Dressing for a Heavy Bottom Half

Have you ever picked up a pair of pants at the store that you just knew was going to look great on your body. You get it home and try it on, only to find that it doesn\’t look the same on you as it did on the mannequin. We are all created differently, we have different body types, different body shapes and different body sizes. Thankfully, manufacturers recognize this and although designers dress pencil thin models there are clothes on the rack that fit the rest of us regular people.

Each body size and body type has its own solution that will flatter your figure and not the figure of the mannequin in the store. Women who are bottom heavy have unique challenges. Being bottom heavy means that your top half is leaner and longer and you begin to widen at the waist, hips and bottom. This is also called pear-shape.

Women who have a pear-shape want to draw attention away from the bottom half and up to the face and the top half. Flared skirts and vertical patterns on the lower half of the body work towards camouflaging. By wearing darker colors on the bottom and lighter colors on the top you also draw attention away from the bottom half. Using accessories such as earrings and necklaces or large lapels and small shoulder pads will also increase attention to the top half of the body while minimizing the lower half.

Stay away from fabrics that are stiff and bulky, instead use fabrics that have a soft drape. However, do not mistake clingy knits for a soft drape. These are also a no-no, especially on the bottom half. You can slim the appearance of hips and bottom by sticking with dark neutral colors that are solid. Avoid using fabrics that have a pattern unless they are very subtle or tone on tone. By putting a bright colored top over a dark neutral bottom you draw the eye upwards.

Waistbands that are lower than their natural waist level, A-line skirts and dresses with a fitted waist work well on women who have a larger bottom half. Boot cut pants are straight legs and do not accentuate the width of the hip. Pants that come in at the ankle or are fitted to the leg will increase the appearance of width at the hips.

Do not wear baggy clothing because it only makes you look bigger. Tight pants and skirts also accentuate the area of the body you are trying hard to camouflage. Instead wear clothing that fits your actual size and not the size you wish you were.

Wearing a puffed sleeve will help to broaden the size of the shoulders and balance the top half of the body with the lower half of the body. Because the bust line is usually small a push up bra may be a good option to increase the size of the bust and balance the body.

Pants which have pleats or side pockets are another no-no because they magnify your hips. Instead, opt for flat-front trousers. High waisted belted skirts work well when you have smaller breast line. Avoid an Empire waist dress that hides your waistline. Don\’t wear a straight button dress that hugs the curves but instead a wrap dress to emphasize the smallest part of the body and an A-line over the rest.