Cute-casual-comfortable wardrobe for pear-shaped female in wintertime?

October 18, 2007 8:47 PM

Fashionfilter: Cute-casual-comfortable wardrobe for pear-shaped female in wintertime?

My body is a definite pear-shape, lots of junk in the trunk, biggish boobs, with a relatively small waist, and relatively defined arms and legs, about a size 10. This summer I finally found a "look" that worked for me: essentially a combination of casual a-line knee-length skirts, layered fitted tank tops, and flip flops, mixed up with different jewelry and accessories. (Hardly unique, I know!) I won't get into my general ineptitude in choosing clothing, or my body issues, but it was a big deal to me to feel comfortable and cute in my clothes all summer. Like my clothes worked with my body type instead of fighting it.

As winter approaches, I find myself looking at a closet full of jeans and henleys and hoodies. Comfortable for sure, but not very cute. I'm missing that feminine feeling of my summer wardrobe. Plus, jeans and pants just don't seem as flattering on my pear shape (or maybe just not the ones I have?). Oh, and the shoes! It seems like all comfortable winter shoes, or at least the ones I have (Clarks mainly), are just so clunky and mannish.

What would be the equivalent wardrobe for wintertime for a pear shape? If you are a pear, what do you wear in the fall/winter? Does it involve skirts? tights? certain jeans? great accessories? what shoes? My life is super casual, and I walk to just about everything, so ease and comfort are key. I am seriously clueless, so any advice or links would be much appreciated. Don't be afraid to talk down to me. The more specific the better (for example "accentuate your waist" sounds logical, but I just don't know what that translates to as far as what to buy.) I'm generally frugal, but don't mind going spendy on key pieces where quality is important. Items available online would be awesome as going shopping is a somewhat overwhelming and traumatic experience for me. I can't believe I just wrote so much about clothes...thanks for any advice you can give! :)

posted by eileen to clothing, beauty, & fashion (17 comments total)

I have more of the apple thing going on, but in winter, you can still do A-line skirts - just with knee socks or tights and tall boots. It's a gorgeous look!
posted by Miko at 9:08 PM on October 18, 2007

Lots of ladies would kill to be a size 10 and have a small waist!

I am about your size and like to wear wrap dresses and empire waist jersey dresses with tights and cardigans. I also wear flat front, chinos a lot with nicer scoop necked knit knit shirts or sweaters and a cute jacket layered over that. For shoes, I prefer Danskos. They are comfortable and you can find them in mary jane or loafer styles.
posted by pluckysparrow at 9:23 PM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I feel very nervous about empire waist dresses with a similar size. I've been told "Oh you're not pregnant? You look pregnant," one too many times.

I'm all about the wide leg look right now because the pants are fitted in the behind area, but not in the knee, so I look less pear shaped and more uniform. You should be able to find some good pants from Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic, H & M, etc. for not terribly expensive.

To creat the waist, pair a nice fitted sweater/cardigan with a cutesy camisole or tee, and wear a really good, structured blazer or jacket with it. You can find nice lighter weight stuff from Old Navy. You're looking for something with seaming/darting around the waist so that it creates a good narrow waistline. (I didn't really belive the jacket myth until recently. Now I have about six blazers I wear all the time. Really. It's amazing.) H & M has some great jackets right now, like good fall cardigans in pretty colors.

I'll post some links.

As for jewelry and accessories, find the same style jewelry you wore this summer in different colors for the winter, like silvers, blacks, darker shaded pearls. Target has some killer stuff right now. Other than that, I'm crap at picking out my own accessories, and I always just wear simple silver stuff. A few layered necklaces, two rings, and three pairs of earrings and I"m good to go.

I can't wait to hear what people find for you. :)
posted by santojulieta at 9:51 PM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Maybe nice trousers straight leg or bootcut that fit well, and then a top + jacket that is about waist length? or you could wear a v-neck or scoop neck top plus a longer cardigan (lightweight knit) and try a belt over the cardigan to accent your waist? But also, if the silhouette works for you in summer, just do it in winter with warm tights and a sweater that hits at the same level as the tank tops. 50's vintage sweaters might be a good thing to try (or modern version thereof)? they are usually made for a small waist.

but my biggest thing is.. just really do try and go shopping, go in a store and grab every pair of trousers you like in your size and try them all to see what cut looks right. for my basics i always do that & prob drive the sales people crazy after trying 10 things and buying one, but if it doesn't fit just right, why pay for it? also taking in the waist is an easy alteration so if that needs to be done a tailor could handle easily, and then you'd have nice trousers that really fit.

