(For reference: I’m 32B-26-39, and at 5’6.5″, boast a whopping 30.5″ flats inseam. Think I might be a pear? LOL)

Please forgive me for the delay in getting back to you. I’ve just moved and things are still chaos.

Pear shapes always have difficulty with dresses. In reality your best bet is going to be strapless. Having smaller breasts makes them enormously wearable (I envy you!). Look for something with a more vintage look as it will have the shape that you need. Also, avoid short skirts – it will hit you at your widest part. The best bit is going to be knee length. Amp up your top half to draw attention there.

LISA

With the length of the dress just on or below the knee but above where your calf flares out is optimum, for everyone, regardless of size or shape, because that is the narrowest part of the leg. If you show that part of the calf your legs look curvier. Also it is more modern and youthful than a mid calf look which tends to be frumpy. Above the knee can tricky if you’re wider especially because it’s hard to get proportions right (as people we have this need for a 1/3 : 2/3 ratio which we look for in all sorts of things like outfits, cars, buildings etc). Experiment away though because sometimes it can look really good.

Definitely go with the fishnets – very sexy and classic. Although Opaque can be quite nice as well depending on what you’re mixing them with. No idea what a blackmail lycra is sorry. Go with what you like is the moral of the story.

LISA

(I vote the fishnets)

You’re definitely very pear shaped. I’d say given your long waist and small upper half you’re what Trinny & Susannah would call you a classic pear. You need to make use of your upper half, and you legs to offset the width of your hips. Wide leg pants in a darker neutral colour can be paired with anything that adds volume to your upper half. Your long legs are quite an asset as the taller you look the easier it is to offset your hips.

Other than that have a look at the post Trinny & Susannah: The Pear.

LISA