Confsued by shirt/cardigan/etc. lengths for my pear-shaped petite body

Alright, so I am very much a pear, albeit a relatively slim and petite pear. I struggle with what lengths on tops are most flattering/unflattering. I frequently have issues with, for example, long open cardigans (quite loose, appropriately sized) bunching up over my butt and hips. Since I don't have eyes in the back of my head, this is especially annoying as I don't always realize and know to re-drape the cardigan.

I know the axiom that a pear should avoid tops that hit right across our widest points, but I'm not sure of the BEST length. I tend to avoid really long cardigans as I feel they're shortening, and don't own much in the way of cropped jackets or sweaters. Should I be buying those . . . ? I do very much love a good empire line top or dress.

Empire, definitely good (this fits me as a a tunic!): http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/.....GroupID=18

No clue where this should hit, if I'm "allowed" to wear this sort of thing: http://www.bodenusa.com/en-US/.....vGroupID=6

Splendid one I might buy (requires sign-in): http://www.hautelook.com/product/6557513

Can you guys offer me some visual guidance (with photos or links) on what TO DO and what NOT TO DO as a pear- shaped petite when it comes to drapey cardigans and similar?

12 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I think it depends a lot on your proportions. While I'm pear-shaped, I'm short-waisted, but a little taller than average. I can get away with long sweaters sometimes, ones that cut across my hips, even though that's my widest point. Being short-waisted and somewhat busty, cropped lengths are very tricky on me. However, if you're not quite as busty and have a longer upper torso, cropped sweaters may look great on you.

Personally, I think it would be best to buy or try on lots of sweaters at different lengths and take pictures of them and evaluate them on YOU. Keep in mind the effect of similar tones vs. high contrast tones when doing this. In other words, if you wear a top that contrasts strongly with your bottoms, that may have a much more shortening effect than a top that's similar in color to your bottoms, all else being equal.

Anonymous

I am a pear too and I am very careful of where tops hit me, I can relate. I think it all depends on what bottoms you are wearing. With trousers and bootcuts, I tend to have my tops an inch or so above my widest point. Since the pant tapers away from you hip line, the pant cut by itself would correct the wide hip issue. The shorter top length then looks much more flattering to my shape.

For skinnies, sometimes I want the coverage, so a shorter top won't do. What I do is to wear that longer top, which might hit at the widest point, but then I correct it with a shorter blazer. half tuck is nice too.

I prefer more cropped tops with skirts and I no longer care about length on more boxy tops, if I am wearing riding boots. I am more careful when I wear booties with skinnies, because of what I call the ice cream come effect.

Salt and Starlight

Member

Haha yes! The dreaded ice cream cone!

That makes sense that torso length and type of shoes and pant cut impact the look a great deal. I recently got Frye Jane boots (they are my precious) and it's amazing what I can get away with when I'm wearing them. I agree that I should try a bunch of stuff I have on and take pics and also try different lengths in things I may buy. It's surprisingly hard to know how something looks with just a mirror - photographs help so much.

I just wonder if in an attempt to disguise the comparatively larger size of my hips and thighs I wind up accentuating them . . .

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