Camper shoes are cute and very walkable. cole haan makes some shoes with nike technology which are quite comfy, some of them are stylish, some not. (spendy, though.)
posted by citron at 9:55 PM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

lots of 40's jackets have a great curvy cut with a nipped in waist, too. i buy a lot of vintage because the trouble with gap/banana type stores.. the cuts are so boxy most of the time.. so unflattering. jcrew isn't bad though.

also, what about a nice shirt dress with an a-line or fullish skirt, belted at the waist, and layer underneath a long sleeve shirt if it's cold, plus tights?
posted by citron at 9:59 PM on October 18, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

one more thing (sorry, I keep hitting 'post' and then remembering other stuff to say).. if you like being a little preppy, i kind of dig bass penny loafers, they are classic, go with a lot, and are very, very comfy to walk in, and not expensive either.
posted by citron at 10:02 PM on October 18, 2007

Sweater
Wide Leg Jeans
Wide Leg Khakis

Long and Lean Jeans (which I love)
Shirt Dress
Printed Flutter Sleeve Dress
Long Moleskin Coat
Three Button Blazer
posted by santojulieta at 10:16 PM on October 18, 2007

You sound like more of an hourglass, but still. I'm a true pear: generous back porch, narrow torso. My winter wardrobe is mostly full or a-line skirts with something warm on my legs (tights, long socks, leg warmers, depending on the day's weather) and fitted on top--look for merino, lambswool, and cashmere sweaters which are not bulky and layer cutely over thinner tanks and tees.

In the summer, I am more of a dresses/full skirt with a tiny shirt kind of girl. My winter look is only a slight modification of that. I actually find it's more comfortable in winter to layer a skirt over some kind of leg cover than to wear well-fitting jeans that only provide a single layer of cotton.

Clarks are the absolute bomb. Look at the Indigo and Artisan lines, that's where the style is. I have some 3" Clarks Artisan heels that are as comfortable as my trusty Chucks, and that look great with wooly tights, and that I can chase my preschoolers down the grocery store aisles in without breaking my neck. You're on the right track with Clarks for sure.

My outerwear varies from fitted fleece jackets or body-hugging down vests to princess-cut wool coats. I'm not interested in anything boxy or baggy, but it does need enough room to layer over at least a thin sweater, which does sometimes mean buying up a size so long as that doesn't mean the shoulders are too big for me. I find that scarves, gloves and hats provide quite a bit of warmth and allow me to get away with a less bulky coat or jacket, plus it's another excuse to show off some color or a little bit of quirky style.
posted by padraigin at 10:49 PM on October 18, 2007 [2 favorites has favorites]

I agree with padraigin that you sound more hourglass to me ("biggish boobs") but at any rate, with either of these body shapes I think winter is actually a good season to wear clothes that embrace your curves since skinnier girls tend to get lost in the bulky fabrics.

A well fitting coat is a must. Not a peacoat which will be too boxy, but maybe something like this that nips in at the waist. Just make sure the bottom half does not gape open, which I have experienced with my wider hips. This tends to happen more often with coats that have waist ties though.

An A-line corduroy skirt is great for colder weather with some tights and boots. For the top, a wrap sweater like this can be quite flattering with your figure. I suggest a lacy camisole underneath, but I've also had success with a fitted black turtleneck (wool blend, not cotton)
posted by like_neon at 1:23 AM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I hope I don't sound like one of those people who hollar DVF WRAP DRESS! everytime a girl weighs over 110, but finding a cute coat that either buckles or wraps at the waist will make you feel a million times more femme than burying yourself in a marshmallow puffer coat or stick-straight wool button-up.

If you have the budget, designer Mara Hoffman excells at this silhouette, and though they sometimes have unusual cuts they always drape beautifully.

