Dress your shape - Pear

All about you

As a pear shape, you likely have a neat waist and bustline, with slim arms. Viewed from behind your shoulders probably have a soft curve to them, although they may be angular - their key defining feature is that they are narrower than your hips. You likely struggle with flattering your bottom and hips, which are curvier than your top half and (I guarantee) look larger to you than they do to other people; we always blow our least favourite body part out of proportion in our minds.

Your biggest strengths are your neat upper body structure, and the way that flowing skirts and trousers flatter your bottom half - balancing fitted styles on top with more flowing and curve-skimming shapes on your lower half is the key to confident dressing for you. Although you might be conscious of your upper legs and hips, your lower legs are also worth celebrating, so don't forget to show them off!

Single-piece clothes like dresses and jumpsuits can be a challenge for you, unless they include that fitted top with more flowing bottom half. Often these styles are either tailored top and bottom, or loose and flowing on both, neither of which will make you feel your best. But don't worry, we're here to show you all the styles that will make you feel amazing!

Your best styles

  • Clothes that fit and flatter your top half, while keeping the lines around your hips and bottom softer and more flowing. Think of reflecting your body architecture in your clothes - neater and more structured on top, softer and more flowing on the bottom.
  • A well cut fit and flare skirt, or a pencil with room to move, is your friend for work and evenings out.
  • Trousers which flow over your curves, rather than stiff tailoring which 'sits' on top, will be most comfortable for you, and will follow rather than sitting away from your body.
  • Feminine necklines like semi-scoops, bardot, and sweetheart, flatter your neat bust while following your curves.
  • Dipped, shirt and asymmetric hems on tops can flatter your curves.
  • A cardigan, wrap or jacket which either stops above or flows over your hips can slim this area.
  • Tops which sit at hip level are generally the most flattering, although longline tops which extend below your bottom can also flatter your hips.
  • Add accessories, colour, and print to draw attention upwards and visually balance out your proportions.
  • Avoid

    • Tops with lots of excess drape and fabric, which will drown you.
    • Boxy tops - these will hide your neat waist and make you look wide all the way down.
    • Straight cut trousers and skirts with no room for your hips - these will feel uncomfortable, and make you look boxier than you are.
    • Avoid having all the pattern and detail on the bottom half. This doesn't mean you can't wear a patterned skirt (indeed, pattern and movement can give you more confidence in your curves than a block colour), but balance it out with a statement necklace or scarf.
    • Tops that stop on your widest point - usually around your bottom.

    Our favourites for the Pear body shape

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    Coral Retro Peplum Wrap Top | Pea Green Serena 3/4 Sleeve Top | Ganache Tessa Skirt

    Periwinkle Olivia Stripe Top | Turquoise Short Tie Wrap

    Remember, you can use the body shape filter on our shopping pages, to narrow down your selection by body shape, as well as colour, season, and fit. Why not have a browse to find even more styles?

    Shop your shape from the Full Collection - and choose the Pear filter!

    And remember, almost all of our styles are in jersey fabrics, which means that many of them can be styled for almost any body shape. Don't be afraid to experiment with styles that don't come up in your body shape filter; they might be perfect for your unique combination of lifestyle, body shape, face shape, and attitude to life! If you want to learn even more about personal style, we highly recommend booking a personal style analysis with a qualified consultant (you can find colour consultants in our directory - many of them also offer personal style analysis).


    To read about the other body shapes, use the links below: