Pear Body Shape

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Your Body Editorial

Latest posts by Your Body Editorial (see all)

• Spoon Body Shape - October 29, 2023
• Bottom Hourglass - October 29, 2023
• Top Hourglass - October 28, 2023

• Definition
• Closely Related Shapes
• How to Determine if You Are a Pear
• Pear Measurements
• Celebrities
• Workouts
• How to Dress a Pear
• History

The Pear body shape, also known as the “Triangle body shape“, is a body shape where the hips are wider than the shoulders, bust and waist. This shape generally has pronounced curves in the hip area, creating a “pear” or “triangle” like silhouette. The Pear figure is very common and includes some of the most famous, beautiful women of our time.

Key characteristics of a pear body shape:

The Pear or Triangle body shape is a common body shape. It is estimated that about 20%-25% of woman have this shape or a closely related body shape.

Pear body shape can also be known as:

• Skittle, Teardrop, Kite, Pyramid, Triangle

Variations within the Pear body shape include: Thin Pear, Tall Pear, Petite Pear, Plus-Size Pear, Smaller-Waist Pear, Bigger-Waist Pear, and Top-Heavy Pear.

Closely Related Pear Shapes

Keep in mind and be open to the possibility that your body might not align with a single shape but could share qualities from multiple body shapes.

How to Calculate if you are a Pear Shape

There are a few methods to determine if you are a pear shape. The following methods seek to work out if your proportions aligns with the characteristics of the pear body shape. This is done by comparing your specific measurements with each other to understand the relative size of different areas of your body.

Select either Method 1 or Method 2 to determine if you have a Pear shape:

Body shape results are not an absolute certainty! Not every formula can perfectly categorize all body types. Consider body shapes as a tool to enhance your understanding of how various styles of clothing might appear on different body types. You can then utilize this knowledge to style your own individual body shape.

Celebrities with a Pear Body Shape

Celebrities with a pear-shaped figure often transition to other body shapes closely related to the pear shape, such as the spoon, bottom hourglass, hourglass, and diamond. This is because the pear shape shares attributes with, and often borders on, these closely related shapes which makes it easy to cross between the different shapes.

1. Jennifer Lopez: Born July 24, 1969; Height: 5’5″ (165 cm); Weight: 139 pounds (63 kg). Jennifer Lopez’s body measurements are reportedly around 37-27-38 inches.
2. Shakira: Born February 2, 1977; Height: 5’2″ (157 cm); Weight: 117 pounds (53 kg). Shakira’s body measurements are reportedly around 34-24-37 inches.
3. Rihanna: Born February 20, 1988; Height: 5’8″ (173 cm); Weight: 134 pounds (61 kg). Rihanna’s body measurements are reportedly around 34-26-36 inches.
4. Beyonce: Born September 4, 1981; Height: 5’7″ (170 cm); Weight: 137 pounds (62 kg). Beyonce’s body measurements are reportedly around 35-26-39 inches.
5. Kim Kardashian: Born October 21, 1980; Height: 5’2″ (157 cm); Weight: 139 pounds (63 kg). Kim Kardashian’s body measurements are reportedly around 38-26-41 inches.

Workouts

Workouts for a pear shape body that are focused on maintaining your natural body shape or accentuating it require exercises which target the lower body, while maintaining or toning the upper body and core.

1. Squats: Squats are great for building muscles in the thighs and butt area. Gradually introduce weights for more dramatic results or try jump squats.
2. Lunges: Lunges help tone the pear’s wider lower body by targeting the thighs and glutes. Also try walking lunges to add a little cardio if you are wanting to burn some fat.
3. Step-ups: Emphasize your pear shape with step ups, tone and shape your legs, glutes, and butt.
4. Hip Raises: Hip raises tone and strengthen the glutes.
5. Deadlifts: Deadlifts tone the whole body and thighs.
6. Leg Presses: Use a leg press machine at the gym to make lower leg exercises a little easier.
7. Mountain Climber: Mountain climbers target the upper and lower body as well as core. Mountain climbers also cardio and total body strength; mountain climbers are a very versatile exercise.
8. Push-ups: Tone your upper body with push-ups. Add resistance with weight or elevate your feet onto a platform to really define your chest area.
9. Triceps Dip: Tone your arms with triceps dips.

