Tall women don't catch many breaks when it comes to clothing. Not only do we have to dress for our height, we also have to dress for our shape. If you're a tall woman with a pear-shaped body, use the following tips to dress for your shape.
- Wear wide-legged pants and jeans. When you purchase wide-legged pants, choose a size that fits you perfectly around your widest point so that the leg doesn't pull tight across your hips and thighs. This may mean trying on and purchasing pants that are too big around the waist, but it's easier to get a tailor to cinch in the waist than it is to have the legs let out. Buy pants in a dark color or wash and make sure that they have a sufficiently-long inseam. Just because the legs are wide, doesn't mean you can get away pants that run an inch or two short.
- Choose tops that hit you at your widest point. Avoid short tops and t-shirts that seem to cut you off at the middle. Short tops will only emphasize the size discrepency between your top and bottom halves. Look for long camis, t-shirts and blouses that are long enough to hit your hips at their widest point.
- Draw attention to your waist. One of the benefits of having a pear shape is that you can show off your tiny waist with brazen abandon. Wear bright colored or wide belts that cinch around the smallest part of your torso, drawing the eye away from your bottom half.
- A-lines are your friend. When choosing skirts, coats or dresses, look for A-line options. This style highlights your natural waist, then flares out over your hips and thighs, hiding your trouble-spots without making it look like you're trying to cover up.
- Look for tops with interesting necklines. You want to highlight your long neck and nice shoulders, so choose necklines that offer a point of interest. You can choose a simple boat-neck top or go for something more daring like a high-neck halter with ruffles. This will keep the focus of your outfit up top.
- Add layers. In order to balance out your hips, you can add a little bulk to your shoulders with cardigans, blazers or vests. Choose items that you can tie or belt in at the waist.