Last updated on September 12th, 2025 at 04:17 pm
I will now explain what to dress for the pear shaped body and what to avoid for a flattering look.
The goal is for you to apply this style theory to any outfit.
You will see the benefits for yourself.
Let’s get started!
Table of Contents:
- Pear-Shaped Body – Characteristics
- In Between Body Shapes
- Black Women with Pear Shaped Body
- Fashion Strategy
- Styling The Pear Shaped Body – Tops
- Styling The Pear Shaped Body – Bottoms
- Styling The Pear Shaped Body – One-Piece Outfits
- Outfit Ideas
- What’s Next?
- Recap – Do’s and Dont’s
- Other Body Shape Guides
Pear Shaped Body – Characteristics
In Between Body Shapes
You can have 2 body shapes.
In this case, consider guidelines for both body shapes when you get dressed.
- If you have a wide waist, you need to consider apple shape styling guidelines when you dress your upper body.
- If your bust, waist and shoulders have the same width consider style guidelines to dress the rectangle body.
Black Women with Pear Shaped Body
Follow these women for inspiration on how to dress and see how outfits look on this body shape.
You can click each image to go to their respective Instagram profile.
I also made 3 part videos with all the black women with the pear body shape. Watch now.
Pear Body – Fashion Strategy
The hips are the widest part of the pear body.
As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the hips and accentuate the upper body.
It is strategizing with fashion to create a defined silhouette, and it has worked for many women for decades.
You can try it first to see if you like it.
These are only suggestions on how to dress and not inflexible guidelines.
Tops for The Pear Shaped Body
Role of Tops in your Closet: Tops should focus on the defined waistline, widen your narrow shoulders and draw attention away from your wide hips.
Feel: The right top will balance your proportions by highlighting the upper body.
What to Look for in tops? Look for tops that accentuate your shoulders, bust, and waist.
Tops – How To Focus on The Waistline
– Draw the eyes to the smallest area of your abdomen with accessories and styling.
To focus on the waistline you can:
– Wear tops that end at the waist or the hip. Fitted tops or crop tops are a good fit.
– Avoid longer tops that draw attention to the hips and wide tops that don’t emphasize the waist.
– Strapless tops and off-the-shoulder not only focus on the waist but are great for showing off the shoulders.
Tops – How To Highlight The Bust and Neckline
– Accentuate your bust.
A well-fitted bra will lift the chest and draw attention to your chest.
– Accentuate your neckline.
Low necklines reveal your collarbone and elongate the body.
A wide neckline will ensure your shoulders appear wider and proportionate to your hips.
Off-the-shoulders tops or square necklines are an example of how to do this.
– Look for tops with details and embellishments around the bust and shoulders areas to make them look wide, like horizontal stripes or pockets.
– Keep details between the bust and waist.
Everything below should be plain and simple.
Tops – You Should Draw The Eye Upwards
– Accentuate the arms.
Short, detailed sleeves with embellishments – such as lace, cuffs embroidery, and draped fabrics add volume to the shoulders.
– On the other hand, long fitted sleeves are very flattering when fitted because they avoid adding more volume around the hips.
Simultaneously, the shoulders should be highlighted by embellishments like shoulder pads or collars.
– Use tops with horizontal lines, bold prints, and bright colours.
It will draw the eyes to the upper body.
Avoid tucking your top to avoid excess fabric at the hips.
Find the video resume below of the best tops for you with photos.
Coats/Jackets for The Pear Shaped Body
Role of Coats/Jackets in your Closet: Coats/Jackets add structure and volume to the upper body.
Feel: The right coats/jackets have structured shoulder lines and emphasize the defined waist.
What to Look for in coats/jackets? Look for coats/jackets that minimize the lower body by drawing the eye upwards.
Coats/Jackets – How To Emphasize The Waist:
– The length of your coat/jacket makes a crucial difference to how you look.
– Short coats/jackets should hit at or above your waistline.
This avoids adding extra fabric at the hips and accentuates the waist.
Crop jackets are a good example.
– Long jackets should end under the hips or mid-thigh.
When belted, long coats show off the slim waist and elongate the body.
– Coats/jackets that end right at the hip and accentuate it further should be avoided.
Coats/Jackets – You Should Draw The Eye To The Upper Body:
– Structured lines balance your proportions because they add volume to the bust and shoulder areas matching the wide hips.
Fitted coats or coats that flare from the waist down do this very well.
Princess cuts and A-line are good examples.
– Decorations are flattering above the waist, particularly at the bust and neckline.
Lapels and collars are examples.
Below the waist should be clean without embellishments.
– Use bright colours and heavy textures to draw the eye upwards for short jackets.
Dark colours are flattering for long coats.