How to Dress a Pear Body Shape

For those with a Pear body shape, styling focuses on achieving a balanced silhouette by accentuating the upper body. To balance a pear figure, key styling tips include: accentuate the upper body, streamline the lower half, layer above the hips, and opt for heels to lengthen the legs.

To highlight the pear body shape, wear tight skirts or pants to emphasize the hip difference. Also belts or details can draw attention to the hip area.

Disclaimer: There are also many variations within the Pear body shape and a number of related body shapes. It is advisable to always approach styling with consideration of your unique features. Your dressing strategies could look somewhat different to the dressing strategies of other Pear/Triangles. Experiment and find what works for you. This guide can be your base or starting point.

Also consider variations unique to you. Factors like height, size, waist definition, and torso length can all greatly influence how clothes fit and appear on you.

Necklines:

1. Boat Neckline: Boat necklines are a great neckline for pears, stretching from shoulder to shoulder and visually widening the upper body while drawing attention to the neck and collarbones.
2. Off-the-Shoulder Neckline: Off-the-shoulder necklines also help to widen the upper body and draw the eye upwards to the neck and face.
3. Cowl Neckline: Cowl necklines draw attention upwards while their flowing and draping shape adds movement and volume to the upper body.
4. Square Neckline: A square neckline can help broaden the shoulders and upper body.
5. V-Neckline: V necks are universally popular and a great way of drawing attention upwards.
6. Scoop Neckline: An open neckline that draws attention upwards helping to balance the upper and lower body.

Shirts and Tops

1. Boat Neck Tops: Balance and widen your upper body with a neckline top.
2. Bardot/Off-the-Shoulder Tops: Bardot or off-the-shoulder tops can broaden your upper body.
3. Ruffled Tops: Add volume to the upper body with a ruffled top.
4. Horizontal Stripes: Create the illusion of a wider upper body with horizontal stripes. Horizontal stripes also draw the eye upwards.
5. Bold Prints and Patterns: Draw attention to your upper body with a bold print.
6. Structured or Padded Shoulder Tops: Add volume to your upper body with a structured or padded shoulder top.
7. Cowl Necks: Cowl necklines, often found on dresses, can also be used for tops, broadening and highlighting the upper body.
8. Wide V or U necks: Wide V or U necklines can create the illusion of broader shoulders, balancing the upper body with wider hips.
9. Peplum Tops: Create the illusion of a smaller waist with a peplum top.
10. Bright Colored Tops: Like the bold pattern top, bright colored tops help draw attention to your the body.

Jackets

1. Peplum Jackets: Complement your hips with a peplum jacket. Peplum jackets cinch in at the waist and flare out at the hips.
2. Structured Blazer: A structured single-breasted blazer can help widen your upper body and balance your pear-shaped lower body.
3. Military Style Jackets: Add volume and visual attention to your upper body with a military style jacket.
4. Biker Jackets: Biker jackets have a v shaped neckline when unzipped and fall around the waist area. This adds volume and attention to your upper body.
5. Cropped Jackets: Draw attention upwards with a jacket that falls at, or above, your waist.
6. Cape Jackets: Create balance with your hips by adding volume to the upper body with a cape jacket.
7. Denim Jackets: Cropped or full-length jackets with pockets add volume to the upper body.
8. Bolero Jackets: Bolero jackets end at the waist and have collars and decorative embellishments like buttons or beads which draw attention to the upper body.
9. Puffer Jackets: Great for adding volume and drawing the eye upwards.

Coats

1. Trench Coats: Trench coats cinch in the waist and usually feature an open neckline, thick collar and embellishments like buttons which help add volume to the upper body.
2. A-line Coats: A-line coats widen or taper out at the hips helping to balance out the Pear’s silhouette.
3. Pea Coats: Like the A-line coats, pea coats help widen the upper body and flare out at the hips.
4. Cocoon Coats: Widen your upper body with a cocoon coat. Cocoon coats are naturally wide at the top and flare in at the bottom.
5. Belted Coats: Belted coats cinch in at the waist.
6. Swing Coats: Complement your pear shape by mirroring your silhouette with a swing coat that is fitted at the shoulders and as it reaches the bottom it flares out and becomes looser.
7. Parkas with Fur Hoods: Add volume to the upper body with a fluffy or furry hood.
8. Structured Shoulder Coats: Add balance with a structured shoulder coat. This coat has wide collars, a belted waist, and collars that fall over the shoulders, helping to widen and draw attention to your upper body.
9. Fitted Military Coats: Like the structured shoulder coat, military coats add volume and can help draw attention to your upper body.
10. Capes: Capes are like swing coats but more open and flowy. They flare out at the bottom complementing a Pear’s silhouette.

