Apple Body Shape Characteristics
- Disproportionate body shape
- Wider top body half than the bottom half
- Fuller midsection, lack of waist
- Smaller hips and thighs
- Slender legs and ankles
If you carry most of the weight in your midsection, and your waist is wider than your hips and bust, you likely have an Apple Body Shape.
Since the midsection carries most of the weight and is fuller than the shoulders and hips, the lack of a waist is an area of concern.
If you have this body type and are willing to create a better proportion, aim to create the illusion that you have a waist.
Clothes That Flatter An Apple Body Shape The Most
Underwear & Shapewear
A good push-up bra will help to lift a bust and create a separation between the bust and midsection. Invest in good waist shapewear. This will help cinch and minimize the midsection.
Tops
As apple-shaped women commonly have a curve on the top and a lack of a curve below the hipline and have no waist, it is best to create the illusion of a waist.
To achieve that, the best is to choose soft and light material fabrics so they don’t add bulk to the upper body. Choose tops with no detail around the midsection, straight to slightly fitted cut that will cinch at the smallest part of the waist.
Tops with lower open necklines are the best. Lower scoop V-neck tops are excellent for elongating the neckline and drawing attention away from the midsection. Empire line designs are also great for drawing attention to the bust.
For tops, it’s best to end no lower than at the hip length. Apple body-shaped women typically have beautiful, slender legs. Show off your beautiful features to draw attention from the midsection.
Trousers
This is where this body type women can choose garments with more detail and emphasize those beautiful legs. As the bottom part of the body is less curvy, the best is to select trousers with some embellishments and draw attention away from the midsection. The most flattering apple body shape trousers are wide-legged flat-fronted side fastening designs. They help to avoid extra bulk around the midsection area. The wide-leg designs balance the broader upper and narrower lower parts of the body. They could be low-rise cargo, capri, or cropped designs. These will help emphasize the beautiful legs and slim ankles.
Skirts
Like trousers, choosing low-waisted flat-fronted fastening to the side skirts is the best. Pencil skirts always work well for an apple body shape. Flared, pleated, or swing skirts also look good as they nicely balance the figure.
Dresses
The best dress designs that flatter an apple body shape are empire line, shift, and wrap dresses, which could also work. However, the best is to keep the waist free from details and embellishments, not to add extra bulk.
Again, just as for tops, open necklines are the best. Low scoop, V-necklines will elongate the upper side of the body and steer attention away from the midsection to the bust.
Jackets & Coats
Carefully selected coats and jackets are a great way to disguise the areas of concern. For an apple body shape, it is always best to emphasize the narrowest point of the torso under the bustline. Therefore, the button under the bust, single-breasted, empire line, and tie belt just under the bust wrap designs work particularly well for apple body shape types.
Wear coats and jackets open to elongate the body and get a slimming effect, especially if there is a contrasting color underneath that works well.
Colors, Prints & Patterns
It is great to play with colors, prints, and patterns to help to balance the proportions.
It is best to wear darker colors on the upper body, the darkest tones around the midsection, and brighter shades, prints, and patterns on the lower body. This will help to minimize the upper body, cinch the waist, and emphasize beautiful legs.
Learn more about Wardrobe Color Palette and Personal Style in the articles below:
Footwear
Since an apple body shape typically has slender legs and ankles, a wide variety of footwear could be chosen. Still, wedge or chunky designs are the best to balance out the heavier top.
Accessories
It is best to choose exciting statement pieces to complement decollete and create interest in the bust area, but be careful not to clutter. Apple-body-shaped women often wear open necklines. As the bust is usually open, it already makes interest, so wearing earrings, necklaces, and bracelets could be too much. The best is to wear one or the other so as not to clutter the look.
For example, wearing only longer earrings and a ring or only longer necklaces and a bracelet will be enough to compliment a beautiful bust and add sufficient character to the look.
Tip: The longer earrings or necklaces give the face and bustline a slimming effect.
Best To Avoid For An Apple Body Shape
Avoid high necks and tight-fitted designs as they only accentuate the disproportionate figure.
Avoid any additional detailing around the midsection, such as gatherings, pleats or ruching, embellishments, horizontal prints, and fastening belts at the widest point of the midsection.
Light colors add fullness, so avoid light colors on the upper and midsection areas.
Avoid high-waisted skirts and trousers designs. They make the midsection look bigger.
Regardless of your body type, remember every shape has its best and less than the best features. No matter what best features one has, we all are beautiful!
Understanding your body shape and choosing clothing that flatters YOUR figure will make you look great, but the most important thing is to wear attire that makes you FEEL good and accentuates YOUR best features.
Examples Of An Apple Body Shape
Visit M·style alley’s Pinterest board to see Apple Body Shape examples:
Ready To Transform Your Wardrobe?
Dive into the life-changing experience with the UNIQUE YOU Minimalist Wardrobe Planner Workbook. (Re)discover your Style Personality, create a Wardrobe Color Palette, and build a Minimalist or Capsule Wardrobe that reflects YOU. This step-by-step, easy-to-follow workbook is your path to curating an organized and functional wardrobe that will bring joy, peace, and confidence into your daily life!
Start transforming your wardrobe today!
