If you are a pear-shape...

[MadBusLady]

What shapes do you wear?

I am a pear but I look rubbish in shapes pears are supposed to wear eg A-line skirts, tunics, things that "skim over" the hips. All the fabric just seems to draw attention to how big they are. I'm sure I look better in a neat pencil shape with a well-defined waist and I make sure there's a lot of fabric or interest going on on my top half to balance it.

But I've just done another "Dress for your bodyshape" thing (on Pepperberry) and it's insisting I need A-line and flared things, so I'm wondering if maybe I'm just deluded and go round looking like a truck.

I am the same as you so no help sorry!

Every now and then I panic over what I should be wearing but lack of funds keeps me in my old faithful stuff anyway :)

Well, that's a good sign I think.

Unless we're both deluded, of course.

I also find a line doesn't suit me and that pencil cuts are more flattering in a curvy way. I'm wearing a lot of tube dresses at the moment in tee shirt material, with shape wear underneath, and jackets or sweaters to balance out the top.

PS, I avoid separates, tops and trousers it tops and skirts, so as to avoid an write catching line break that emphasises how much smaller I am up top.

Hi, this might not be helpful but I'm a pear shape and prefer to wear fitted clothes rather than things that skim over the hips/bum. But I am quite proud of having wide hips and a big bum ( I'm not skinny/toned either)

leggings and loosely fitted dresses mainly. Ones that show my waist

I'm a skinny pear if that makes any sense! I have wide hips but it's my frame. Imagine somebody that has been run over by a steam roller - that's me

I definitely do not suit A Line skirts. When I wear skirts or dresses, they are usually long (ankle length). My style is quite boho so I layer quite a lot but I'm flat chested and skinny so I think I get away with it but don't care that much even if I don't

Likewise. A-line emphasises the size of the hips; fitted pencil skirt (with waist that fits properly too) looks miles better. Also tend to wear shift dresses as long as they have a clearly defined waist (is that possible? I mean ones that don't look like a sack).

I'm pear, and a-line skirts just make me look short. I wear straight skirts or straight leg trousers, and avoid anything overly clingy or stretchy around my bottom half usually. Pencil skirts make me look huge though.

I do wear some a line skirts and dresses but in a light material so it doesn't stick out too much. It depends how pear shaped you are to be honest. I have a 10 inch difference between waist and hips so pencil skirts look horrendous on me. I wear bootcut jeans that are long so when I wear them with shoes or boots they end an inch from the floor (i have different pairs for flats and heels). I try to wear brighter colours and patterns or more detail on my top half. Jackets either end at the top of my hip or by the knees - anything that ends at the widest part looks awful.

Oh and I emphasise my waist as much as poss with wide belts or ruched waist tops. Nice necklaces and v neck tops look good as they draw the eye up and away from my giant bum ;)

Angry - what shape jeasn do you wear with flats? I have MiH Marrakesh for heels but struggle to find a good shape for flats.

I love a-line skirts and dresses, by the way. Anything pencil just clings to my saddle bags and makes me look huge.

Definitely crucial to emphasise our small waists.

Oh A line looks awful on me. The difference between my waist and hips is ... wait for it ... SEVENTEEN INCHES

The A line skirt has never been made that can cater for that shit. I wear full 50s type skirts.

Those body advice things are generic bollox. Trust your instincts/mirror!

J Lo is a pear and I've never seen a picture of her in anything A line. She looks amazing in fitted stuff.

Does that help

Can I just say power to the pear shaped girls that do not hide behind the A fame!!!

Yes but J-Lo is THIN!

Maybe I'm ok then! I wonder why women's magazines are so determined to make us look like dirndl-skirted peasants.

madbuslady!

And clearly I meant fRame and not fame, I suppose Jlo is an a lister but mine was merely a typo.

And I could air punch all I want and not fall over. My hips are as stout as a house, hence the last thing I need is a shape that emphasises that!

I wonder whether the fact that A-line has not been terribly fashionable for a few seasons is influencing your judgement? I'm a slight pear (just enough not to feel comfortable in skinnies) but this type of dress is possibly the most flattering thing I can wear. (A line is making a comeback, you'll see a lot more soon!) I do wear pencil shapes too but an mod-style A line made me look sleek when I was 9 months pregnant

Well, I've been obsessively buying clothes for getting on for 20 years, A-lines have come in and out, and somehow I've just never owned many. Sometimes pencils are hard to find, sometimes they're everywhere (2003/4 were good years ). I love all the wiggle stuff that's around at the moment, though it's not for everyday wear. That dress is lovely though!

A-line are a extreme pears friend. If you have a huge bottom I doubt a pencil will fit you well in both the waist and the hips. (i have one pencil style that fits but it has a belt at the waist).

Bodycon has it place -- but not in the office.

Tunic are not an extreme pears friend as they tend to finish around your widest part -- hips.

A dress tends to be more flattering.

I am a pear when I was thin I thought skinnies looked good on me -- I looked at the pictures and I was mistaken

I agree with those who say it depends just how pear shaped you are - without measuring I think I am similar to HauntedArmchairOfDoom in that I normally have a 15"+ difference. Full 50s skirts and skater dresses here. I haven't a hope of getting a pencil skirt to fit me, and I never wear trousers for the same reason.

However I'm not technically pear shaped - I also have a similar waist-bust gap.

Mirpupet, I've given up on trousers altogether. Anyone know a good trouser for pears? I've got two inches between bust and waist but 13 inches between waist and hips. I need my hips to give me definition, to break an otherwise boring line, but I cannot find comfortable flattering trousers.

JLo is slim but I think fitted stuff makes her look very arsy... I guess it depends on whether one likes to look arsy or not I don't

Mildly A line (nothing too extreme) looks good on me with my big hips; pencil skirts and body con dresses look awful, they make my hips look enormous and take attention away from the good points.

A lot of my longer tops are very fitted on top and flare out slightly to end mid-thigh. Tops that end mid-hip are rotten on me.