Bottom Styling

When styling your lower body, if your goal is to add balance, then the aim is to harmonize your wider hips and thighs with the rest of your body by balancing your proportions, elongating your legs, wearing darker colors for pants and skirts, and low volume around the hip area.

Pants

1. Bootcut Pants: Bootcut pants add balance to your hips as they flare out at the ankle. A more subtle style than a full flare pant.
2. Straight Leg Pants: A straight leg pant helps to balance your upper and lower body.
3. Wide-Leg Pants: Add balance with wide-leg pants as they flow out from your body.
4. Flared Jeans: Flared pants are like bootcut pants but have a full flare at the ankle. They can help balance out the hips and thighs.
5. High-Waisted Pants: High-waisted pants cinch at the waist helping to balance out your hips and accentuate your waist.
6. Palazzo Pants: Extra flowy with wide legs, palazzo pants help add balance to your hips.
7. Culottes: High rise culottes cinch at the waist and are generally a flowy fabric that skims your pear-shaped silhouette and adds balance to your hips.
8. Paper bag Waist Pants: The ruffled waistline can be tie-belted helping to define the waist further. Paper bag waist pants generally also have a wider leg which adds balance.

Jeans

1. Curvy Fit Jeans: A super comfortable jean fit that is commonly smaller in the waist and wider in the hip and thigh area.
2. Bootcut Jeans: Bootcut jeans are a balancing jean style as the flare at the ankle almost aligns with the hips.
3. Wide-Leg Jeans: Wide-leg pants add balance and are flowy in the hips, thigh, and leg area.
4. High-Waist Straight-Leg Jeans: Straight leg pants will look good on most body shapes including pear shaped figures. High waisted jeans will further balance the pear shape as it helps define the waist.
5. Flare Jeans: Flare jeans can help add visual balancing with the extra width at the lower leg area.
6. Boyfriend Jeans: A relaxed, comfortable style of jeans that works well with a pear-shaped figure.
7. Stretch Jeans: Like skinny jeans or curvy fit jeans, stretch jeans complement your natural pear-shaped silhouette.
8. Dark Wash Jeans: Dark colors can have a slimming effect and can be used to make the lower body look slimmer.
9. Mid-Rise Jeans: Mid-rise jeans work well for short-torso pear body shapes as they help create the illusion of a longer upper body while also helping to define the waist.
10. Balloon Jeans: Balloon jeans help highlight the waist and are accommodating for the wider hips of a Pear. Balloon jeans have a high rise and a dramatic curve at the hip that tapers at the leg.
11. Cullotte Jeans: Cullotte jeans are a wide-leg jean that finish at the bottom of the calves. The bottom leg is wide, providing balance and alignment with the hips.

Skirts

1. A-line Skirt: A-line skirts are fitted at the waist and then flare out slightly, skimming over the hips and thighs. The flare of an A-line skirt is gentle, the resulting skirt shape similar to the shape of the letter A.
2. Skater Skirt: Highlight your waist with a skater skirt, a fun, flowy skirt that flares out and ends just above the knee.
3. High-Low Skirt: The high-low hemline is shorter at the front and longer at the back, drawing attention and balance to your lower body.
4. Pleated Skirt: A pleated skirt adds volume and visual interest, cinching at the narrowest part of your waist. It can be midi or full length.
5. Trumpet Skirt: A trumpet skirt or mermaid skirt is fitted through the hips and thighs and flares out at the bottom. This provides a balanced look against the wider hips of the pear shape figure.
6. Maxi Skirt: A maxi skirt can help elongate the body and draw the eye up, especially if it has a slight flare.
7. Midi Skirt: Midi skirts are usually flowy and flare out at the bottom. You can pull the midi up to the smallest part of your waist which also helps the bottom hemline finish mid-calf.
8. Wrap Skirt: Wrap skirts are generally tied at the waist, helping to provide contrast with the hips. Wrap skirts drape and flow well over a pear’s wider hips.
9. Gored Skirt: Gored skirts, unlike pleated ones, have panels. They cinch at the waist and flare out towards the hem.
10. Tulip Skirt: A tulip skirt can work well if it is not too voluminous. A tulip skirt cinches at the waist and slightly flares out at the bottom.

