I love you pretty pear shape. If you're not comfortable with it, I can agree to that. Myself , I would remove the last tier ( or two tiers) and wear it with heels. I think it could be lovely. But I do admit my mental arrows point at my tummy. To each it's own.

I think you look fab in this dress! Could it be that it's just not your "style"?

I did not read all these replies but here's my two cents. I have the same body shape as you and I would not wear this dress. Yes we are pretty pears but we still don't want to showcase our hips. Does anyone?

This thread is making me understand why my less-endowed girlfriends are always begging me to show more cleavage when all I want to do is minimize and cover up... I feel like if I had hips and booty, I'd happily wear a neon sign that said "CHECK THIS!"

Janet, thanks for posting what I thought was an extremely valuable exercise. The comments have been *very* interesting.

Lynn, I have pear-shaped clients you absolutely prefer to showcase their pear shaped frame. I love how they embrace their natural shape in what I perceive to be a very flattering way. There are ways of accentuating a pear shape that is not flattering - but as I said before, this frock is not it.

To my eye, Janet looks alluring and beautiful in this dress. Her hip curve is not wrong. It's just a curve.

Angie, I'm glad I took that picture and didn't delete it! Even though I usually don't keep pics of items after my fitting room trials, for some reason I kept that one.

It has been very interesting indeed to read how we all see these things through the lens of our own body identity. And on a personal level, it's helping me at least begin to see the possibility of dressing my body in ways I formerly rejected for fear of looking "big." I have to say that this dress was very close to being a contender -- I liked it on me far more than I expected I would.

Wow! *picks jaw up off floor*. I think you look incredible in this. Your curves look great! We have a similar body shape and I would love to look this good in a dress.

Janet, I am *thrilled* to hear that you are seeing your gorgeous bod in a new light

As a fellow pear shape, this was really, really interesting to read. I always shy away from dresses that fit like this one. Especially sweater dresses. And I really want one, but they hug every curve. Especially my bum area. I feel like it's neon arrows pointing to it! But in truth, while I do see your curves, what I see is a curvy, sensual looking woman, and nothing wrong with that. I think you look great in this dress and I know some people would love to have curves like this in a dress. Interesting, I never thought of this before.

Thank you Janet for posting the picture. The only thing that's keeping me from ordering the dress right this minute is the price.

Janet, the Bailey 44 dress looks very similar on me as it does on you, but I think I must be learning to embrace my curves [thank you, Angie] because I didn't immediately pull it off in disgust. I took some pics, pirouetted in the mirror, and decided, yes, m'am, I DO think I look just fine. Sadly, the long-sleeved version of the dress is no longer available in the size I need. I may call around to some local Anthro stores to see if I can find one.

I did end up buying the hourglass form dress in blue, another curve-hugging little number, and I can't wait to wear it.

http://www.anthropologie.com/a.....ubCategory

well, I think this dress is fabulous on you. It seems a bit long, but a pair of heels could solve that problem lickety split!
Did you show hubby the picture? What does he say?

I am also an hourglass with pear tendency (I think) and although I think the fit is very nice and the dress is very nice, if it was me, I likely would not buy it. I looked at the pic a few times and concluded that I liked the right side where the diagonals didn't intersect much more than the left side where they were closer on the hip. I thought it was interesting.

I think you have a gorgeous body and would be thrilled if it was mine but to my eye, this dress is not the best I've seen on you. Pretty but probably not a 10.

Oooooo, Kate, pretty! Pictures, please.

I really appreciate this thread. Thank you Janet!
I am with Diana & Lisa - anything this shape & body-conscious on me is all about my booty. And here the rest of you are saying that not a bad thing (!).
I think the Halogen pencil skirt is so flattering because the thicker fabric doesn't curve in along my thighs, the way this dress does, but it does cut in, in a straighter line. More subtle?

Janet, I'm of the opinion that this emphasizes your pretty figure in a VERY flattering way. I like how the tiers show your small waist without adding bulk and think that the diagonal seaming hits you in very flattering places. Thank you for pointing me towards this thread because it's really helpful to me to see others with very different body shapes rock the dress too!
The red shade is also quite pretty and I see Angie's point that the stripes would be lower contrast with that color.

Janet, I just wanted to chime in once more and encourage you to go back to anthro and revisit (buy?) the Bailey 44 dress. I've so admired your style on this forum and thought you rocked that dress! Yes, I AM an enabler. Yesterday, I found the purple striped version at a local Anthropologie and snapped it up, and I'm as pleased as a dog with two tails.

Kate, thanks for that. I actually looked online, and it's sold out in my size in both colors. Seems to be gone from my local Anthro as well.

I am open to revisiting it, especially with heels. If anyone sees one around in a medium, let me know -- I'll send you some $$ to grab it for me and I'll try it!