How to dress a pear shape
Your hips are wider than your shoulders, often with a clearly defined waist. Here's how to balance it all with ease.
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If you're a pear shape, also called a triangle, your hips and thighs are wider than your bust and shoulders. Your waist is often clearly defined, and many pear shapes have a narrower upper body.
You might find that jeans fit your hips but gap at the waist, or that tops fit perfectly while skirts feel tight. That's just the clothes being cut for a different shape. Once you know what to look for, getting dressed gets much easier.
Still working out your shape? Our body shape guide will help you measure.
Where to start
- Add interest up top. Details, color and pattern near your face draw the eye up.
- Show your waist. It's often your narrowest point, so let it show.
- Skim, don't cling, below. Bottoms that flow over the hips look and feel relaxed.
- Keep bottoms quiet. Darker or plainer bottoms let your top half do the talking.
Tops
Boat necks, square necks and wide V-necks visually widen your shoulders a little and balance your hips.
Details on top like puff sleeves, ruffles, pockets on the chest, or a pretty collar all work in your favor.
Brighter colors and prints look great on your top half. Pair them with a solid bottom.
Tuck in or half-tuck your tops to show your waist. Tops that end right at the widest point of your hips draw the eye to your hips, so if you'd like the focus up top, try one a little shorter or a little longer.
Bottoms
Wide-leg and bootcut pants are excellent choices. The slight flare at the hem balances your hips and makes your legs look long.
High-waisted, straight-leg jeans are a reliable everyday pick. If waistbands gap, look for "curvy" fits, which leave more room through the hip and thigh.
A-line skirts skim over your hips and flare out gently. They're very comfortable and very flattering.
Choose dark or neutral colors for bottoms when you want the focus up top, but don't feel you can't wear color below. It's a tool, not a rule.
Dresses
Fit-and-flare dresses are perfect: fitted through the bodice, nipped at the waist, and flowing over the hips. Wrap dresses work beautifully too. Look for styles with interest at the neckline or sleeves.
If you love a slip dress or a bodycon style, wear it with a jacket that ends at your waist to bring back the balance.
Layers
Structured jackets with a defined shoulder are some of the best pieces you can own. A tailored blazer adds a little width at the top and makes everything look polished.
Cropped jackets that end at the waist, like a denim jacket, show off your waist.
For coats, try a fit-and-flare or belted style, or a longer coat that falls past the widest part of your hips.
Shoes and accessories
Pointed or almond-toe shoes lengthen your leg line. A shoe in a tone close to your pants or skin keeps the line long.
Statement earrings, necklaces and scarves draw the eye up toward your face. A scarf in a color you love works hard in fall and winter.
A sample pear capsule
- Boat-neck top
- Blouse with a pretty collar or sleeve detail
- Fine-knit sweater to tuck in
- Dark wide-leg jeans
- Tailored bootcut pants
- A-line midi skirt
- Fit-and-flare dress
- Structured blazer
- Cropped denim jacket
- Pointed flats and ankle boots
- A colorful scarf and statement earrings
Three outfits to try
- Weekend: a boat-neck top half-tucked into dark wide-leg jeans, a cropped denim jacket and ankle boots.
- Work: a blouse with a pretty collar, bootcut pants, pointed flats and a structured blazer.
- Evening: a fit-and-flare dress with statement earrings and pointed heels or flats.
Wear what you love
These tips are about feeling good, not about hiding anything. Your hips are part of you, and plenty of pear shapes love to show them off in a fitted skirt. Wear what makes you feel like yourself.
Your capsule, ready-made
Once the Capsoire quiz is live, a pear result will point you to pieces that balance your shape, like wide-leg pants, A-line skirts and structured jackets. You'll be able to pick a price tier and mark off what you already own.