This is a gorgeous dress, but it is not flattering for pear shaped women. Hourglass yes, pear shaped no. Unless you are extremely fit/toned. The black lacey detail & the light shade of the dress highlight your backside, so that needs to be a very flattering view. Alternately, if you aren't a very hippy frame, the focus will be on dress & your entire frame -- again a gorgeous dress, so go for it.

Floral Frame Sheath

Lela Rose

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Size Worn: 8

Usual Size: 8

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 145lbs

Bust: 32AA

This would be a great dress for dancing: low arm holes, so not perspiring on dress; well cut, so that when you twirl, the skirt doesn't rise up; extra material drapes from shoulder slightly covering the back of your arms which is great if your arms aren't as toned as you'd like. The dress feels light as a feather, is extremely comfortable to wear, to sit in, to move in. Ever so slightly transparent: when you twirl, you can make out the complete silhouette of your legs (can't see skin tone, just the outline). Can wear a regular bra, has the ribbons sewn in to button your bra straps to the dress straps (an easy detail that you don't see in every dress that should have this). Overall, great attention to detail in this design. Bravo. That said, I was going to a professional event, and so chose to wear a different RTR dress. To me, the mood of this dress didn't feel right for the event…however, if I was going tango dancing, this would have been the dress.

Golden Lurex Flutter Dress

Milly

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Size Worn: 6

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 145lbs

Bust: 32AA

This is a *great* dress for pear shaped women. The design of the arms creates the illusion of a balanced top & bottom. The asymmetrical, sharp V-neckline is dramatic & sexy without being too revealing (excellent for professional as well as personal events). I wore a size 8 (didn't get another size in this dress, so can't compare the fit differences between sizes), and was lucky that the dress' waistline hit at my own, the curves over the hips and butt hit at the right places. [Since women's dress sizes vary, I'll give some additional measurements to help others decide what size to order: 14-1/2" collarbone to waist, 19" collarbone to top of hip, 26" collarbone to widest part of thigh, 28" around waist, 35" around widest part of belly, 36-1/2" around at hips, 39-1/2" around both legs at widest part of thigh.] The dress was fitted, but not sausage-like. The material was heavy enough that there could be room in the stomach (yay! comfortable sitting down) without there looking like there was extra room across the stomach. The angled hemline has a slight slimming effect on the legs, cutting across the knees, but mainly it's an interesting detail (like the neckline) which saves the dress from being dowdy. You can't see it in any of the pictures, but at the high side of the hemline, there is an additional 2" slit. It's helpful to be tall because of the length of the dress. Heels make a dramatic difference. If you're looking for a similar fit, but shorter hemline, search this site for one of the Black Halo Jackie O dresses (RTR should always have one in their inventory because of its killer fit). As others have mentioned, you really don't notice the see-through panel in the dress in normal or low lighting.

Pencil Me In Sheath

Rachel Roy

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Size Worn: 8

Usual Size: 6

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 145lbs

Bust: 32AA

I hadn't picked this one out, the stylist suggested it (OT: I found the stylist advice via email to be far superior to the advice via chat...Lindsey G, you rock). This dress is a beautiful color, drapes beautifully on a long body (even with saddlebag thighs). You'll be comfortable, and a stand-out from all the black/dark dressed women. A-maz-ing.

Nicoletta Dress

Diane von Furstenberg

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Size Worn: 4

Usual Size: 12

Height: 5' 9"

Weight: 162lbs

Bust: 34A

This dress was amazing. I have small bust and saddlebag things, so finding dresses that fit on top and bottom can be a trick. The bust was well-fitted, the torso wasn't quite long enough (the flare out over the butt started a little too high), but not enough that you could really see. Enough room in the stomach panel to sit down comfortably without feeling encased. I find the lower cut arm holes to be a good feature -- lots of air flow, which keeps a dress from getting sweat stains after repeated wearing. A well constructed dress, which fit me better than some that were tailor made for me. If I could find this pattern, I certainly would buy it.