Calling all pear shapes.

[cerealjoe]

Day 01 // 02 // 03 // 04 // 05 // 06 // 07 // 08 // 09 // 10 // 11 // 12 // 13 // 14 // 15 // 16 // 17 // 18 // 19 // 20 // 21 // 22: my favorite website. I like aggregating things, not only in my work but also in real life and so the title of my favourite website goes to GoogleReader! Here is even a meta-phototaking GR tribute:

(Chinon. Agfa 200. Meta ice cream and pigs.)

But that's not what I really wanted to talk about today. This morning I was trying on some dress trousers to see if I should take them to my upcoming conference instead my usual skirts because it's supposed to be colder there and I'm over tights for this season. As I was trying these trousers I realised that I needed to find a belt that would go with them... because that's one of those things us pear shaped people have to do, unless they're really low cut trousers, belts are a must. Also stuff like a nice one piece swimming suit, it's so rare finding something that's wide enough at the bottom but doesn't expect you to have stomach or boobs or shoulders... same goes for dresses. Then I thought about all the models out there. Obviously you have the "girl, you need a sandwich" models and now more and more "plus size" models (if "plus size" means 46-48...) but there aren't many who are my size and shape (pear shaped, 40 at the bottom, bony and pretty flat at the top). Even the "plus size" models are, well, they're really nicely proportional. Heck I've even seen the old school Sophie Dahl called "pear shaped" when she was an amazingly stunning hourglass. So where are the pear shaped models? All those companies are promoting "real women" campaigns but I don't see my shape and size in those women. In the end, is it just me or are pear shaped people forgotten? And thus I continue on my unhappy streak, I keep on posting these whiny things. Gali, what's up with you? It's like you keep all your negativity for LJ...

Comments

[thinking-lotus.livejournal.com]

I'm not pear shaped at all but I am a short-waisted hourglass with broad shoulders, so I have my own issues. It always seems to me that most women are pear-shaped with narrow shoulders so nothing's designed to fit ME!

As for seeing models with the same proportions, maybe if I were taller there might be some, but mostly I don't even think about it, I just look for brands that accommodate my shape (Boden and JCrew are usually pretty reliable, often ASOS as well, sometimes Topshop).

IOW you're not alone having figure-type issues. A good fashion-blog for the pear-shaped is grechenscloset.com, though she almost never wears trousers.

I suppose being relatively able to find trousers that fit is a small blessing, perhaps making up for ONLY being able to wear dresses that have a high waist (unless I have one made for me, which so far has only happened with my wedding dress).

[cerealjoe.livejournal.com]

I also mostly wear skirts but I usually have to wear mine on my hips because I have a relatively tiny waist... at least I don't have many problems with shirts, bony shoulders will fit into anything that's marked S but definitely I can forget about plunging necklines. It's true that broad shoulders aren't particularly easy to shop for. In today's global fashion I think it's just easiest for all the mainstream fashion houses to design for some generic shape and everyone has to accommodate a little bit.

[be sunshiny (from livejournal.com)]

Hi Cerealjoe, I am pear shaped, so I do have fairly wide hips. What I noticed with the time just as you, is that skirts look a lot better on me that trousers. I look more feminine as well as a lot slimmer. A colleague of mine even told me that I look more professional in a skirt than in trousers.
But I just cannot do without tights or leggings (in boots) in cold weather...

I also noticed that our body shape does not have too many representatives out there. The few ones that were probably had a boob job ;-)
This is one of the reasons I started my pear shaped 365 style challenge. Showing some pear wear (and stopping my bad shopping habbits). To infuse "mainstream" culture, I also post them on pinterest.
If you want to take a look, here are my outfits: http://www.styled247.com/category/women/pear-shaped/
(I am already on day 57, yay!)

I know this post is old, but I hope you still read the replies!
Cheers, Verena