Dresses

1. A-Line Dresses: A-line dresses cinch at the waist, are full and voluminous and flare out, skimming over your hips and thighs.
2. Wrap Dresses: Wrap dresses are generally tied at the waist, helping provide contrast with the hips. Wrap dresses drape and flow well over a pear’s wider hips.
3. Empire Waist Dresses: Draw attention to your upper body with an empire waist dress. Can help lengthen your lower body as the empire dress has a raised waistline. The flowing fabric also helps add balance to your naturally wider hips.
4. Fit and Flare Dresses: Define your waist and downplay your hips with a fit and flare dress. Also adds balance with your hips as the flared skirt skims over the hips and flares out at the bottom.
5. Skater Dresses: Skater dresses generally have an open neckline and flare out in the skirt.
6. Maxi Dresses: A maxi dress that cinches in at the waist or has a waist tie helps provide contrast with the hips and upper body. Maxi dresses are also generally a flowy finish that skims over your hips and thighs.
7. Off-the-Shoulder Dresses: Balance your hips with widening of your upper body with the neckline of the off the shoulder dress provides.
8. Strapless Dresses: Draw the eye upwards and create the illusion of a wider upper body.
9. Dresses with Embellishments or Details at the Top: Add balance with embellishments or details on your upper body.
10. Asymmetrical Hemline Dresses: Much like the high-low skirt the asymmetrical hemline dress helps draw interest to the lower leg. Commonly have an open neckline as well.

Shorts

1. Mid-Rise Shorts: Elongate your body and balance out your hips with mid-rise shorts.
2. A-Line Shorts: Perfect for wider hips and thighs of a pear the A-line shorts slightly flare out providing extra flow and room.
3. Pleated Shorts: Add structure and balance with pleated shorts.
4. Bermuda Shorts: The straight lines of Bermuda shorts from the waist to the knees, can help visually flatted out the hips.
5. Tailored Shorts: Can be tailored so the waist is fitted, and the hip and thigh area have more room.
6. Denim Shorts: A relaxed fit denim short, can work well.
7. High-Waisted Shorts: Create the illusion of a smaller waist with high waisted shorts.

Accessories

1. Statement Necklaces: Draw the eye upward with big statement necklaces. Can work well when paired with open style necklines.
2. Drop Earrings: Draw attention to your face with bigger or drop earrings.
3. Scarves: Add volume and interest to your upper body with a scarf.
4. Wide Belts: Create the illusion of a smaller waist with a wide belt. This can help create the needed contrast and balance between a pear’s bigger hips and upper body.
5. Upper Arm Bracelets: Draw the eye upwards with an arm bracelet.
6. Brooches: Brooches can add visual interest and style to your top drawing the eye upwards.
7. Layered Necklaces: Similar to statement necklaces, laying necklines can help add volume through accessories.
8. Hats: A fedora, bold sun hat, or large brim hat can add interest and size to your upper half.

Measurements of a Pear Body Shape

What are the measurements required to have a pear body shape? The following popular measurements serve as examples of a pear/triangle figure. Please note that these are only a few representations and do not encapsulate all possibilities. Please try our body shape calculators, here.

24″ Waist Pear:

• If your waist is 24″, your bust could be anywhere from 24″ (equal to the waist) up to 33″ (24″ + 9″).
• If your waist is 24″, your hips could be anywhere from 34″ (24″ + 10″) up to 44″ (24″ + 20″).
• If your bust is at the maximum of 33″, your hips should be at least 37″ (33″ + 4″) and could be up to 44″.

25″ Waist Pear:

• If your waist is 25″, your bust could be anywhere from 25″ (equal to the waist) up to 34″ (25″ + 9″).
• If your waist is 25″, your hips could be anywhere from 35″ (25″ + 10″) up to 45″ (25″ + 20″).
• If your bust is at the maximum of 34″, your hips should be at least 38″ (34″ + 4″) and could be up to 45″.

