Mumsnet Talk

I've been reading a thread about style and I can sympathise with the op's feeling of being lost!

I had my colours and style done this year and found it all utterly baffling! I'm hoping to find some kind of coach on here to stear me through it all?

I know I'm a pear - I'm not sure about all this low rise / high rise business! I don't like things that are too frilly or fussy but I feel I am a boring dresser! I like classic styles but I don't really need to wear them in day to day life so I'm at a bit of a loss really - also being warm is very important to me especially in winter as I feel the cold a lot! Being warm doesn't usually go hand in hadn with being stylish!

Anyone got any words of wisdom for me?

I am pear shaped and I always wear low rise trousers/jeans otherwise my arese looks enormous! Also I have a short body so again low rise works better for me. I wear skinny/straight jeans a lot with sweaters,t-shirts,cardys. I also like jersey dresses with tights and boots. I wear heattech thermal tops to keep warm.

hmmmm typical I'm not a lover of low rise! I hate my muffin top being out and I spend the whole time trying to pull them up - plus I find I get a cold draft around my belly / love handles!

How do I figure out all this short body buiness and what that means in relation to clothes?

fit and flare for dresses.
it means that i don't have to worry about the dress clinging to my hips, or not fitting at the waist.
i get the size that fits my bust, and it just flares nicely over my hips.

I am a tall pear and hate low rise trousers and jeans with a vengeance. They make my backside look huge and are so uncomfortable. Skinnies don't work on me unless I am wearing a very long top. A line skirts are flattering and fit better than pencil skirts which tend to cater for women with no waist. Gap curvy jeans are a good look on me and so are bootcut (I don't care about being fashionable, I would far rather dress for my shape).

I bought this dress a few weeks ago and the fit is perfect for a pear like me. It is too low cut for me so I wear a black camisole under it. I have a similar style of dress in black and white as well.

Shift dresses are a no-no. For them to fit my hips they would be too loose and baggy on the (non existant) bust.

like this

[http://www.asos.com/Ted-Baker/Ted-Baker-Lace-Detail-Fit-and-Flare-Dress/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=1865856&cid=5235&sh=0&pge=162&pgesize=20&sort=-1&clr=00-black&utm_source=google_product_search&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=google_product_search&WT.tsrc=Google%20Product%20Search or this]]
i'd wear it with opaque tights

i mean this

asos seems to have loads

I'm always worried that those flare dresses make my hips / arse look huge! I think I have short legs too which means I have to get the length just right so I don't look dumpy.

I like the asos dress - can't wait for it to be warm enough to wear summer dresses again!

I'm very pear shaped. 6-8 top + 10-12 bottom. Defined waists and no skinny trousers.

Currently liking Oasis 'tulip' skirted dresses.

Is it just me who is finding the current crop of dresses really short? As a pear, my thighs are not really the best but finding a dress to cover them seems so hard! I'm not a frump and am all for showing a bit of leg but am finding it really hard to find nice dresses ATM.

All this Fit & Flare is new to me so I'm having a bit of a google. what do you think to

Navy cap sleeve dress

Neutral sleeveless dress

I like them but again see how short they are! Hopefully they'd be a bit longer on me than on the leggy models. Would it really kill them to add an extra inch onto the hemline???

Unusual but I like it

Sweetheart - I am the op on the other thread, sorry I can't comment on pear shape, I am one of the people with no waist and a flabby stomach!

Sorry to hijack, but was wondering what you found baffling about getting your colours and style done? I was hoping that when I get mine done, it would be a revelation and that I would be slightly less confused! Did you find that the colours made you look much better? TIA

Can I jump in here? I had my colours done many years ago and find it easy to choose clothes that suit me colourwise. I found that the session simply confirmed why my favourite and least favourite colours were what they were. I simply walk past all the clothes that I know won't suit me. So, for me, that means never going clothes shopping in autumn as all those autumnal colours do absolutely nothing for me.

I would love to have someone advise me on style though.

ah, colours!
I remember years ago, when I was at uni, I didn't have an awful lot of clothes, and being a bit of a goth, most of my clothes were black and purple. It was a bit boring, i have to say (purple didn't really suit me)

My friend took me shopping, and we spent all day trying to work out what my best colour was.
It turned out to be red.
I still have an affinity towards red clothes now, .... years later.


definitely worth finding out your best colours

What was your style? Have you looked closely at the diagrams of your best shapes in the workbook? I'm a bit baffled really, as now I've had my style done, I know EXACTLY what works on me.

Another pear here and agree with Abzs totally & add no low-rise. Note - I am more generously proportioned . Pencil skirts are good but you need the right shop so eg Next is rubbish because the hip to waist ratio is tiny. Work wardrobe tends to shift dresses with waist length jacket. Can put a fine jumper underneath. I do like 3/4 sleeves <so shoot me> apparently the shorter length draws the eye to the waist again.

I'm just wondering why you think low rise is less flattering than high rise jeans? If I wear high rise my bum looks about a foot long!

"Next is rubbish because the hip to waist ratio is tiny."

I agree. They only cater for apples, not pears. I find that M & S do as well. My experience ofs hift dresses tend to be for women of equal proportion and are tight on the hips and baggy on the bust on me.

"I'm just wondering why you think low rise is less flattering than high rise jeans? If I wear high rise my bum looks about a foot long!"

Mine doesn't. I find low rise so uncomfortable and am always having to hitch my trousers up. Perhaps it depends on what you wear with them. Or perhaps my torso is longer and high rise doesn't look that high rise on me - I am fairly tall.

Low rise is less flattering because it draws a line on your hips which for a pear is the widest part of your anatomy. See also sweetheart's comment re muffin top unless you are a skinny pear. Go for high rise and add eye catching belt?

Marking my place, you ladies are very much my shape.