Body Shape Guide
Pear Body Shape
The pear body shape, also called triangle body shape, is where your hips are wider than your bust or shoulders. Pear body shape measurements show hips at least 5% wider than bust, with a defined waist. This guide covers outfit ideas, best jeans, dresses, and style tips.
Pear Body Shape
Hips are noticeably wider than the bust or upper body. Waist is often defined. Lower body is dominant.
Definition
What Is a Pear Body Shape?
A pear body shape, also known as a triangle body shape is a proportion pattern where the lower body is wider than the upper body. The hips, thighs, and seat are the widest points, while the bust and shoulders are narrower. The waist is often defined relative to the hips.
Hips
The hips are the widest measurement and define the pear silhouette. Hips are typically at least 5% wider than the bust — often more.
Waist
The waist is usually defined, especially compared with the hips. A noticeable waist-to-hip difference is common in pear body shapes.
Upper Body
The bust and shoulders are narrower than the hips. This narrower upper body is what creates the pear or triangle shape silhouette.
Measurements
Pear Body Shape Measurements
Pear body shape measurements are determined by the ratio between your hip and bust measurements. It is about proportions — not a specific size or weight.
Pear Body Shape Measurement Rule
You may have a pear body shape if:
Hips are at least 5% wider than your bust
Waist is smaller than hips — often significantly so
Bust is narrower than hips
Example: Bust 34", Waist 27", Hips 39" — hips are 15% wider than bust — strong pear shape.
Pear vs Triangle — What Is the Difference?
Pear and triangle body shapes describe the same basic proportion pattern — hips wider than bust. Some style guides use "pear" for a moderate hip-to-bust difference (5–15%) and "triangle" for a more pronounced difference (15%+). This calculator uses both terms interchangeably, with triangle indicating a more dominant lower body.
Quick Check
Check Your Pear Body Shape Proportions
Enter your bust and hip measurements to see whether your proportions match a pear or triangle body shape.
Style Tips
How to Dress a Pear Body Shape
The main styling goal for a pear body shape is to balance wider hips by adding visual interest and structure to the upper body. Here are the most effective style tips.
Add interest to the upper body
Bright colors, patterns, embellishments, statement necklines, and structured shoulders all draw the eye upward and balance wider hips. A bold top with simple dark bottoms is a classic pear shape combination.
Define the waist
Wrap tops, belted dresses, high-waist bottoms, and fitted waistlines highlight the waist and create an hourglass effect. A defined waist is one of the best features of a pear body shape.
Choose smooth, darker bottoms
Dark, plain, well-fitted bottoms minimize visual attention on the hips. Avoid heavy pockets, embellishments, and loud patterns on the lower half if you want to balance proportions.
Try A-line and flared styles
A-line skirts, fit-and-flare dresses, and bootcut jeans skim over the hips and thighs while showing the waist. These styles work with pear proportions rather than against them.
Use structured shoulders
Structured blazers, puff sleeves, boat necks, and off-shoulder styles visually widen the upper body and balance wider hips. A cropped or hip-length jacket is particularly effective.
Use necklines strategically
Boat necks, square necks, wide V-necks, and off-shoulder styles create horizontal visual lines at the shoulder level, making the upper body appear wider and more balanced with the hips.
Best Outfits
Best Clothes for Pear Body Shape
These clothing styles work well for pear body shapes because they balance wider hips with upper body interest and highlight the waist.
Best Tops for Pear Body Shape
Boat neck tops, square neck tops, off-shoulder tops, puff sleeve tops, wrap tops, bright or printed tops, and structured blazers. These add visual width and interest at the shoulder and bust level to balance wider hips.
Best Jeans for Pear Body Shape
Bootcut jeans, straight-leg jeans, wide-leg jeans, and high-waist jeans all work well. Bootcut and wide-leg styles balance the hip width by adding volume at the hem. High-waist styles highlight the waist. Look for stretch fabric and avoid very tight skinny jeans in light colors that emphasize hips.
Best Dresses for Pear Body Shape
Fit-and-flare dresses, wrap dresses, A-line dresses, empire-waist dresses, and dresses with defined waists and full skirts. These styles highlight the waist and skim over the hips. Avoid shift dresses and bodycon dresses that add volume directly at the hip line.
