can draw attention to that area and make you appear bottom-heavy. Instead of creating balance, this cut accentuates the lower half.
- Mistake: The hemline draws attention to the widest point of your hips, throwing off balance.
- Corrective Tip: Opt for skirts or dresses that hit either above the knee or mid-calf to create a lengthened, balanced look.
Ignoring Waist Definition
Pear-shaped women often make the mistake of wearing dresses or tops without waist definition, resulting in a shapeless, unflattering look. Without defining your waist, your hips will appear more prominent, and your overall silhouette can seem disproportionate.
- Mistake: Loose, undefined silhouettes hide your waist and emphasize your hips.
- Corrective Tip: Choose styles that cinch at the waist or add a belt to emphasize your waistline, helping to create an hourglass figure.
Overly Fitted or Skinny Pants
Wearing skinny or overly tight pants can accentuate your hips and thighs, making your proportions appear bottom-heavy. These pants can also make it difficult to balance your figure, especially if paired with the wrong top.
- Mistake: Skinny pants overemphasize the lower half and create an unbalanced look.
- Corrective Tip: Choose pants with a slight flare or bootcut, which help elongate the legs and create a more balanced, proportional look.
Wearing Short, Cropped Jackets
Cropped jackets or those that end at the hips can visually cut your body in half, making your hips appear wider. This can disrupt the natural balance of your figure, especially if the jacket is boxy or lacks shape.
- Mistake: Cropped jackets exaggerate the hips by stopping at the widest part of the body.
- Corrective Tip: Choose longer jackets or blazers that hit at mid-thigh or lower to create a lengthened silhouette and balance your proportions.
Worst Clothes for Pear Body Shape
Some clothing items should be completely avoided if you have a pear-shaped body, as they can create a disproportionate look or fail to flatter your natural figure. Here are some of the worst offenders:
Boxy or Shapeless Dresses
Dresses without shape or structure, especially those that fall straight from the shoulders to the hem, can make you look shapeless and emphasize the lower half of your body.
- Mistake: Boxy dresses hide your waist and create an unflattering, blocky look.
- Corrective Tip: Opt for fit-and-flare or wrap dresses that highlight your waist while skimming over your hips, creating a more defined shape.
Shiny Fabrics on the Bottom Half
Shiny or reflective fabrics like satin or sequins on the lower half can draw unwanted attention to your hips and thighs, exaggerating the area rather than balancing it with the rest of your body.
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- Mistake: Shiny fabrics highlight the lower half and make your hips appear larger.
- Corrective Tip: Stick to matte fabrics for the bottom half, while you can experiment with textures and shine on the upper body.
Capri Pants
Capri pants that hit at mid-calf can shorten the legs and make the hips appear wider, especially when paired with flat shoes. For pear-shaped women, capris create an unflattering silhouette that makes the body look stumpy.
- Mistake: Capri pants visually shorten the legs and widen the hips.
- Corrective Tip: Choose full-length pants or ankle-length styles, paired with heels or pointed-toe flats, to elongate the legs and create a more balanced look.
Large Pockets on Skirts or Pants
Pockets on the sides of skirts or pants can add bulk to the hips and thighs, making them appear larger. This is especially true for cargo-style pants or skirts with oversized pockets, which add unnecessary volume.
- Mistake: Large pockets add bulk to the hips, throwing off the body’s balance.
- Corrective Tip: Opt for pants and skirts with minimal or no pockets to keep your lower half looking streamlined.
Visual Comparisons of Flattering vs. Unflattering Outfits
In order to better understand how certain styles can either flatter or detract from a pear-shaped figure, visual comparisons are an invaluable tool. Seeing side-by-side examples of unflattering and flattering outfits helps clarify what works and what doesn’t.
Unflattering Example:
- A boxy, oversized top paired with low-rise skinny jeans, creating an unbalanced, bottom-heavy look.
Flattering Example:
- A fitted, structured top with puffed sleeves and a pair of high-waisted wide-leg trousers, creating a balanced and elongated silhouette.
These comparisons can guide you in making smarter clothing choices, ensuring that you always look your best. By following these guidelines and avoiding common mistakes, pear-shaped women can create a wardrobe that flatters their figure and makes dressing easier and more enjoyable. Keep these tips in mind to avoid the worst clothes for pear body shapes and embrace styles that highlight your best features.
Related article: Jeans for pear shape
Final Remarks
Mastering how to dress a pear-shaped body is equally about what to avoid as much as understanding exactly what flatters the figure. By avoiding major mistakes in fashion, like low-rise pants, extra-large tops, and shapeless dresses, you are going to be well ahead in balancing the silhouette and drawing focus to your best assets.
Opt for well-fitted clothes that emphasize the waist, lengthen the legs, and draw the focus upwards toward the top half of your body. Keep these tips in mind, and you’ll be all set to create a wardrobe that flatters your shape while helping you feel great about yourself on casual and professional fronts. Balance is what dressing according to your body type requires, and if done right, even every outfit can be as comfortable as it is flattering.
