Body shape · Hips wider than shoulders
The pear body shape
Also called a Triangle — you carry width below the waist, with hips broader than shoulders. The aim is to add presence and detail up top so the shoulder and hip line read balanced.
The goal
Add visual weight up top; keep the lower half clean to balance the hips.
How to tell
- Hips are noticeably wider than your shoulders.
- You gain weight in the hips and thighs first.
- Tops often fit while bottoms run tight, or vice versa.
Skip
- Clingy hips and heavy bottom detail
- Skinny tapered bottoms that emphasise the hip
- Plain, detail-free tops
What to wear for a pear shape
- Structure and detail up top (shoulders, collars, layers)
- Bright or patterned tops, darker plain bottoms
- Boat necks and statement shoulders
- Straight or bootcut bottoms that skim the hip
How to dress a pear shape
Dressing a pear is about pulling the eye up: structured shoulders, boat necks, collars and detail on the top half, kept over clean, darker, unfussy bottoms. Bright or patterned tops against plain bottoms do the balancing automatically. A-line skirts and bootcut or straight trousers skim rather than cling — the lower half's job is quiet competence while the top half talks.
Dressing a pear shape casually
Casually: a striped or bright tee, a structured denim or chore jacket that ends at the waist (not the hip — hip-length jackets end at the widest point), and dark straight jeans. The jacket length is the whole game; get it to the waist and every casual outfit improves.
The most common pear-shape mistake
Skinny trousers with a slouchy top — the exact inversion of what balances a pear, narrowing the narrow half and adding bulk where the width already is. Swap the volumes: fitted or structured above, straight and fluid below.
Pick a handful of the flattering pieces above as anchors and keep colours and formality consistent, and you have a capsule wardrobe cut for your shape. Not certain which shape you are? The 5-question body type quiz settles it in under a minute, or the body shape calculator reads it straight from your measurements.
The best pieces for a pear shape, by category
Necklines
Boat necks, off-shoulder and wide or statement collars — anything that broadens the shoulder line to balance the hips. This is the one shape where a horizontal neckline is an asset rather than a liability.
Tops
Structure and interest up top: puff or statement sleeves, structured shoulders, bright colours and patterns. Keep the visual weight above the waist. Tops that end at the hip (rather than the high hip) add bulk exactly where the shape already has width.
Bottoms
Dark, plain, clean-lined — straight or bootcut trousers, A-line skirts, high-waist to define. The lower half's whole job is quiet: solid dark colours, no hip pockets or side detail, nothing clingy across the widest point.
Outerwear & layers
Jackets that end at the natural waist, never the hip — a cropped denim or chore jacket, a structured blazer. The hem placement is the entire decision: a waist-length jacket balances a pear, a hip-length one underlines the hips.
What not to wear for a pear shape
Skinny or tapered trousers under a slouchy top (the exact inverted balance), hip-length jackets, and pale or patterned bottoms — all of them pull the eye down to the widest point instead of up.
Not sure of your shape?
Take the 5-question body type quiz, then see the pieces on your own photo.
Frequently asked questions
What is a pear body shape?
Also called a Triangle — you carry width below the waist, with hips broader than shoulders. The aim is to add presence and detail up top so the shoulder and hip line read balanced. It's also called the Triangle shape.
How do I know if I have a pear body shape?
Hips are noticeably wider than your shoulders. You gain weight in the hips and thighs first. Tops often fit while bottoms run tight, or vice versa.
How should a pear body shape dress?
Add visual weight up top; keep the lower half clean to balance the hips. In practice: structure and detail up top (shoulders, collars, layers); bright or patterned tops, darker plain bottoms; boat necks and statement shoulders; straight or bootcut bottoms that skim the hip.
What should a pear shape avoid?
Skinny or tapered trousers under a slouchy top (the exact inverted balance), hip-length jackets, and pale or patterned bottoms — all of them pull the eye down to the widest point instead of up.
What are the best pieces for a pear shape?
Necklines: Boat necks, off-shoulder and wide or statement collars — anything that broadens the shoulder line to balance the hips. This is the one shape where a horizontal neckline is an asset rather than a liability. Tops: Structure and interest up top: puff or statement sleeves, structured shoulders, bright colours and patterns. Keep the visual weight above the waist. Tops that end at the hip (rather than the high hip) add bulk exactly where the shape already has width. Bottoms: Dark, plain, clean-lined — straight or bootcut trousers, A-line skirts, high-waist to define. The lower half's whole job is quiet: solid dark colours, no hip pockets or side detail, nothing clingy across the widest point.