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Original poster

show me dress styles for a pear shape please?

26 replies

Loveagoodbook · 03/05/2018 19:46

I live to wear dresses in the summer but never quite sure what style a pear shape should wear.
ive bought a couple and my OH says my hips stick out in them!

OP posts:
blitzen · 03/05/2018 20:11

I think a line or fit and flare are most flattering. Like this shape: www.asos.com/prd/9399016

SergeantPfeffer · 03/05/2018 20:17

www.warehouse.co.uk/gb/clothing/dresses/chambray-tie-back-midi-dress/031888.html?dwvar_031888_color=30&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6_Pf7p_q2gIVg7DtCh3vvAPAEAQYASABEgKVV_D_BwE

I struggle with this problem, I’d love to be able to wear shift dresses! Boden normally do a lot of fit and flare and jersey dresses too. I also find wrap dresses flattering if you’re pear shaped.

SergeantPfeffer · 03/05/2018 20:18

I haven’t tried them, but Sosandar also seem to have a lot of a-line as well.

margaritasbythesea · 03/05/2018 20:22

Skater dresses can be good if the waist is low enough. I am quite long waisted but evenwithout that I think some of the waists are ridiculously high.

I have this fit and flare dress which is very flattering.

I dn´t happen to like the look, but if you do Seasalt has a lot of dresses that are flattering for pear shapes. Anything with a proper waist here would suit me (although definitely not a tie waist). I know because I went to a personal shopper and she had me try a bunch on. I want sleeves though.

AndhowcouldIeverrefuse · 03/05/2018 20:25

A line is flattering BUT a lot of dresses these days have the waist 1-2 inches too high. Boden is awful for this - the dresses hide my natural waist making me look larger than I am, stumpy and swamped by the skirt fabric = frumpy. To be honest it must be a fashion thing, it's hard to find dresses without a high waist these days.

So choose carefully... or have things altered to suit your shape.

Rathkelter · 03/05/2018 20:59

I've tried lots of different style dresses and always seem to feel frumpy. Found a nice short dress by Sienna Miller in Debenhams sale and Warehouse have lots of nice different styles at the moment. But generally I feel better in skinnies and a nice top, or culottes. Maybe you should pop in and try some on with a friend in tow? Or do a personal shopper. www.johnlewis.com/brand/warehouse/dresses/_/N-1z13rxeZ1z13zt3

Peanutbuttercups21 · 03/05/2018 22:02

that wallis dress is a great example of a shape that suits a pear

I have lots of "fit and flare" dresses, ideally a jersey fabric as in a stiffer textile it does "stick out at the hips"

Your OH is not nice for making negative comments on your looks, by the way!

Notreallyhappy · 03/05/2018 22:07

The Wallis fit & flare is great...the V draws your eyes down to you vava voom and slightly wider shoulders balances out your unfavorable part
A bright colours up top will also hide you unfavorable part.

Original poster
Loveagoodbook · 07/05/2018 22:34

Thanks everyone. When i have looked in my wardrobe, alot of the dreses i have are a skater style. I just seem to be struggling to find something this summer.
I want something for at night on holiday, so smart but not over the top, if you know what i mean!
I appreciate my OH being honest really, he was right thd dress didnt suit me

OP posts:
ijustwannadance · 07/05/2018 22:42

I try to buy dresses from tall ranges as the waists sit lower. Same with coats.

Apileofballyhoo · 07/05/2018 22:49

A straight skirt can be quite flattering if it's straight and doesn't narrow in iyswim, particularly if the fabric is stiff rather than stretchy. So it skims your hips and then goes straight down.

Apileofballyhoo · 07/05/2018 22:53

www.next.co.uk/g6390s4#151885

margaritasbythesea · 08/05/2018 06:19

I sawthis and thought it would be worth trying on. Difficult to tell about how the material goes at the waist from the picture but fifteen quid for pure cotton is brilliant. They also sell through Dorothy Perkis if you are interested.

I am really struggling to find things this year. I also want sleeves and no polyester and it is a nightmare. Joe Browns have a lot of dresses that are potentially a good shape but I just don't like any of them apart from this one which I ordered but it has way too much material around the waist and the flat front part of a wrap dress always looks a bit weird on me.

I tried this on too (they go down to a size 10) but it wasn´t quite right for me. Possible though.

I buy in tall too sometimes and agree about the a-line skirt in a stiffish material. For me, skirts and trousers have to have absolutely no suggestion of a pleat at the waist or they are awful on me.

Original poster
Loveagoodbook · 08/05/2018 07:35

Thank you. I like the Spot Oasis one, something i wouldnt normally have gone for.

OP posts:
Branleuse · 08/05/2018 09:17

I have several different patterns of Fat Face Serena dresses. They do them every year and they are quite flattering and cool and summery. If you look on ebay you can get previous seasons ones too

www.fatface.com/search?q=serena&lang=en_GB

Tbh though, if youve got hips, youve got hips and you do have to learn to accept your shape. If your husband is commenting that your hips stick out, then hes being pretty rude

Branleuse · 08/05/2018 09:19

I find a lot of mantaray dresses fit me quite well too, although I randomly have to go down a size, so worth trying on in store, cos theyre not all good

MagicFajita · 08/05/2018 09:27

I'm pear shaped and have the oasis spot one , it works well. It comes in another pattern too.

Also check out asos ultimate tea dress range. They are also flattering.

Any style labelled as "tea dress" is great , topshop have done some lovely ones in the past and you can find them on eBay.

VanGoghsDog · 08/05/2018 09:30

I thought it was only me who suddenly finds all my dress waists are round my second rib! I hate it, I'm always trying to pull them down and you end up with the start of the skirt right on the bit of your tummy that sticks out (well, mine does) and looks horrible. Coat belts are the same.

I wear dresses for work and I really struggle with waists now.

Original poster
Loveagoodbook · 08/05/2018 10:40

I dont think my OH was being rude, just honest, that the dress i had picked did nothing for my shape

OP posts:
SergeantPfeffer · 08/05/2018 10:49

I couldn’t wear most of the dresses you posted apile, as my hips are two sizes bigger than my bust, so they would never fit. They’d be ace on hourglass figures though.

I am also a fan of tea dresses although the style doesn’t suit me so much now I’m older Sad Lived in them in my 20s.

Apileofballyhoo · 08/05/2018 13:25

I'm one to two sizes bigger on my bottom than my top too, it just depends on the dress really. I'll squeeze into the bottom if it's a fairly heavy material - not clingy and lump revealing! And the top part will be much roomier then so can't be low cut or anything (not that I have any cleavage to show).

Skirts and tops do work better. Things with narrow hips and a flare or kick at the bottom look quite well on me - I suppose it balances out the hips.

Peanutbuttercups21 · 10/05/2018 17:28

Sergeant, why do tea dresses no longer suit you?

I love how people style them withtrainers/plimsolls or ankle boots

They almost always look good, imo, regardless of age