Help - do people still wear trousers under dresses

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

I'm in a changing room desperately trying to buy work wear.

Needs to be quite smart but I'm drawing a complete blank. The best I can find are a few dresses I like with some skinny trousers underneath.

Do people still wear this? I'm nearly in tears been shopping all day and can't find a thing.

People don't really wear this combo anymore.

What sort of work is it?

Customer facing - need to look smart. Heading back to work after mat leave.

Everything seems made for Apple shapes I'm a pear.

Would opaque tights work with the dresses you are trying?

It's a jungle out there for us pears at the moment! Everything seems to be geared towards loose tops and tight trousers.

Fit and flare dresses work www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?searchTerm=fit+and+flare&storeId=12552&productId=16660857&urlRequestType=Base&categoryId=&langId=-1&productIdentifier=product&catalogId=33053

I'd wear this to work: www.dorothyperkins.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=12552&catalogId=33053&productId=16645572&categoryId=228107&parent_category_rn=226988

Definitely don't wear a dress and trousers together! Will look very dated.

Can you get someone to help you, personal shopper appointment or similar?

What about something like this?

That could work Sanity,

Gilbert I'm glad I'm not the only pear struggling. I swear if someone opened a store just for pear shapes I would be so happy.

Every bastarding top I've looked at is too short by a mile. I think I'm going to give up and try again next week.

Marking my place - also keen for outfit ideas on my return to work!

Or this?

What shops are you looking in? What have you got available where you are?

Argh just tried the longest jacket on in Next (I know) it's so short it looks like a bloody bolero (sp) jacket.

I hate this so much

You could try a tunic and treggings combination. Yes, I know I'm about to get slaughtered for suggesting this! But bear with me.

www.marksandspencer.com/contrast-sleeve-shoulder-zip-tunic-dress/p/p22340207

with

www.marksandspencer.com/biker-treggings/p/p22322995

and

www.marksandspencer.com/suede-elasticated-panel-ankle-shoe-boots-with-insolia/p/p22327759

Obviously, you might find that hideous and I'm way off the mark. But it's smart, inoffensive and covers anything you might want to skim over. Just a couple of suggestions in case you're needing food for thought.

I love a jersey dress for work. I'm more of an apple shape, but I think wrap styles and fit and flare styles work for most people to hide a multitude of sins.

Why don't you buy a lot of dresses online, and try them on at home. If you do it at the start of your credit card billing period, you should have all the refunds for unwanted things back by the time the bill is calculated.

I can't see there'd be much difference wearing opaque tights rather than skinny trousers (and the latter would look odd) unless they're mini-dresses?

I feel your pain OP. I am wearing a tunic over trousers because I have hideous legs and can't wear tights/leggings

There is so little out there for pear-shapes - I also have to wear scoop/v-necks and all the necklines I see are way too high for me. On top of this I have a big tummy so hate anything coming in at the waist.

I like the tunic but I can't wear heels (there really is no hope for me).

I think I'm going to try again next week. Will go down the dresses + tights and some sort of flat shoe.

I've had enough of this skinny jean / short boxy top nightmare in the shops. I have a waist and cellulite, saddlebags and a fat arse I wouldn't mind highlighting that fact.

Yep, I hear you. I live in dresses and skirts and look deeply unfashionable.
But I would look like 2 badly stacked cardboard boxes in skinnies and a boxy top, so what's a gal to do?

Another pear here (with saddlebags too...)

I'm by no means fashionable but I currently live in tunic tops/shorter tea dresses with black leggings or longline jumpers with denim jeggings/skinny jeans. If going out somewhere without the kids i'll wear black or coloured tights with a dress but leggings are more practical for me as a sahm and don't ladder.

How about something like this www.apricotonline.co.uk/mall/productpage.cfm/womensclothing/_5051839143517/461694/Teal-Wing-Print-Wrap-Tea-Dress with black tights and some kind of flats. If you'd rather try it on, my local newlook has this one in store as part of the concessions bit. I've also had some flattering dresses from axparis.

Otherwise it's the non-fashionable but flattering black bootleg trousers and slim fitting top route....

I'm also a pear shape.

Dresses and skirts will be much better for your shape than trousers, and there are plenty of flared dresses on the market at the moment.

Here are some ideas:

THIS with a navy blazer over the top, some nude tights, and navy ballet pumps. The wrap top is good if you are pumping milk during the day.

THIS with black ballet flats and a soft black cardigan

THIS with the same as above, or a pale dove grey cardigan and black flats, or a cream cardigan with cream flats. Or a navy blazer (as per dress 1) and cream flats. Lots of styling options.

THIS with black flats

THIS with cream flats and a string of pearls (even fakes look fine). The ruching around the stomach is actually quite flattering, and the skirt isn't tapered, so more flattering for pears.

THIS with black or cream flats The wider top half will help to balance out your lower half.

You can also get one decent blouse in cream, and then pair it with any number of high waisted, flared skirts. I just checked the skirts page of john lewis, and they're not in short supply.

The good thing about dresses and skirts,etc, is that they are so easy to look smart in. All you need is a non fussy hair do, a tiny slick of make up, and some decent earrings or a necklace, and you are pretty much done.