Figure fundamentals
How to Dress Your Body Shape: Pear Edition
Illustration by Ajia Brey
When we do independent research online for a story, rather than interview someone, we list our sources outside of the story and include the links we used in the article’s QR code. This is so you can easily see where we got our information before even reading the story, and so you can peruse the original research yourself.
When it comes to researched information, we look for people, organizations and companies who are experienced in their field—even if Amidst Life doesn’t agree with everything they do—and can give reputable insight regarding the topic we are writing about. For this story, we have an image consultant training school, run by a highly celebrated image consultant; a seasoned personal stylist who is now sharing her fifteen-plus-years of expertise through her blog; and Stitch Fix, the delivered- to-your-door styling service that’s been dressing women all over the country since 2011.
research sources
The Well Dressed Life’s Shape EquationS: read her full article here
Rectangle Formula: Waist ÷ Shoulders or Bust = ≥ .75
”If the number you get is ≥ .75, your waist is less than 25% smaller than your shoulders or bust, and you fall into the rectangle category.”Round Formula: Waist ÷ Shoulders and Bust = ≥ 1.05
”If the number is ≥ 1.05, your waist is more than 5% bigger than your shoulders or bust, and you fall into the round or apple body type.”Hourglass Formula 1: waist ÷ shoulders and bust = ≤ 0.75
”In this equation, you want to use whichever measures more, either your shoulders or bust. If the number is ≤ 0.75, then your waist is 25% smaller than your shoulder or bust.”
Hourglass Formula 2: waist ÷ hips = ≤ 0.75
”If the number is ≤ 0.75, then your waist is 25% smaller than your hips.”Pear Formula: hips ÷ shoulders or bust ≥ 1.05
”If the number is ≥ 1.05, then your hips are 5% bigger than your shoulders, then you are considered a pear or triangle shape.”Inverted Triangle Formula: shoulders or bust ÷ hips = ≥ 1.05
”If the number is ≥ 1.05, then your shoulder or bust is more than 5% bigger than your hips making you an inverted triangle.”