Styling Faux Leather Leggings for the Pear Shape
For us pear or D shaped gals, wearing leggings has been a CHALLENGE! Our hips and thighs tend to be a bit thicker than our upper bodies so leggings have always been especially tricky for us. The best look for our body type is one that accents our waist which is our best feature, while also adding some structure to our upper torso to balance out our upper and lower body. With leggings, pulling this look off can be a bit daunting because it’s always the balance of wanting to cover our behinds, while trying not to look boxy and frumpy at the same time. It’s not an easy task, BUT with a few key things to keep in mind there IS a way to make it happen. First and foremost - we need to keep everything in it’s place and there is NO better brand out there than Spanx. I’m all for a great deal but friends, there is a time and place to invest in HIGH quality pieces and leggings that last AND do their job is worth investing in. I am in love with their Faux Leather Leggings which are featured below and you can get them HERE.
Okay - now let’s talk legging styling strategies for our Pear or D shaped gals. Here goes:
(1) Pair with a Structured Belted Outer Layer - The goal with this strategy is to acquire the hourglass look without adding too much bulk. Choose an outer layer jacket or sweater that is thinner and not too bulky. You definitely do not want to add more bulk to the hips, rather look for a piece that glides over your hips and moves with you. Also choose one with some embellishment such as a wide lapel collar like this one here, or pockets or additional detail on the top will work. The goal is to broaden your shoulder and chest area a bit to create an hourglass look. Also be sure your belt is a bit wider to really accent your waist.
(2) Wear with a Flowy Dress - I LOVE the look of leggings underneath a cute shorter dress. This is one that is a bit more sheer that I likely would not wear on it’s own without something underneath; yet when you pair it with the Spanx Faux Leather Leggings, it’s the PERFECT combination. The dress flows right over the curves of a pear shaped gal, moving as she moves. This is a cute look for date night and can even be paired with a shorter jacket to create the hour glass look by creating a waistline - BONUS!! This enables you to wear your leggings through every season, especially since the Spanx leggings are nice and light yet have nice compression to keep everything it in it’s place!
(3) Pair with a High Low Top - Again, going for bum coverage without the bulk, by layering with a high low top we can create flow in all the right places. This fun top by Fully Covered Still Fly is SUCH a great piece that provides that balance. With the fun cheetah print, puffy sleeves and a bold necklace, we are creating volume on the top, while also creating some coverage on the backside over the leggings. Such a fun piece to wear to a women’s conference (when social gatherings are back in style!!) or for date night. Likely not one to wear to the office, yet such a fun fashionista look for a special occasion or an event where you want to make a statement!
Remember, the goal here is to create an hourglass type look where there is balance between the upper and lower half. We want the eyes to glide down, creating flow from top to bottom. Leggings are a great wardrobe staple for any body type - they key is to style appropriately and be sure you have the right things covered!
I’d love to know - which of these three looks do you like the best??
In Style & Grace,