In a world taken over by comparison due to the prevalence of social media, women struggle with body positivity and embracing their figures. With that in mind, I think that a major part of being “body positive” is dressing for your body type. This means wearing clothing that shows off what makes you feel amazing.
I personally have a pear-shaped body type. A pear-shaped body is characterized as someone who is smaller on top than they are on the bottom. Their chest and waist are on the smaller side, so it is most flattering to emphasize those parts, and draw attention away from their hips and thighs, where they carry most of their weight. Powerhouses like Beyonce and J-Lo are also pear-shaped ladies!
This article isn’t to say that you can’t dress in whatever you want. But I personally felt a wave of relief when I stopped forcing myself into clothing that clearly did not flatter the parts of me I was self-conscious about and instead drew attention to the things I loved about my body. With that all being said, here are a few rules I go by when dressing my body type.
Find what works for you and stick to it
In high school, when shopping for homecoming and sweet sixteen dresses with my friends, I felt like the “fat one” because body con dresses never seemed to flatter my curves like they did on my “thinner” friends. I tried to change the way I ate, but my body type remained the same. It seemed like bodycon dresses were the only option for social events like homecoming, and it etched away at my self-esteem.
After a long period of self-doubt, I began to try on other silhouettes. With some trial and error, I eventually figured out that my curves were MADE for skater and a-line dresses. Suddenly, my smaller shoulders, waist and flatter tummy were the star of the show, and I was no longer self-conscious of the extra weight around my hips and thighs that bodycon dresses drew attention to.
Knowing what shapes work for you also creates fewer tears in the dressing room and makes shopping a breeze.
Buckle up!
In 2018, belts are used for more than just to keep our pants up.
This season, statement belts are in, and can be used to cinch in your waist and bring attention to your smallest part, while also adding an edge to your outfit.
Two words: French tuck
Popularized by Tan France on Neftlix’s original show Queer Eye, the French tuck is the process of tucking in the front half of your shirt into your bottoms to bring attention to your waist, blousing it, while leaving the back portion untucked. According to France, it makes you appear “taller and leaner”.
I think that it also adds a certain *~je ne sais quoi~ to any outfit, while also better flattering my shape.
Avoid oversized clothing
While some pieces of oversized clothing are definitely considered fashionable these days and are obviously comfortable, I tend to avoid these pieces because I feel that they can make me look heavier. Instead, I look for more tailored pieces in soft fabrics so I still feel cozy without creating extra bulk.
When I do wear something oversized, though, I make sure to balance the large piece out with another piece that is much tighter. This can be as simple as pairing the piece with leggings or very skinny jeans.
High-rise pants are your BFF
I’ve recently coined the phrase “if my pants don’t cover my bellybutton, I don’t want them”.
Pear-shaped ladies have smaller waists than hips, so before high-waisted pants came back into style, it was really difficult to find pants that fit me everywhere. I love how high-waisted pants hug in all the right places and bring attention to my smaller waist.
Another thing I love about this style? They make my legs appear longer and your torso shorter, which ultimately makes your body look more balanced.
High-rise pants also look great paired with crop tops so they’re incredibly versatile to have in your closet.
Purchase my sweater, a similar tee and similar booties here.
