Slender shoulders a small waist and big ole hips – ah the classic pear shape. The majority of women are pear shaped, and the majority of those who are have found many a reason to curse and cry over that fact, usually following a frustrating attempt to find clothes that fit. But, truly the pear shaped women is feminine and sensual and beautiful. You just need to put a little more thought and planning into your wardrobe because there’s nothing ‘off the rack’ about you. Its a question of celebrating your curves and playing them up to their graceful best. Here are some tips to do just that:
- Proportion is all important – widen your shoulders and draw attention to your upper body to offset your kick ass curves.
- Avoid covering your bottom with longer-line tops and jackets as you’ll just end up drawing attention to the area you’re trying to hide. As with anything the best way to disguise it is to put it on show and draw the attention elsewhere.
- A push up bra is your best friend – it will make your top half look bigger and bring some balance in.
- A sleeveless dress or top will widen your shoulders and make you top half look bigger.
- Match the strapless dress with an A-line shape skirt to skim over your hips and give the illusion its the shape of the dress rather than your hips or thighs widening the lower half.
- Look for stiffer fabrics in your dresses, like crisp cotton or chiffon. They will add structure around your hips.
- Stay away from any horizontal detailing like ruching or stripes on your waist on lower half.
- Horizontal stripes on the top half will widen your top.
- A-line skirts in stiffer fabrics, such as denim or thick cotton will offset the width of your hips, as will a skirt with a bit of volume to it.
- Hem lines should hit just below the knee to show off ankles and calves.
- Opt for asymetrical or handkerchief hems to take the focus away from your hips.
- Avoid clingy fabrics like jersey and bias cut clothing. Just plain avoid anything that is going to cling to your hips and thighs.
- Avoid clingy tops and t-shirts, or cropped tops. They make your top look smaller and that will just focus every ones attention on your hips.
- Choose three quarter sleeves to draw attention to your waist.
- Choose wide-collared shirts or capped sleeves to widen your shoulders as well. Strapless or halter tops are also good options.
- Because your hips are wide this will correspondingly make you look shorter. Avoid cropped or capri pants as they will make you look even shorter.
- Skinny or straight leg pants will emphasize your hips and make them look broader.
- Opt for straight or wide legged pants that just skim the curves of your hips before falling straight down. It will make you look taller and your hips narrower.
- If you wear your waistband on the widest part of your hips you will appear even hippier. Opt for a waistbands a little higher. Get your trousers tailored if necessary to fit.
- Pleats in pants or skirts will add volume to your hips.
- Jeans and trousers should fall to the floor when you are standing in bare feet. Wear them with heels and you instantly gain a few added inches in height, again narrowing your hips.
- Select jackets that have structures shoulders, wide lapels and a definite waist. You need the added oomph on your top half to offset your hips.
- Jackets should end at the top of your hips – the narrowest part.
- Stay away from loose, long line jackets. They make you look bigger.
- Choose pointy heeled shoes to make you seem taller. Avoid ankle straps as it will make you look shorter.
- A bag that sits on your hip will draw attention to your hips.
- Jewellery should be on your top half, such as great chandelier earrings that highlight your slender neck.
- A tightly belted waist will make your hips look bigger.
LISA
