Help - Office Wear for pear shapes

I would love some good advice for skirts and slacks for the office. Our office is pretty casual over all, with lots of room for creativity, but we only wear jeans on Fridays. I have quite a few dresses, but I don't like to wear them everyday because they feel too dressy. When I lost 20 pounds a few years ago, I was able to wear some pencil skirts and slacks. I gained about 10 pounds back, so none of those fit anymore. The strange thing is that now I can't seem to replace them, even in the next size up. Nothing I have found, even in my new size, seems to work with my shape. My waist is small and my hips aren't too big, but my thighs are where I carry the most weight. Lighter weight fabrics show every bulge. Unfortunately, I really don't care for skirts with much volume (which I know can help). Does anyone have good suggestions for brands and styles of office appropriate bottoms for heavier thighs? I keep wearing leggings with long tops (which I love, but not every day) and have beautiful tops that have to sit and wait for jeans...

10 years ago

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I also have thighs and Express Editors worked well for me. I also find Banana Republic Martin fit fits pretty well.

SarahTheWhite

Thank you!!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

I used to buy Aline skirts simply out of self defense, because they were the only skirts that fit my shape. But I'm with you, I think pencil skirts are often more flattering for pears if we can find ones that fit. Some brands are getting better about this - maybe Talbots and Target's Merona line might be worth trying?

Places like J Jill, Chico's, and Coldwater Creek might not be where you first think of when you think of office wear, but they all have knit versions of skirts and dresses that might fit more easily than a woven would.

I am a big fan of Eddie Bauer's curvy cuts in trousers. Ann Taylor has one too.

If nothing else works, there's always the tailoring solution: buy the size to fit your thighs and have everything else taken in.

Runcarla

Not a pear, but replicating your Friday style with a straight leg trouser or coloured pant pant would work. I think pretty pears can rock pencil skirts, too. It is just a matter of finding the right fit. Make it less corporate by wearing booties instead of pumps.

Not sure which brands would fit you best though. I'm a fan of the pencil skirts in the Sears Jessica line. Not cut too snug, and lined!

Anonymous

Maybe a ponte pencil skirt might work for you? The fabric is stretchy enough that it moves with your body and doesn't cling in weird places, but thick enough not to show many bumps.

I have one from Ann Taylor from last year and a few from Halogen at Nordstrom. (The most common one at Nordstrom has a lining, which doesn't work as well on me because the lining has no give, but I have one unlined skirt from there that works better.) There's also this tube skirt (doesn't look like it's in stock right now), which is thinner, but still somehow not clingy.

I wish I had more suggestions for what works, as much for my own benefit as anything else!

Liz A.

Try the limited exact stretch pants. That's my go to.

greycat6

I feel your pain as another pretty pair. Have you tried shape wear? Though not everyone's cuppa, it can help minimize the thigh:hip ratio.

I second Laura's (rhubarbgirl) suggestion for tailoring. Find a brand or style that fits your trouble spot and tailor the rest.

Good luck!

Active Member

I agree with Sveta, I too am pear shaped and love BR Martin Fits. I generally wear this flared style with a fitted top/shirt with stretch to show off the smaller upper body. I also like Express Editor style trousers and have one in grey. It is a straight fit and I find it okay.. good but not great. Somehow I'm not a fan of straight fits - I either go with flare or skinny.

Despite being a pear I also do wear skinny trousers for office, but only in black and if they have a mid-rise. I will faux tuck my shirts in from the front.

I keep bottoms generally dark - black, grey, blue, olive green, oxblood etc. or else I go very pale with cream or white. No beige shades - they make me look more hippy somehow.

I love wearing both pencil & fit n flare skirts (they fit around the hips and flare from there on) for office, and really like the pencil skirts that GAP offers.

Thank you all. So much for the great advice. I will definitely have to go out and try some of these on.

Meli

If you like trousers go for a fit where they fit your largest part of your thighs and go straight down from there. You'll probably have to have the waist taken in, and don't go for cropped/slim/slim flare styles where they cling all the way to the knee or even below. If you get them in denim or colors/fabrics that read less dressy (light colors for instance) they'll blend well in a casual environment while still looking really nice.

gradfashionista

J. Crew has a fit-and-flare sleeveless pleated dress that they categorize as office wear. Falls to the knee and can be work with or without a shirt underneath.

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