How to Slim a Pear-Shaped Body

Pear-shaped women tend to have unbalanced upper and lower body–with the upper part smaller and the lower part of the body larger. The hips are usually wider than the shoulders and weight gain is apparent below the waist. Pear-shaped women usually have flat stomachs, small chest and a small waist. The main concern in slimming a pear-shaped body is to lessen the fat around the thighs, hips and butt. This may be done with proper exercise to tone the lower body and appropriate clothing to create the illusion of a slimmer figure.

Instructions

  1. Focus your exercise on balancing the top and bottom half of the body, particularly slimming down the lower body. Choose exercises that will burn as many calories as possible. Do cycling or running, as these help burn more fat on the lower part of the body. Walk for 20 minutes in the morning and another 20 minutes in the evening. Jump rope for 20 minutes in the afternoon. Do aerobic exercise for at least 45 minutes a day.
  2. Engage in weight training to build your upper body and make your lower body look smaller. Lift weights to build muscle mass in the upper body. Choose “light” weights and lift them for 15 to 20 repetitions. Include resistance exercises that work out the lower body in your exercise program.
  3. Dress your pear-shaped body appropriately. Wear button-down clothes, V-necks, slim-fitting tops and clothing with an A-line silhouette. When shopping for clothes make sure that the length of the top falls just below the hipbone. Include layering in your dressing style to create visual balance between the larger and smaller part of the body.

Tips & Warnings

  1. Wear simple and structured bottoms to create the illusion of longer legs. Pants should be free of detail. Fabric should be stretchable and must skim along the contour of the thighs.
  2. If you can afford to hire a personal trainer, do so. A personal trainer can greatly help in balancing the lower and upper body more expediently.
  3. Don’t be scared of weight lifting. Just remember not to lift weights that are too heavy; you will know that the weight is light enough if you can lift it 15 to 20 times without getting too tired.

Eight Ways to Style a Scarf

A beautiful scarf is the perfect accessory for any outfit, but you may only know a few ways to tie one. Molly Borter, a content writer for Scarves.net, the largest online specialty scarf store, encourages people to experiment with new looks that go beyond the basic knot or the simple loop.

This simple way to style a scarf is perfect for light weight rectangular scarves

Start with the scarf around the back of your neck with both ends hanging down. Loop one end around the other twice and then bring it up through the bottom of the neck loop and over the knot that has been created. Spread the top end over the bottom end to create the ascot. “I love to do this knot with scarves that have some metallic in them so it shows off the knot.

Four in Hand

Take a long rectangular scarf and fold it in half and place it around your neck so that one end is a loop and the other end is the two ends. Take one of the two ends of the scarf and bring it through the loop. Twist the loop itself so it creates another loop and bring the second end of the scarf through that loop. This look is perfect for a pashmina-style scarf, and it’s an easy way to make a fancy-looking knot. “I teach all my family and friends this one,” Borter says.

Infinity Shrug

Infinity scarves have become very stylish in the last few years, and you might think the only way to wear it is as a double or triple loop around your neck. But you can easily turn that infinity scarf into a makeshift shrug by holding the scarf behind your back and bringing your arms through each loop. This style is great with a sleeveless dress or for a wedding because it covers your shoulders. “It’s very versatile.

Fancy Braid

Take a long lightweight scarf and tie a knot adjusting the loop around your neck so that it is about the size of the finished look. Take the right end of the scarf and bring it over the left end of the scarf at the knot, then bring it through the bottom of the neck loop and over to the front. Take the left end of the scarf and bring it over the right end of the scarf, and repeat as before. Repeat until you’ve run out of material and tie to finish. Stretch out the braid to show off this pretty look.

Muffler

This look is stylish and it keeps your neck and chest extra warm by trapping air inside its natural ripples. Fold a square scarf in half on the diagonal to create a triangle. Bring the folded edge to the front of your neck and tie the ends around the back of your neck. You can keep the ends hanging behind you, or bring them to the front and hide them underneath the muffler. This is a really pretty way to show off a scarf, especially if it has tassels at the end.

Double Wrap French Knot

Take a square silk scarf and fold it into a long thin rectangle that is the width that you want to cover your neck. Place the scarf around the front of your neck and pass two ends of the scarf behind your neck and bring them to the front. Tie a knot on one side of your neck and adjust the ends until you feel like Audrey Hepburn. “This is very French inspired.

Chain Knot

Take a rectangular scarf and hang it around the back of your neck. Twist the two ends twice close to your neck, bring the ends behind your neck and tie them. The look is great for clothes that have a deeper neckline, Borter says. “Gorgeous necklines need to be shown off, so the fact that the chain knot ties at the back of your neck, allows for you to still accessorize with a scarf without covering up your outfit.

Knot Row

Place the scarf around the back of your neck leaving both ends hanging down the front. Tie the scarf into a few knots down the front of your body, making sure they are of similar size and evenly spaced. This is a great look for the warmer months because it isn’t too bulky and it can easily dress up a plain T-shirt or blouse, Borter says. “I love how you can add more knots down the row for a more dramatic feel.

The 2014 Oscars red carpet fashion (Photos)

This year’s winners included newcomer Lupita Nyong’o who won for “Best Supporting Actress” for her role in the movie “12 Years a Slave” and actor Jared Leto for Best Supporting Actor for his role as a transgender man in “The Dallas Buyers Club”.

One of the highlights of the night was when Twitter’s website went down because of too much traffic on the site due to Oscar’s host Ellen DeGeneres’s “selfie” . Ellen twitted a live “selfie” with some of the Hollywood stars at the show and the picture was retweeted more than 1 million times breaking Twitter’s record which was set by President Barack Obama after his re-election.

Another highlight of the night was when Ellen order pizza and gave it to the audience who happily accepted including Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt.

But let’s face it, we watch the Oscars because of the red carpet fashion. Hollywood stars look their best as they hope to win the coveted award.

Take a look at pictures of some of our favorite picks of the night in the slideshow and tell us which one is your favorite.