Here is a short wrap coat in gray with an amazing silkscreened hood; I've seen this in other colors and lengths in boutiques, but I think it's last seaon so I couldn't find the longer version.

Here's one of her wrap dresses, just so all my blather about her draping is justified.
posted by Juliet Banana at 6:19 AM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

I don't see why you can't adapt your summer wardrobe shapes to winter (as most people suggest above). I just came in here to recommend these boots. Living in the city, I walk everywhere, too, and I've found these more comfortable than sneakers. They're quite warm and waterproof, too. I wear them with skirts or under jeans or pants. That strip of semi-stretchy material on the side ensures a great fit, too: they hug my skinny ankles without being too tight, which I like because otherwise boots take away any shapeliness I have in my legs.
posted by CiaoMela at 6:20 AM on October 19, 2007

10 is where it's at, baby! :) I just popped in to suggest a shape that's worked really well for me to help define my hourglass - a shirt or pullover with a wide band of ribbing at the bottom, and a little neckline detail; I have several from Talbots. I also tend to favor cropped shapes - I feel like any sort of tunic is death to shapely girls, particularly short ones.

Here's an example of the kind of top I mean - the cover sweater. Come to think of it, I read that book right after I knitted a sweater that looked pretty terrible on me - even if you're not crafty, the first half of the book talks about identifying shapes that flatter you, no matter what shape you are. I learned a lot, so you might want to check it out of your local library and give it a look.
posted by deliriouscool at 8:11 AM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

As others have said, I would stay away from empire dresses and tunics. A fitted turtleneck dress can be very comfortable and flattering (if worn with the right underwear!). Get a merino wool or cashmere one and wear a low slung belt with it. I'm an hourglass shape (a little heavier on the bottom), and I'm short-waisted. Wearing the belt low lengthens my torso and actually makes my hips look narrower because it breaks up the line of the garment a bit. Add warm opaque tights and knee-high boots or ballet flats. Here's another more expensive one that comes in more colors.

Pencil skirts are great, but don't get a high-waisted one. You want to lengthen your torso, not shorten it. Fuller skirts or flared skirts are good, as long as they lay flat against your hips before they flare. I would look for skirts that hit 1 to 2 inches below your knees. Commit these words to memory: BIAS CUT IS YOUR FRIEND. Pair the skirt with a fitted cardigan, tights and Mary-Janes, and you're good to go.

Don't tuck. Wear fitted shirts or sweaters that hit about mid-hip and are meant to be worn untucked. Don't wear cropped sweaters.

I hate to be the umpteenth boring person to say DVF, but... DVF.

My tastes are decidedly "girly". I almost never wear pants, so I can't help you on that end. In my opinion, skirts are more comfortable.
posted by Evangeline at 9:02 AM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Definitely adapt your summer look for winter. Look for A-line skirts in wool, corduroy, denim, etc. Tights are an opportunity to wear something fun: look for patterns, textures, etc. Boots are great, at least mid-calf. I have two pairs of flat-heeled boots that are my fall and winter staples with knee-length skirts. You can still layers shirts - find long-sleeve and 3/4-sleeve jerseys in thin knits, waffle knits, etc., and layer them up. Comfy and cozy. Cardigans are great, as are short jackets with a defined waist.
posted by bassjump at 9:31 AM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Nthing the suggestion for a fitted coat with a tie at the waist. Make sure it has room enough for your boobs, and that it cinches in at your natural waist, not the hip area.
posted by slow graffiti at 4:42 PM on October 19, 2007

A fitted turtleneck dress can be very comfortable and flattering (if worn with the right underwear!).

It probably depends on how big your biggish boobs are, but I've actually found turtlenecks to be unflattering on women who are well-endowed in the boob department. At least, they're unflattering on me. V-necks and scoop necks look great on women with big chests. I think that's part of the reason that wrap dresses tend to look good on hourglass-shaped women: they usually have v-necks, defined waists, and then they flow away from your body below the waist.
posted by craichead at 5:00 PM on October 19, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Guess mine aren't very big, then.
posted by Evangeline at 9:19 PM on October 19, 2007