Bottoms for The Pear Shaped Body
Role of Bottoms in your Closet: Bottoms are used to minimise the lower body.
Feel: The right bottom styles for the pear body don’t add extra volume to the hips.
What to Look for in Bottoms? Look for bottoms that define your waist and draw the eye away from your lower body.
Best Jeans/Trousers
– You want your jeans/trousers to go straight down from the widest part of your hips or flare down at the bottom.
It adds width to your lower half and balances the hips.
– A high or mid-waist helps bring the focus to the waistline while diverting attention from the hips.
– Avoid low-waist, bright colours and patterns.
They draw the eye to the lower body.
Details in the back and sides like pockets, buttons, and embroidery are also a no.
– Skinny jeans/trousers accentuate the hips and thighs too much and make your lower body look disproportionally larger.
Best Skirts
– High and mid-waisted skirts are the best for this body shape because they elongate the body and define the waist.
– Calf (long) and knee-length (short) skirts flatter the legs.
– A skirt that flows away from the body without clinging to the hips works with your curves.
Skirts that flare at the bottom, just like flared jeans, look good and balance the volume added on the hips.
A-line styles are an example.
– You should avoid tiered or ruffled skirt styles that would bulk the hip area.
Simple styles without details are flattering.
Best Shorts
– The best short styles for the pear body are mid or high-waist combined with a wide-leg or a loose fit around the tighs.
– The length should be at least to the knee.
This longer style and a wider hemline will elongate the body.
– Tight shorts around the legs unbalance your figure and make the lower body look very large, so you should avoid them.
– Too many details, like ruches, drawings, and pockets at the front, bring attention to the waistline and enlarge it.
Simple designs with no embellishments work best.
Find the video resume below of the best bottoms for you with photos.
One-Piece Outfits for the Pear Shaped Body
Role of One-Piece Outfits in your Closet: One-piece outfits have the combined roles of tops and bottoms.
Dresses have the combined role of tops and skirts.
Jumpsuits have the combined roles of tops and jeans/trousers.
Playsuits have the combined roles of tops and shorts.
Feel: The right one-piece outfit will skim past the wide hips and elongate the body.
What to Look for in one-piece outfits? Look for one-piece outfits whose fabric is light and does not cling to the body while defining a waistline.
One-piece Outfits Should:
– Highlight your bust, neckline, and arms.
Use details on the shoulder, neckline, and sleeves.
Go strapless or wear short wide sleeves.
Brighter colours on top have the same effect.
– Define the waistline.
To do this, belt your outfit at the waist, or buy built-in waist outfits.
Wrap dresses or empire-cut jumpsuits do this very well.
– Balance the volume on the hips with flowy one-piece outfits that flare at the bottom from the waist or chest.
Avoid skin-tight bottoms that unbalance your proportions and don’t emphasize the waist.
Find the video resume below of the best one-piece outfits for you with photos.
Outfit Ideas
What’s Next?
Now that you know the theory behind dressing better, it’s time to experiment with fashion.
This does not mean you have to go shopping for new clothes.
You should instead, take the clothes you have in your closet and adjust them to your body shape.
Belts, high-waisted jeans/trousers, and well-fitted bras and shirts are great cheap ways to get started that show you instant results.
There is no point in spending money before trying as much as you can and figuring out your new style.
Mixing and matching clothes according to the instructions in this guide is also a great way to start.
You can build your closet as you evolve on this fashion journey.
Remember that a learning curve is required, but practice makes perfect.
Don’t be discouraged and remember that if the clothes don’t look good, the problem lies with the clothes, not with you!
Change clothes or adjust them to your shape and try again.
You can look beautiful and confident with the outfit of your choice regardless of your body shape!
Find the video resume below of the main guidelines for you with photos.
I have seen the results of dressing for my body shape.
Not only my style but also my confidence improved.
I was no longer self-conscious or tried to cover my body.
Instead, I understood how to make the best of my features and use them in my favour to feel and look beautiful.
You too will see the results!
Thank you for reading this guide.
I sincerely hope it was helpful to you.
Leave a review to help my content reach more people.
b
Style Guides
The rectangle body already has a balanced silhouette. But it is flat with no curves. For this reason, you should focus on the waistline and create the illusion of curves there.
The hips are the widest part of the pear body. As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the hips and accentuate the upper body.
The waist is the widest part of the apple body. As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the waistline and create curves to the hips and butt.
The shoulders are the widest part of the inverted triangle body. As we try to balance your proportions,
the tendency is to narrow the shoulders and add volume to the lower body.
The hourglass body already has a balanced silhouette with a defined waist. To best dress this shape, you can leave the upper and lower body untouched and instead belt the waistline.