Body Shape Guide

The Pear Body Shape,styled beautifully

Fuller hips and thighs with a narrower upper body? You are a pear — the most common shape there is. The goal is simple: add a little presence up top, keep the eye on your waist, and let your lower half be quietly elegant rather than the headline.

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How to Know You Are a Pear

Hips wider than your shoulders and bust, with a defined waist and fuller thighs.

  • Hips are clearly wider than your shoulders and bust
  • Shoulders are narrow, sometimes softly sloped
  • Waist is naturally defined and nips in
  • Bust is small to medium
  • Thighs and bottom carry your curves; arms stay slim

Where you gain weight

You gain weight on your hips, thighs, and bottom first — your upper body stays relatively slim even as your lower half changes.

Woman with a pear body shape in a fitted top and A-line skirt

Your Styling Goal: Balance Upward

A pear silhouette is already beautifully feminine — you just want to bring your shoulders and hips into visual balance. Every trick below does one of three things: add a little structure or brightness up top, spotlight your waist, or keep the lower half clean and uncluttered so it reads long instead of wide.

1

Add interest up top

Structured shoulders, wider necklines, bold colors, and patterns above the waist pull the eye upward and broaden a narrow upper body.

2

Define the waist

Your waist is your best feature. Belts, tucked tops, and fitted-then-flared shapes show it off and keep your figure from reading straight up and down.

3

Keep the bottom clean

Darker, simpler bottoms with no hip detailing skim your lower half. A straight, bootcut, or gentle flare balances fuller thighs better than anything tapered.

Pear body shape wearing a boat-neck top with structured shoulders

Tops, Necklines & Jackets for a Pear

Necklines

Wear: Boat necks, off-the-shoulder, wide scoops, and square necks — anything that widens the shoulder line and draws attention up.

Skip: Narrow V-necks and halters that pull inward and make already-narrow shoulders look even narrower.

Sleeves & shoulders

Wear: Puff sleeves, structured shoulders, cap sleeves, and interesting shoulder detail to build breadth up top.

Skip: Tight raglan or dropped shoulders that collapse the shoulder line and slope it downward.

Tops & knitwear

Wear: Bright and patterned tops, fitted styles ending right at the hipbone, and horizontal stripes worn above the waist.

Skip: Tops that end at the widest part of your hips, or long boxy sweaters that hide your waist.

Jackets & coats

Wear: Cropped jackets that hit at the waist, structured blazers with shoulder definition, and trenches belted at the middle.

Skip: Hip-length jackets that stop at your widest point, and shapeless coats with no waist.

Trousers, Jeans, Skirts & Dresses for a Pear

Trousers & jeans

Wear: Bootcut, straight-leg, and gentle flares in dark, solid washes — they balance the hip and lengthen the leg. Choose a smooth, high rise.

Skip: Skinny and tapered legs (they emphasize the hip-to-ankle contrast), distressing, and pocket or hip detail.

Skirts

Wear: A-line and full skirts that skim the hips and float away from the thigh, ideally in darker tones.

Skip: Tight pencil skirts that cling to the widest point, and skirts with ruffles or pockets at the hip.

Dresses

Wear: Fit-and-flare, wrap, and A-line dresses that nip at the waist and release over the hips. Detail and color belong on the bodice.

Skip: Bodycon and drop-waist dresses that either cling to the hip or erase your waist entirely.

Wear this

Boat & off-shoulder necklinesStructured or puff shouldersBright, patterned topsWaist beltsBootcut & flared jeansA-line skirts & dresses

Skip this

Skinny tapered jeansHip pockets & detailTops ending at the hipNarrow V-necksBodycon dressesBright or patterned bottoms

Your shape is only half the styling picture

Knowing you are a pear tells you which silhouettes flatter you. Your color season tells you which colors do. Put them together and you have a complete styling profile — see your best colors previewed on your own face in seconds.

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Pear Body Shape: Common Questions

What is a pear body shape?
A pear (or triangle) shape has hips that are noticeably wider than the shoulders and bust, with a defined waist and fuller thighs. It is the most common female body shape. Weight tends to settle on the hips, thighs, and bottom first.
What should a pear body shape avoid wearing?
Avoid skinny or tapered trousers, bright or patterned bottoms, hip pockets and hip detail, tops that end at the widest part of your hips, and tight pencil skirts. These all draw the eye to your widest point instead of balancing it.
What kind of jeans are best for a pear shape?
Bootcut, straight-leg, and gentle flares in dark, solid washes are ideal — they balance fuller thighs and lengthen the leg. Choose a high, smooth rise and skip distressing, whiskering, or busy back pockets.
What dresses flatter a pear body shape?
Fit-and-flare, wrap, and A-line dresses are the most flattering. They cinch at your natural waist — your best feature — and skim gently over the hips and thighs. Keep any bold color or detailing on the top half.
Is a pear shape the same as an hourglass?
No. Both have a defined waist, but an hourglass has a balanced bust and hips, while a pear has hips clearly wider than the bust. If your shoulders and bust roughly match your hips, you are closer to an hourglass than a pear.

Not a Pear? Explore the other shapes

Most people are a blend of two. Read the guide that fits you best.

HourglassRectangleInverted TriangleApple

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