The Best Pear Shape Outfits For Petite Women

By Miruna Dulcea Sep 27, 2023

If, in addition to being a petite woman, your hips, compared to your shoulders and waist, are wider and your tights are full, chances are you've got a petite pear silhouette.

There is no right, wrong, better, or worse body type, but there are a few tips and tricks that can help you highlight your best features.

Find the perfect outfit, that looks and feels great! From the ideal skirts and dresses to those you should avoid, here are our outfit recommendations for petite, pear-shaped silhouettes.

Panaprium is independent and reader supported. If you buy something through our link, we may earn a commission. If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you!

Know your body

If you want to create the most amazing outfits that highlight your best features, you need to learn more about your body.

The hips are the widest point of a pear-shaped body, that's why it is recommended to balance your proportions by adding volume to your upper body. Your small waist and beautiful shoulders are some of your best features and you should always look for clothes that highlight them.

Clothes that end right where your hips are should be avoided. They will make your hips appear larger.

As a petite woman, you should be very careful not to add too much volume to your body with your attire because you are at risk of appearing shorter.

Where to start? Right here! Read our tips on creating a petite capsule wardrobe.

Structured blazers

Blazers can be worn on many occasions: Professional environments, after-work events, shopping sessions, and dates.

Pear-shaped bodies can benefit a lot from structured blazers that feature padded shoulders. This way, you will have a gorgeous outfit that beautifully defines your upper body.

Choose a blazer that bypasses your hips to shift focus from them.

Click here to discover amazing blazers made by sustainable brands.

Denim jackets

For more relaxed environments, denim jackets are perfect!

Make sure to purchase a regular fit because an oversized jacket might add too much volume to your petite silhouette. Denim jackets look great with skirts and cute tops.

Take a look at these amazing ethically made jackets.

Coats

Shapeless coats tend to look bulky and they overwhelm petite silhouettes.

Jackets and coats that add a lot of volume to your body are never flattering.

Instead, we recommend you choose tailored coats that highlight your best features.

Let yourself be inspired by these 15 best affordable jackets and coats made in Italy.

Squared necklines

A square-shaped neckline will balance your proportions by making your shoulders appear wider. Petite pear-shaped bodies can benefit from this cut a lot!

Great news! You can now purchase beautiful and affordable dresses from sustainable brands.

Off-shoulder designs

Off-shoulder tops, blouses, jumpers, and dresses are amazing for pear-shaped silhouettes.

They reveal your shoulders in a very attractive way, and they balance your proportions beautifully.

For shopping inspiration check out these 200 sustainable clothing brands from Europe.

Shoulder details

Another little trick involving the shoulders is to wear clothes that feature different shoulder details: Padded shoulders, shoulder pleats, cap sleeves, and puffed shoulders are amazing details that can transform any outfit into a very flattering one for your silhouette.

Remember: Visually widening your shoulder balances the width of your hips, bringing your proportions closer to an hourglass shape.

For beautiful and affordable clothes check out these sustainable brands.

Outfits with skirts

There is a skirt out there for every body type! The most flattering designs for pear shapes are A-line designs.

That's because they are tight around your waist, help you highlight it, and gradually widen enveloping your hips.

A structured A-line skirt softens the appearance of wider hips, which is exactly what pear-shaped women are looking for when they want to balance their proportions. Even better, A-line skirts are very stylish timeless pieces that can be worn in many combinations.

Fancy learning more? Take a look at our article about the best affordable and sustainable midi skirts.

Add a scarf

Scarves are very cool accessories that unexpectedly flatter pear-shaped bodies. If you need a detail that directs attention to your upper body, choose a colorful scarf.

Make your choice petite-friendly and go for a volume that does not overwhelm your frame.

Click here to discover the best ethical scarves.

Beautiful tops

Tops are essential to any wardrobe. Always choose fitted styles that complement your figure and wear them with skirts or trousers that highlight your waistline.

For an amazing outfit, check out the best sustainable petite clothing brands.

Avoid bodycon designs

Bodycon skirts and dresses don't always look flattering on pear-shaped bodies because they make your natural body lines appear more prominent.

On the other hand, A-line and straight fits look very attractive and you should choose them instead.

Don't forget that you can now purchase amazing fashion from sustainable brands.

Horizontal striped tops

Stripes are a timeless pattern that will never go out of fashion. You can create amazing outfits with striped tops.

Make sure to choose horizontal stripes because they make your upper body appear wider. Never wear skirts or trousers featuring this print because they will add unwanted volume to your lower body.

Take a look at our article about the best affordable and ethical T-shirts. Here's a quick outfit idea: A striped T-shirt with jeans.

Jeans

Jeans are extremely popular clothing items that should be in everyone's wardrobe!

They are versatile and can be worn dressed up or down.
The best jeans for petite pear silhouettes are straight, high-waisted jeans.

You should avoid skinny jeans because such a tight design will draw a lot of attention to your lower body.

Discover our sustainable recommendations.

Wear cardigans

Cardigans are stylish and cozy and they often make great alternatives for blazers, especially if you love the smart casual style.

Opt for a model that bypasses your thighs, because shorter ones will emphasize your hips.

We've got you covered if you need affordable and sustainable cardigans to stay cozy this season.

Avoid mini lengths

Stay away from mini skirts and dresses because they end around the widest points of your body, which are hips and thighs. Unfortunately, this means that they are not the most flattering for your body type.

If you love this length you should choose a bell-shaped design and combine it with pieces that flatter your silhouette.

Remember: You don't need to spend a fortune to have beautiful and sustainable clothes!

Always look for affordable brands that run sustainable manufacturing processes.

Summing up

Having a petite pear-shaped body almost guarantees receiving contradictory pieces of advice.

On one hand, petite women should avoid adding any extra volume to their bodies because this will make them look shorter. They should always consider mini skirts and bodycon designs. On the other hand, pear bodies need to add some volume to their upper bodies if they want to balance their proportions.

Combining all these tips sounds extremely difficult and achieving the best results will usually be a process of trial and error. Because we are so different and our bodies are so different there is no list of instructions that can guarantee the best results for everyone.

In general, you should avoid anything that accentuates your hips, while welcoming clothes that highlight your waist and shoulders.

Our advice is to follow the guidelines in this article and keep trying different clothing combinations on until you start putting together outfits that look and feel amazing. Remember that it is all about discovering the most flattering outfits for your body and you should have fun on this journey!
If you like this article, share it with your friends!

Was this article helpful to you? Please tell us what you liked or didn't like in the comments below.

About the Author: Miruna Dulcea

Miruna Dulcea has a science degree in Physics. She enjoys learning foreign languages and has so far lived and worked in four countries across Europe. Apart from her interest in science, she has a passion for fragrance and loves animals and art in all forms. - "Writing is a binder that breaks physical, temporal, and cultural boundaries and connects people everywhere, and that is the powerful fuel that motivates me to express myself with this form of communication. It is about both learning and sharing."

What We're Up Against

Multinational corporations overproducing cheap products in the poorest countries.
Huge factories with sweatshop-like conditions underpaying workers.
Media conglomerates promoting unethical, unsustainable products.
Bad actors encouraging overconsumption through oblivious behavior.
- - - -
Thankfully, we've got our supporters, including you.
Panaprium is funded by readers like you who want to join us in our mission to make the world entirely sustainable.

If you can, please support us on a monthly basis. It takes less than a minute to set up, and you will be making a big impact every single month. Thank you.