Dresses for the pear-shaped?

[Spindelina]

I've recently lost quite a lot of weight. I'm pear-shaped (small bust, small waist, big hips, huge thighs and upper arms to match). Don't feel comfortable with anything shorter than knee-length. I live in A line skirts.

I've usually avoided buying dresses because I've always been different sizes on top and bottom (10&14 or 12&16 mostly). But I'm feeling good about my current weight and fitness and I want to wear a flattering dress .

Cash flow not great, so this is a slightly hypothetical purchase. But I'd quite like to go window shopping and prove to myself that 'my' dress exists.

So, what should I look for?

I am also pear shaped. My best shapes are shift and fit&flare. Oasis do good fit & flare, sometimes called skater too. Jigsaw do good shift shapes but very overpriced I think.

I'd agree with fit&flare/skater dresses - the skirt shape means you can buy to fit your top half and your larger hips/thighs are hidden. You can't really tell what's hip and what's dress.

Where do you think I'm likely to get skater dresses that go to my knees? I've got a bit of overhang at the knee (thighs go straight up and down, rather than being carrot-like), and most I've seen have been very much above the knee (as you would actually want if you were twirling on ice skates!).

Longer versions are often described as fit and flare rather than skater although I've seen a few recently described as skater but which were knee or longer (e.g. on ASOS)

A lot of websites don't really describe their dresses well or just give them names so it's a case of looking at the photos - you want something where the skirt has some visible fullness rather than just lying flat and straight.

e.g. hobbs just use names
dorothy perkins, model is 5'8
hobbs again, would balance out smaller top half
oasis, I've tried this and it's very hip friendly and knee length on me at 5'6
oasis again

Not suggesting any of these specifically as don't know what style/colour/budget you're after but those sort of shapes can work.

I am firmly pear shaped and bought this recently

www.johnlewis.com/phase-eight-delphine-textured-dress-black/p1865874

I am not sure that I am going to keep it but it is really flattering - the way it goes in at the waist I think and the top bit being separate.

Only thinking of returning it because I could make three for the price of it which seems a bit much for a almost t shirt fabric dress.

The hobbs ones statistically linked to a me to a T - have one like Samantha from previous seasons and I love the wool one. I wouldn't mind the cost of that in wool at all, just a bit meh about paying £80 for the phase eight one because of the fabric.

Actually I just tried it on again on the back of this thread because I am making a dress and was getting changed.

I will keep it just because it is so very flattering - sometimes I think I forget that things other than A line/flared can work well.

Thanks for all these ideas. Something to start with!

I especially like the Oasis striped dress - my bust is similar to that model's, so low cut stuff works for me - high neck things (like the Dorothy Perkins one) make my small bust look even smaller. And sleeveless is also good - I'd probably need a size 8 for it not to gape, but size 8 sleeves are teeny tiny!

Also (bit on the pricey side) but have you looked at Joe Brown, I am a bit pear shaped and I have just bought a couple of work dresses from there.

I'm also a pear shape.

Choose dresses with patterned tops and plainer skirts
Cowl next tops
50s style dresses
Bardot neckline dresses
Avoid low cut dresses

Maxi dresses (very anti mn, but suits us pears)
Empire line dresses
Dresses with a-line skirts

Rivercam, why avoid low cut dresses?

www.wantherdress.com/40/pear-shaped-body

Look at this website.

I always found that low cut dresses make my bust look even smaller than it is. Having a higher neckline gives us pears a better shape.

I remember from Trinny and Suzanne (remember them? -showing my age!) that those who are well endowed should show a bit of flesh, and those without (ie. Small boobs) should cover up.

trinnyandsusannah.com/dress-for-your-pear-body-shape/

Trinny and Suzanne's advice for pears.

In your first link, the first sentence includes the words "toned arms". Er, no.

I find it very very hard to get anything with sleeves to fit my bust (28D ish) and arms (big, flabby). I normally end up wearing either something loose and floaty (or baggy!) or sleeveless top and stretchy cardigan/jumper. I find expanses of flesh around my neck balance my arms, whereas high necks just end up being an expanse of flat! I'm also quite broad shouldered (bony bits sticking out sa long way sideways), so I can pull off spaghetti straps (e.g. with a maxi skirt).

But I want to get away from the floaty thing and go a bit more fitted, hence the thread!