How do I know if I have a pear body shape?

Stand in front of a mirror in fitted clothing and look at three things. Are your shoulders narrower than your hips? Do your hips, thighs, and seat carry most of your fuller weight? And when you look at your silhouette, does the line flare outward from shoulder to hip rather than running straight down? Yes to all three and you're a pear (or triangle, in CCH terms). The [body-shape finder](/style-hub/how-to-find-your-body-shape) walks you through the markers properly if you'd like a second opinion.

Is a pear body shape the same as a triangle?

Yes — same shape, two names. "Pear" is the everyday word most magazines and Google searches use; "triangle" is the stylist's word because it describes the geometry rather than reaching for a fruit. At CCH we use triangle on every other page (shop filters, quiz results, profile), but this article uses both because it's worth knowing the colloquial term too. If you've been told you're a pear, you can filter the shop for triangle and you'll find your edit.

What clothes flatter a pear body shape?

Three categories: tops that add interest at the upper half (statement prints, structured shoulders, interesting necklines), bottoms with a higher rise that skim your hips without clinging (A-line skirts, wide-leg trousers, well-cut bootcut jeans), and structured layers that build presence on top (shirt jackets, overshirts, defined-shoulder blazers). The principle is balance — visual weight on top so the silhouette reads proportioned rather than bottom-heavy.

What should a pear-shaped woman avoid wearing?

Anything that adds visual weight to your lower half: cropped boxy tops worn over skinny jeans, low-rise bottoms that cut across the widest part of your hip, drop-waist dresses, baggy on top and tight on bottom. Skinny-everything is the most common trap — a tiny fitted tee over skinny jeans flattens the upper half and emphasises the hips. Wear the opposite: structured or interesting on top, balanced through the bottom.

What jeans suit a pear body shape?

High-rise bootcut is the most consistently flattering. The high rise holds the waist where you have your most natural definition, the contour through the hip respects your line, and the gentle kick from the knee balances the hip so the leg reads even. High-rise straight is a close second, especially in a substantial denim with 1–2% stretch. Avoid low-rise of any cut — it lands on the widest part of your hip and flattens your shape.

Are pear shapes considered curvy?

Usually, yes — "curvy" is an everyday word that means "not straight up and down", and a pear's hip-to-waist contrast easily qualifies. But "curvy" covers a lot of ground (hourglass, triangle, and most bodies with shape), so it isn't precise. The styling principles for a pear shape (build the top, fit the bottom) are different from an hourglass's (define the waist) even though both are "curvy". Knowing your specific shape is what makes shopping faster.

How do I know if I have a pear body shape?

Stand in front of a mirror in fitted clothing and look at three things. Are your shoulders narrower than your hips? Do your hips, thighs, and seat carry most of your fuller weight? And when you look at your silhouette, does the line flare outward from shoulder to hip rather than running straight down? Yes to all three and you're a pear (or triangle, in CCH terms). The [body-shape finder](/style-hub/how-to-find-your-body-shape) walks you through the markers properly if you'd like a second opinion.

Is a pear body shape the same as a triangle?

Yes — same shape, two names. "Pear" is the everyday word most magazines and Google searches use; "triangle" is the stylist's word because it describes the geometry rather than reaching for a fruit. At CCH we use triangle on every other page (shop filters, quiz results, profile), but this article uses both because it's worth knowing the colloquial term too. If you've been told you're a pear, you can filter the shop for triangle and you'll find your edit.

What clothes flatter a pear body shape?

Three categories: tops that add interest at the upper half (statement prints, structured shoulders, interesting necklines), bottoms with a higher rise that skim your hips without clinging (A-line skirts, wide-leg trousers, well-cut bootcut jeans), and structured layers that build presence on top (shirt jackets, overshirts, defined-shoulder blazers). The principle is balance — visual weight on top so the silhouette reads proportioned rather than bottom-heavy.

What should a pear-shaped woman avoid wearing?

Anything that adds visual weight to your lower half: cropped boxy tops worn over skinny jeans, low-rise bottoms that cut across the widest part of your hip, drop-waist dresses, baggy on top and tight on bottom. Skinny-everything is the most common trap — a tiny fitted tee over skinny jeans flattens the upper half and emphasises the hips. Wear the opposite: structured or interesting on top, balanced through the bottom.

What jeans suit a pear body shape?

High-rise bootcut is the most consistently flattering. The high rise holds the waist where you have your most natural definition, the contour through the hip respects your line, and the gentle kick from the knee balances the hip so the leg reads even. High-rise straight is a close second, especially in a substantial denim with 1–2% stretch. Avoid low-rise of any cut — it lands on the widest part of your hip and flattens your shape.

Are pear shapes considered curvy?

Usually, yes — "curvy" is an everyday word that means "not straight up and down", and a pear's hip-to-waist contrast easily qualifies. But "curvy" covers a lot of ground (hourglass, triangle, and most bodies with shape), so it isn't precise. The styling principles for a pear shape (build the top, fit the bottom) are different from an hourglass's (define the waist) even though both are "curvy". Knowing your specific shape is what makes shopping faster.

How to Style a Triangle (Pear) Body Shape: 5 Capsule Pieces

A pear body shape (also called triangle) is narrower on top, fuller through the hips. Maria's London-stylist UK guide to 5 balancing capsule pieces.