I’m a pear-shaped personal stylist with over 18 years of experience dressing hundreds of other pear-shaped women (pear-shaped women make up almost 50% of my client base!), so – if you’re looking for somewhere to learn everything you need to know about dressing your pear-shaped body, you are in the right place!
- Want to know what a pear body type looks like? You’ll have narrow shoulders, a defined waist, and broad hips – those are just 3 main characteristics, but there are many more!
- Want to know if your body shape is a pear? I’ve listed the core characteristics below, and if you check them all, it probably is. I’ve also shared some measurements you could take if you’re not sure whether you have a pear shape or an hourglass shape.
- Want to know which clothes a pear shape should wear? My favorite items are wide-leg jeans, and tops with structured shoulders, but I’m sharing a ton more items below that will look great on you!
- Want to know what clothes you might want to avoid? Straight leg jeans and slip dresses are difficult to get in a good fit, but there are more items you might want to know about, so scroll on down to see!
Whatever it is that you’re struggling with when it comes to dressing your beautiful pear shape, I hope you’ll find the answer here.
I’ve distilled my 18 years of knowledge and experience dressing a wide variety of pear-shaped women, to give you everything you ever need to know about dressing your pear shape, so that you finally start putting outfits together that you enjoy wearing!
what is a pear body shape, and what does it look like?
The pear-shaped body is one of the 4 primary body shapes, ( the other 3 are apple shape, column shape, and hourglass shape).
Some other names for the pear-shaped body type are triangle body shape, and bottom heavy. All these names derive from the fact that this body type is larger on the bottom half than the top half. Often so much so that you wear a smaller clothing size on your upper half than your lower half (I sometimes have to go down 2 sizes on my upper half!).
I like to refer to those 4 body types as being ‘primary body types’ because, although they are the most commonly known body types, your shape probably doesn’t align with just one (very few women slot neatly into one of the main body types).
Your shape is probably a combination of a primary shape and a secondary shape. The primary is the shape you identify with the most, and the secondary is the one that you overlap with.
If you’ve been confused as to what shape you are, this is probably why! This, and the fact that there is so much incorrect information floating around the internet.
So, how do you know if you have a pear shape, and how do you know if you have a secondary shape?
how to tell if you have a pear body shape
Two big signs suggest you have a pear shape:
- The first is if you typically wear a smaller clothing size on your top half than you do on your bottom half
- The second is if your shoulders are considerably narrower than your hips
But that’s not all…if your body shape also aligns with these common characteristics below, the chances are that you have a pear-shaped body.
THESE ARE THE COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF classic pear shapes:
- You often wear a smaller dress size on the top half than you do on the bottom half -and this can make it difficult to get dresses that fit both your top and bottom half – if they fit you on top, they’re often too tight on the bottom…and vice versa.
- If you put weight on it tends to sit on your bottom and thighs before anywhere else
- Your torso is longer than your legs and this can make your bottom half look heavier than it is, which only enhances your pear shape. It also means that tops and sleeves are sometimes a little short, and dresses with a waistline don’t always sit on your waist.
- Your shoulders are narrower than your hips so you probably find that tops are a little broad in the shoulders, despite fitting everywhere else. Or it might mean that tops catch at your hips and ride up.
- You have a small bust which, combined with your narrower shoulders and long torso can enhance your small top half, which highlights your larger bottom half. It also means that some tops are loose across your chest.
- You have a defined waistline which makes buying jeans, pants, and skirts frustrating as they often gape at the back of the waistband…even if they fit your hips and thighs.
Still unsure if you have a pear shape body? Take my free quiz?
does your pear shape body overlap with another body-shape?
Many women struggle to fit into just one body-shape category, and this is because the 4 well-established body types only take into account the basic qualities of each shape.
The most likely scenario is that your body shape is a combination of two body shapes – a primary and a secondary shape; the primary shape being the one that your shape aligns with the most, and the secondary being the shape that your body shape overlaps with a little.
So, it’s quite possible that your primary body-shape might be pear shape (especially if you checked most of the characteristics I listed above), but your true body shape – the one that takes into consideration ALL off your characteristics – might be a pear body shape with a secondary body shape of hourglass or column.
I share this information because so many women are confused when they can’t slot neatly into one body shape box, but I want to point out that ‘labeling’ your shape isn’t the be-all and end-all.
It’s useful (and reassuring) to know what your shape is, not least because it gives you a starting point for researching what works for you and why, but what is MORE important is that you have a really good understanding of your shape and it’s unique characteristics, and proportions.
THIS is the information that will make it easier for you to choose clothes that do what you want them to do – whether that’s to balance your frame, highlight curves, or disguise an area you’re less happy with.
As you become more familiar with your shape, and the clothing styles that fit you best; how you define your body shape will become less important, and you’ll naturally gravitate towards what works for you and your personal style.
Until then, this post offers you a hand to guide you as you learn more about your shape. So, let’s see if your shape has any additional characteristics, and therefore, a secondary body shape:
does your pear shape body overlap with a column shape?
If you identify with most of the triangle shape characteristics, but also recognize some of these, then your primary body shape may be pear, with a secondary shape of column shape.
- You are slim – so the difference in size between your top half and bottom half is minimal
- You have a very small bust
- Your shoulders are narrower than your hips, but again, the difference is small
- And your waist is defined, but not so much so that jeans and pants gape at the back of the waistband.
does your pear body shape overlap with an hourglass body shape?
If you recognized most (but not all) of the pear-shape characteristics above, and also recognize some of the characteristics listed below, there’s a chance that your primary body type is pear shape, and you have a secondary body type of an hourglass shape.
- You have a large bust
- You have a very well defined waist
- And your shoulders are only slightly narrower than your hips
If you would like to dive deeper into understanding your unique body shape, download my FREE workbook below.
how do you know if you’re a pear shape or an hourglass?
The best way to determine whether you have a pear shape or an hourglass shape is to take some measurements:
Measure the circumference of your shoulders and the circumference of your hips:
- If your shoulder and hip measurements are the same (give or take a couple of cm), and you also have a very well-defined waistline, you probably have an hourglass body type, not a pear
- If your hip measurement is noticeably larger than your shoulder measurement and you have a defined waistline, you are more likely to have a pear figure than an hourglass one.
If you’re still not sure, take my FREE body shape quiz
Which celebrities are pear shaped?
I know it can be helpful to see other women who have a similar shape as yours, so here are some of my favorite pear shaped celebrities.
If there’s a pear shaped celebrity who’s style you admire, follow them on Instagram, or search for them on Pinterest. It’s a great way to develop new looks that work for your shape.
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