26″ Waist Pear:

• If your waist is 26″, your bust could be anywhere from 26″ (equal to the waist) up to 35″ (26″ + 9″).
• If your waist is 26″, your hips could be anywhere from 36″ (26″ + 10″) up to 46″ (26″ + 20″).
• If your bust is at the maximum of 35″, your hips should be at least 39″ (35″ + 4″) and could be up to 46″.

27″ Waist Pear:

• If your waist is 27″, your bust could be anywhere from 27″ (equal to the waist) up to 36″ (27″ + 9″).
• If your waist is 27″, your hips could be anywhere from 27″ (equal to the waist) up to 37″ (27″ + 10″).
• If your bust is at the maximum of 36″, your hips should be no more than 39.6″ (36″ + 3.6″), and vice versa.

28″ Waist Pear:

• If your waist is 27″, your bust could be anywhere from 27″ (equal to the waist) up to 36″ (27″ + 9″).
• If your waist is 27″, your hips could be anywhere from 37″ (27″ + 10″) up to 47″ (27″ + 20″).
• If your bust is at the maximum of 36″, your hips should be at least 40″ (36″ + 4″) and could be up to 47″.

29″ Waist Pear:

• If your waist is 29″, your bust could be anywhere from 29″ (equal to the waist) up to 38″ (29″ + 9″).
• If your waist is 29″, your hips could be anywhere from 39″ (29″ + 10″) up to 49″ (29″ + 20″).
• If your bust is at the maximum of 38″, your hips should be at least 42″ (38″ + 4″) and could be up to 49″.

30″ Waist Pear:

• If your waist is 30″, your bust could be anywhere from 30″ (equal to the waist) up to 39″ (30″ + 9″).
• If your waist is 30″, your hips could be anywhere from 40″ (30″ + 10″) up to 50″ (30″ + 20″).
• If your bust is at the maximum of 39″, your hips should be at least 43″ (39″ + 4″) and could be up to 50″.

For more try our body shape calculator, here.

History of the Pear Body Shape

The pear or triangle body shape has historically been a well celebrated and received body shape. In more modern times its popularity has seen many fluctuations with changing fashion trends and norms.

In earlier times, women were often depicted with wide hips, large buttocks, and big breasts. Historians believe this may have been associated with showing fertility and robustness. The Venus of Willendorf is a small curved stone figurine from about 25,000 BCE which is an iconic example of this type of body shape.

A slightly larger waist, along with rounded sloping shoulders were common features of women during the middle ages. And this continued and evolved into the Renaissance era (15^th and 16^th centuries) to even more fuller and curvier figures. We know the pear body shape was celebrated in the Renaissance era because the artworks of the era often featured women with curvier or fuller proportions.

The 19^th century Victorian era brought back the pear or triangle-like body shape. During this period women wore corsets and bustles to mechanically make the waist smaller, which created the illusion of a fuller and curvier bottom half.

The 20^th century was the century with the most fluctuations in what was considered an ideal body shape. In the 1920’s, boyish and rectangular figures were considered by many as the ideal body shape. By the 1950’s curvy figures such as the hourglass, pear or triangle, bottom hourglass and top hourglass shapes were considered by many as the most desirable body shapes.

During the 1990’s and 2000’s a slow gradual increase towards the popularity of curvier body shapes began. This rise was cemented as entertainment figures like Kate Winslet, Beyonce, and Jennifer Lopez showed off their hourglass, pear and bottom hourglass figures with confidence.

From the start of the 20th century until recent years, the fashion industry predominantly celebrated a select range of body shapes, with the noticeable exclusion of plus-sized figures. A significant transformation in the perception and appreciation of beauty took hold during the 2010s. The rise of embracement of the different body types has seen an acceptance of all body shapes, sizes, colors, and lengths.

Pear Body Shape Thoughts

Embracing your pear body shape is about highlighting your natural assets and feeling comfortable and confident in your own skin. This guide has a wide range of clothing and styling suggestions for dressing a pear body shape but don’t be afraid to follow your own instinct. Ultimately you should let your personal taste and comfort guide you in creating your own style.

Pear body shapes work well with most styles of clothing. Finding your own style through the knowledge of how the various clothing types, styles, and cuts look on the pear body shape, will be key. Experiment with the different clothing styles, and how they look on your body. Look into other body shapes that are closely related to yours as well, as these may introduce you to more styles that could further enhance your pear body shape wardrobe.