| Firstly, clothing sizes. This is a really grey area - | | | | blues and browns which absorb the light |
| I'm often a medium, but sometimes clothing lines | | | | Tops should be fitted and focus the eye to your |
| which only specify 'small, medium or large' are | | | | upper body (beautiful necklines, patterns and |
| really quite dodgy and I end up a small. | | | | colors). They should not be baggy as these will |
| The only thing you can really do is a) find a shop | | | | cover your waist, and instead should finish at the |
| which sells these things and check there or b) if | | | | top of your hips so that your waist is emphasized |
| you're buying online, check the returns policy on | | | | Choose accessories (jeweler and scarves) that |
| the website. If in doubt, and the site won't let you | | | | avert attention upward away from the hips and |
| return things, find a friend or a seamstress (or | | | | thighs. |
| even yourself, if you know how) to take the item | | | | If you're in the majority you will be a classic |
| in for you. | | | | British pear shape (carrying most your stored fat |
| The dresses and skirts question is equally tricky | | | | around the thigh, hip, and bottom area). Rest |
| as despite being pear-shaped myself, I find some | | | | assured that you are not the only one who gets |
| things suit me very well, and a different skirt in | | | | frustrated when trying on a pair of jeans that |
| the same style but from a different shop looks | | | | gape around the waist area and can barely |
| terrible. As a general rule, stay away from | | | | squeeze past your hips and thighs. Given that |
| anything that rides too low on the hips, go for a | | | | 70% of British women fall in to this category it is |
| wide waistband and make sure it FITS. The last | | | | surprising that manufacturers of jeans still haven't |
| one is an absolute must, because no matter how | | | | cottoned on to the idea of making a well fitting |
| many people tell you something will suit you, if it's | | | | pair of jeans for pear shaped women. |
| a size too small, or the zip sticks out, or the | | | | However in the mean time your best bet is to |
| waistband won't lie flat you will look terrible. | | | | head straight for the clothing rail labeled 'hipsters'. |
| Your best bet to find out what suits YOU is to go | | | | Hipsters are great in avoiding the gaping waist |
| shopping with an honest and well-dressed friend | | | | scenario we all hate, as they sit on your hips not |
| and just try on everything you like the look of. | | | | the waist. |
| You are not alone at all. So, what to wear if you | | | | Any pair of jeans with a low-cut waistband will |
| are a 'pear'? Trousers or skirts that emphasize | | | | make your bottom look smaller. Make sure the |
| your well defined waist area (softly pleated or | | | | jeans are boot-cut, as these styles will balance |
| flat-fronted). Try hipster trousers, as these will | | | | out heavier hips and thighs. Jeans should be dark - |
| eliminate that gaping waist problem common to all | | | | steer away from light colors and paler 'washed |
| pear shaped women. A-line skirts/wraps are by | | | | look' jeans as these will do you no favors. Finally |
| far the most flattering for 'pears' as they slim the | | | | don't be tempted by denims containing stretchy |
| hips and emphasize the smaller waist area. Short, | | | | materials such as Lycra as although these may |
| tight skirts should be avoided as these will | | | | seem more comfortable they will accentuate your |
| accentuate the tops of your thighs, and divert | | | | problem areas below the waist by clinging to hips |
| attention to that problematic area below the waist | | | | and thighs. Follow these guidelines and we think |
| Avoid light colored bottoms and stick to darker | | | | you will find your 'pear-fact' pair of jeans! |