Best Bottoms and Skirts
A-line skirts, midi skirts, high-waist trousers, wide-leg pants, and bootcut trousers. Darker, plain fabrics work best on the bottom half. Avoid mini skirts in clingy fabrics, heavy cargo pants, and very tight pencil skirts that draw attention to the hip area.
Pear Shape Variations
Types of Pear Body Shape
The pear body shape includes several variations based on the degree of hip dominance and overall body composition.
Soft Pear Body Shape
A soft pear has hips only gently wider than bust — roughly 5–10% — with softer, rounder curves and less angular definition than a classic pear. Common in women with evenly distributed body fat that settles more in the lower body.
Athletic Pear Body Shape
An athletic pear has hips wider than bust with more muscular definition. The glutes and thighs are more developed. Common in women who do lower-body focused training like squats, cycling, or running. The waist may be quite defined relative to the hips.
Petite Pear Body Shape
A petite pear has the same hip-dominant proportions at a smaller overall scale. The hip-to-bust difference is still present but at smaller measurements. Petite pear shapes benefit from cropped tops and high-waist bottoms to elongate the torso.
Comparisons
Pear Body Shape vs Other Body Shapes
Understanding how pear compares to similar shapes helps you identify your shape more accurately.
Pear vs Hourglass
Both have hips wider than waist. Hourglass has bust and hips balanced (similar size). Pear has hips clearly wider than bust. If your bust is much narrower than your hips, it is pear not hourglass.
Pear vs Spoon
Both are hip-dominant. Spoon shape has a more pronounced high hip shelf — the hip curve is more dramatic. If you have a very visible hip shelf above the fullest hip point, it may be spoon rather than pear.
Pear vs Triangle
Triangle is a more pronounced version of pear — hips are significantly wider (15%+). Pear is a moderate difference (5–15%). Both have hips wider than bust; triangle is simply more extreme.
Pear vs Rectangle
Rectangle has bust, waist, and hips all close in measurement. Pear has hips clearly wider. If the hip-to-bust difference is less than 5%, it is more likely rectangle than pear.
Pear vs Apple
Apple carries weight in the midsection — the waist is fuller. Pear carries weight in the hips and thighs — the waist is defined. These are essentially opposite fat distribution patterns.
Pear vs Inverted Triangle
Inverted triangle is the opposite — bust and shoulders wider than hips. Pear has hips wider than bust. They are mirror images of each other in terms of proportion direction.
Related Tools & Guides
More Pear Body Shape Resources
Pear Body Shape Outfits
Complete outfit ideas and style inspiration for pear shapes — A-line dresses, bootcut jeans, structured tops, and more.
How to Dress for Your Body Type
General style tips for all body shapes including practical outfit advice for every proportion and size.
Body Shape Calculator
Use the free calculator to confirm your body shape from bust, waist, and hip measurements instantly.
How to Find Your Body Shape
Step by step guide to finding your body shape from measurements — with or without a tape measure.
How to Measure Waist and Hips
Step by step guide to measuring waist and hips accurately at home for body shape calculations.
Spoon Body Shape Outfits
Similar to pear — style tips and outfit ideas for spoon body shape women.
FAQ
Pear Body Shape — Frequently Asked Questions
What are the measurements for a pear body shape?
Pear body shape measurements: hips at least 5% wider than bust, and waist smaller than hips. Example: Bust 34", Waist 27", Hips 39" — hips are 15% wider than bust, a strong pear shape. Waist-to-hip ratio is typically under 0.80 for women with pear proportions.
What is a pear body shape?
A pear body shape, also called triangle body shape, is where the hips are wider than the bust or shoulders. The lower body is the dominant point — hips, thighs, and seat are fuller. The waist is often defined relative to the hips.
What is the difference between pear and hourglass body shape?
Both have wider hips than waist. Hourglass has bust and hips balanced (similar size) with a clearly defined waist. Pear has hips noticeably wider than bust — the upper body is narrower. If your bust is much smaller than your hips, it is pear not hourglass.
What is a soft pear body shape?
A soft pear body shape has hips only gently wider than bust — roughly 5–10% — with softer, rounder curves. The hip-to-bust difference is present but subtle. It sits between rectangle (under 5%) and classic pear (10–15%+).