Dearest Pears, P.S.

     I forgot to mention one very important thing: fit of pants. If you are a pear, a belt is a MUST. For you, finding flattering pants that fit both your waist and your hips is nigh impossible. Therefore, the best solution (next to professional altering, I suppose) is to buy pants that fit your hips, and use a belt. Do not buy pants that are tight on the hips but okay on the waist. This is certainly not modest; nor is it comfortable.

The Perfect Pear, Part the Second

     Now onto more do's and don't's for pears to wear...
     When it comes to pear-flattering skirts, you basically follow the same idea as you do for pants: wide at the bottom, and on the flowing side. Therefore, a-line, gypsy, and other full skirts will be great on you. What skirts should you not wear? Bias, pencil, and definitely not mermaid. Shorter skirts will emphasize the hips too much for you, so you should probably wear all your skirts below the knee, and not at it.

     Shorts are, of course, a no-no for you. Even long shorts that come just above the knee will highlight the size of your hips. Ankle boots will probably not flatter you, nor will shoes with pointy toes. (Longer boots, on the other hand, will work nicely.) Purses that have long straps are probably not the best choice, either, as they will draw attention to your hips, thus making them stand out more, and making them look bigger. As far as accessories go, it's a good idea to wear things that draw attention upwards.

     So, there you have it! Pretty Dressing for Pears, in a nutshell. Just remember, don't just wear something because it flatters you. Wear it because you like it, because it brings out your natural beauty, and because it shows the world who you are inside: a unique daughter of God with her own awesome personality.

The Perfect Pear, Part the First

     So you've discovered that you are a pear, and you're wondering what to wear. (Rhyming unintentional.) Generally speaking, you look best in clothes that emphasize your bust, and not your hips. For instance, wide-legged, bootcut, and flare are the best pant cuts for you. This is because they take attention away from your hips. What you really do not want to wear are tapered pants and especially skinny jeans. (I honestly don't think skinny jeans are very flattering on anyone; can't say that I think they're terribly modest, either, as they are pretty much thick, footless tights. This is especially true for girls with larger hips.)

      Here are some examples of pants that would flatter a pear-shaped lady:

     As far as blouses go, look for ones that are colorful, or have lots of detail. Do NOT, I repeat, NOT wear anything baggy. If you wear a shirt or a dress that's too big or baggy up top, you will look shapeless. Because you are small, you can also wear shirts that have ruffles on the bodice. Puffed sleeves, and other full sleeve styles are also a good idea for you.

(No, I don't endorse every single of these necklines. Then again, that's what tank tops are for.)

     Anyway, I think I've talked enough for now. Don't want to leave you with a super-long post, so I'll finish up my discussion on pears next time. :-)

     Ultimately, the best way to determine whether or not you should wear a given item is to try it on. There are always exceptions to the rules.

All About Shapes

     There are a number of factors that go into figuring out what looks good on you. These are skin tone, face shape, hair and eye color, age, height, and body type/shape. Shape is one of the big reasons why a given piece will look great on one girl, while it looks terrible on another. Following the basic rules for your shape will help make it easier for you to look your very best at all times.

     There are a basic body shapes are as follows.

     Pear: The largest part of your body is your hips. The good news is that you don't have to worry very much about exposing cleavage, and that you can wear very bright and decorated blouses.

     Strawberry: You are the exact opposite of the pear, as your chest is the most prominent part of your torso. The good news for you is that you're not concerned about your hips; therefore, you can wear bias-cut skirts.

     Apple: If you are an apple, you have a larger mid-section. However, you can also wear bias-cut skirts, as well as empire waisted dresses (something not many women can wear).

     Hourglass: This is the what many people call the "perfect" shape; however, that doesn't mean everything looks great on you. (Sorry, girls. Nobody can wear everything well. :-) )

     Rectangle: Rectangles were very much the fashion in the 1920's. They are women with boyish bodies; that is to say, they are slender with few curves. The good news is that you aren't the least bit concerned with trying to look smaller, whether on the top or on the bottom.



Mary Pickford, Actress

       So, the first step is to figure out which shape you are. Next step will be coming along, as I go into the details of what each shape should and shouldn't wear in order to look amazing.