The Pear Body Shape: A Guide To Skirts

Ah, the pear body shape. If you read my post on dressing your body shape, then you already know if you are a pear shape or not.

The pear shape happens to be my favorite but that’s probably because that’s my body shape! I have spent MANY years dressing this shape.

It has not always been a fun process. I have gained weight, lost weight, been in great shape, been in not so great shape…all the places.

Before I had my son I wore dresses & skirts every.single.day. They are IMHO the most flattering items a pear shape can wear. After I had my crazy kid son, my style changed a bit because it’s hard to chase a rambunctious two year old in a short dress & heels.

The great thing about style is that you can change it to match whatever season of life you are in. I am missing my skirts & dresses so hoping to start wearing them more soon!

Pear Shape Refresh

In case you aren’t familiar or need a refresher here are the common characteristics of the pear body shape:

• Hips are wider than shoulders

• Waist is defined

• Smaller bust

The primary objective when dressing any body shape is BALANCE.

To achieve balance with a pear body shape you need to slim out the bottom half while bringing more emphasis to the upper half of the body – and don’t forget to keep that waist defined!

But what happens when you want to wear a skirt? How do you know which one will make your pear shape look balanced?

Tips For The Pear Body Shape

Tip #1 – High-Waisted Styles Are Your BFF

If you are a pear shaped beauty, then the high-waist styles are made for you my dear. For some crazy reason I avoided high-waisted jeans for SO LONG until one day I put on a pair and it was one of those angels from heaven singing moments.

Seriously.

High-waisted skirts do the same thing! If you have a small defined waist then you need to show it off! My favorite style of skirt to wear is a high-waisted 1/2 circle skirt.

A half circle skirt is not the same as a regular circle skirt. A regular circle skirt is a full circle while the half is only…well you get it. The difference is in the amount of fabric. The half circle skirt is more flattering for those of us with larger hips because it skims over your hips before flaring out at the bottom.

The full circle skirt, on the other hand, has more fabric so it flares almost immediately from the waist. This can sometimes create a slightly less flattering silhouette. It can still look cute though, just be mindful of the difference.

Tip #2 – Fabric Choices Matter For Pear Body Shape

Not all skirts are created equal not only because of their silhouettes but because of the fabric choices.

I find that fabrics with a bit of structure work well for shorter skirts, while flowy fabric works best with maxi skirts. Midi skirts can work with a variety of fabrics.

If a skirt has flimsy softer fabric and is on the shorter side, it can often cling to the hips in a not-so-flattering way.

Skirts that are gathered at the top tend to be quite flattering for pear shapes when the fabric is soft and flowy so it skims past your hips instead of hugging them.

Tip#3 – Get In The Dressing Room

As a general rule, you should ALWAYS try things on. I know, it’s not always fun in those terrible dressing room lights (I’m looking at you Target) but clothes do not hang on a hanger the same way they hang on a body.

So, if you like it, try it on!

Even with an idea for fabric choices, length, & styles, there is no guarantee that a garment will look good on that beautiful pear body shape of yours. Trying it on will allow you to know for sure if it works!

***Sometimes I buy things and wait to try them on until I get home if I think they might work for me. I hate taking things back but I like trying things on in better lighting!***

Here are some styles to look for when shopping but always make sure to try them on because even though you and I might both be pear-shaped, things will not always look the same on both of us.

My favorite skirt styles are:

Mini Length: Structured A-line skirts , 1/2 circle skirts, wrap skirts

Midi Length: 1/2 Circle skirts, wrap skirts

Maxi skirts – Gathered skirts, wrap skirts, elastic waist gathered skirts, circle skirts.

Conclusion: The Pear Body Shape: A Guide To Skirts

Skirts are a very flattering choice for those of us blessed with a pear body shape. Remember that with a pear body shape, your hips are wider than your shoulders.

So choosing skirts that highlight the waist and skim over the hips are going to be the most flattering for you.

Here are my three top tips for wearing skirts with a pear body shape

• Choose high-waisted styles that show off that defined waist.

• Be mindful of the type of fabric – structured fabrics do better with shorter skirts while flowy fabrics work better for longer skirts.

• Always try them on – clothes never look the same on a hanger as they do on the body so even if they check all the boxes be sure to try it on to be sure.

My favorite styles by length:

Mini Length: Structured A-line skirts , 1/2 circle skirts, wrap skirts

Midi Length: 1/2 Circle skirts, wrap skirts

Maxi skirts – Gathered skirts, wrap skirts, elastic waist gathered skirts, circle skirts.

Hopefully, you now have a better idea of the types of skirts that will make you look and feel your best!

What are your favorite skirts to wear? Let me know in the comments!

Until next time beautiful!