Everybody can relate to the struggle of finding the clothes that fit their body shape. You find an outfit you like, but after putting it on, you realize it isn’t the right fit or style for you.
That can be really disappointing and annoying.
I am sure you would have come across the “What I ordered VS What I got” trend on social media. If you haven’t, you should check it out. Most people take it for just fun but it is a reality. If you haven’t been a victim, then you may know someone that has been a victim.
“And that’s it! We are all dressed up except you, Dami.”, Aby said as she kept admiring herself in the mirror.
“You are talking like you don’t know Dami takes forever to dress up. She spends an hour searching for the right cloth to wear, another hour trying out the outfit options, and the last hour mopping about how she doesn’t know what to wear because she doesn’t have an hourglass figure like us.”, Chioma added to what Aby said.
That’s three hours! You spend three hours doing nothing, babe; how do you even prepare for work?”, Aby queried.
“Oh, don’t worry, guys. I found just the perfect fit! And it will get through these doors very soon. “, Dami responded to the girls with so much excitement.
“Ding-Dong!”, the door bell rang. There is a delivery man at the door with Dami’s order.
Dami brought out the dress and tried it on. She looked at herself in the mirror and wasn’t sure if she should laugh or cry. It was a big mess! The dress was way too big and shapeless.
“This isn’t what I ordered!”, she cried.
“I just don’t get it. I spend hours online searching for clothes that fit, but it’s a total waste of time, especially since I end up looking like a masquerade!
Uhm Dami, as much as I sympathize with you, just check me out how do you think I look in this dress?? Aby asked mockingly
Sometimes, Dami doesn’t know why she hangs out with these people.
You guys should leave me jhoor! Dami responded as she marched to her room with anger.
Knowing your basic body shape and understanding the types of clothes that will accentuate your good features (and minimise your less than perfect bits!), means you’ll be able to dress in a way that really suits you. Today there are so many options to choose from so you’ll always be able to find something that will complement your body shape, scale, proportions, personality and life style.
Dami walked round her room trying to find out what to do. She has to attend her best friends wedding in the next hour and she is still clueless on what to wear.
She decided to call her mom.
“I think you haven’t been searching for the right thing online. You just go online searching for nice clothes and try to imagine yourself in the cloth. It doesn’t work that way. You need to understand the kind of shape you have and what would work for you. Have you had a conversation with a stylist before? These cloth adverts you see on people wouldn’t be marketable if they chose a model with a shape that doesn’t fit the style. If a shoe isn’t your size you go on to find one that is your size right? Then, you should apply the same logic to clothes. I will send you a link to an article that shows you how to know your body shape and the best clothes that fit. Her mum, Gloria concluded as she ended the phone call.
The problem with understanding your body shape is that most women focus on specific area (i.e. problems zones such as the tummy, arms, bottom, thighs etc), which can cloud your judgement when it comes to seeing the whole picture. It’s important to view yourself as a whole so that you can define your body shape.
To analyse your body shape, look at yourself in the mirror in your underwear. Stand with your legs together and your arms a bit away from your sides. Examine the area from under your arms, past your bust and ribcage, over your waist and hips to the fullest part of your thighs. Once you know your shape, you need to examine your proportion, scale and your features e.g. bust, tummy, arms and thighs.
Are you still wondering what your body shape is?
It’s important to remember that categorizing body types isn’t an exact science. Oftentimes, there’s a lot of variation within one “type.”
Some of the most common general categories include:
1. PEAR SHAPED BODY TYPE
2. HOURGLASS SHAPED BODY TYPE
3. APPLE SHAPED BODY TYPE
4. ATHLETIC SHAPED BODY TYPE
PEAR SHAPED BODY TYPE
The pear body type (sometimes called the spoon shape) is quite common. Pear shaped women could be skinny or curvy.
You may be this body type if…
- Your hips are wider than your shoulders
- Fat tends to accumulate on your thighs and sometimes the buttocks
- You tend to have an elongated waist and the legs tend to be shorter in comparison to the rest of your body
- You have a defined waist and a fuller rear (butt)
HOW TO STYLE THE PEAR SHAPE
Curvy hips, thick thighs, and a full rear are the key characteristics of the pear-shaped body type. Finding clothes that will flatter your pear-shaped body is simple once you know what shapes and styles to look for and which ones to avoid.
Start at the top
The main goal of dressing a pear figure is to draw attention to the torso(upper part of the body) and away from the hips and thighs. These catch the eye at the top, making your shoulders and chest seem a bit broader than they actually are.
Best tops for pear shaped women:
- Structured tops
- Tops with horizontal neckline
- Wrap Top
- Dresses for pear shaped women:
- Empire waist line dresses
- Fit and flare dresses
- Off the shoulder dress
- Best jeans and pants for pear shape
- Jeans with Dark color
Basically, the important thing in choosing pants and jeans is to keep in mind that you generally want them to be darker than your top.
- The leg shape
For the pear shaped body, the key is to balance out your wide butt and thighs with your choice of pants. The wide leg pants do a wonderful job.Your best choice is a pair of dark color wide leg pants which drape down from your hips. The palazzo is a perfect example.
- Fabrics
Fabrics with enough structure and weight are what’s best for the pear shaped woman, so that they won’t be clinging to your thighs.
PEAR SHAPED CELEBRITIES
Knowing which celebrity has the same body type as you helps you in styling and getting the proper outfits that best suits your shape.
The pear shaped body type is a very common body shape in Nigeria and is widely embraced around Africa as we are known for fuller hips and thighs.
- Nollywood actress and human rights activist, Omotola Jalade Ekeinde, is a perfect example of this shape.
- Another beautiful pear shaped Nollywood Actress is Osas Ighodaro.
- Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Jennifer Lopez all have pear shaped bodies.
Pear Shape is similar to Hourglass Shape, but people with an Hourglass figure have wider hips than upper thigh. Once your thigh measurement is more than hip measurement, you have gone over to the Pear Shaped side of the figure map.
In a follow up article, I will be sharing details on the Hour glass body shape.
Are you a pear body shape? Who is your favorite celebrity to follow? Let us know in the comment section below. Don’t forget to share this article with your friends.
Fashionably Yours,
Zay.
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