Ask Fashion Girl

Dear Neema:

Many of us are pears of one sort or another! If you are a pear with a heavy bottom half, and on the short side, there are wardrobe tricks that you can employ to bring your best features into focus while taking your flaws out of the spotlight. Essentially, you want to do two things: elongate your body to create height, and call attention away from your larger lower half to your slimmer top half.

To create height, avoid horizontal lines in your clothes, such as stripes and stitching going across the body. Instead, try to create verticals, or up-and-down effects, with button-up-the-front tops, open jackets, and long scarves.

Another height-creating trick is color blocking. To do this, wear the same color top and bottom. Wearing hose to match your skirt is an extra touch. The idea is not to chop yourself into pieces at the waist and knees by wearing contrasting colors. Tall boots with skirts and tights are good for you as well.

To pull the eye up, wear interesting colors and detailing around your face, neck, and chest. This is where the focus of your outfits should be. You can emphasize your upper half with embroidery, contrasting stitching, or a contrasting collar. V-necklines are really good for you. Pants and skirts should be plain, without detailing such as embroidery, ruffles, pleats, gathers, contrasting or fancy pockets, etc., so that the eye does not rest at the hips.

In addition, avoid bulky clothes, and be careful with layering. Fabrics should hang smoothly and not add extra bulk to the figure. Fit is really important: tight clothes will make you look bigger, and baggy clothes can do the same thing.

Sincerely, Fashion Girl