What is an Apple Shape?

First, I would like point out that there is no one exact mold that our bodies fit into. This is a guide to really start understanding the shape of your body. Second, I believe the most important rule of thumb when dressing regardless of body type is to think about it as contour and highlighting your body with clothes.

Generally, the apple body shape is characterized by the lack of a defined waistline. If you have an apple shape body, then your shoulder, bust, and waist measurements will be larger than the others. Sometimes, the hip measurements are the same size, though they’re usually smaller unless the person is very small.

Your shoulders are wide and round.

You tend to gain the most weight around the center of your belly. Even if your belly is flat, you will notice that it’s slightly wider.
Your waist isn’t as defined and usually starts right under your bust.

Your bust is average or slightly bigger
Your hips are narrow or slim.
Your legs may be slightly smaller and have slim arms.
You may have a flatter bum but, not always the case.

If you have an apple body shape, you may be rounder in general and struggle to separate the top half of your body from the bottom. The goal is to create a visual balance between your upper and lower body by adding structure by creating a clearly defined waistline. The smallest part of an apple waist typically falls right under the bust. That would be the place you want to highlight and cinch in the waist even more with an empire waist or belt.

The goal is to play around with the proportions of the garments to highlight the areas you want. This can be done through color, pattern, design, structure, drape, embellishments. For example, you can highlight to bust and shoulders with a bright print top with a pair of high waist wide leg pants. You are drawing the eye in to your shoulders with the color and print while cinching in the waist right under the bust and adding some width to your hips with the high waist pants. You can also achieve this with a bolero jacket or puff sleeves. Contour what you want to minimize and highlight what you want to maximize.

Bras

Invest in a good supportive bra. This really is a good rule of thumb for all of us with larger busts but, particularly important if you are an apple shape.
Because you have a fuller waistline with the smallest part starting just below your bust, you want to make sure the gals are lifted and not adding additional width.
If your breasts are not support properly they easily just melt into your waistline making it appear larger then it really is.

Cinch Your Waist

Usually the smallest part of waistline on an apple shape starts just below the bust.
Choose clothing that cinches at the waist with more give in other areas. Such as an empire waist dresses and tops the cinch is literally built into them.
Paneled or color blocked pieces are also your best friend they literally create the illusion of define waist instantly.
Avoid things that are too voluminous on top that will make your upper body look bigger and undefined.

Crop It

One of my favorite things in life is a crop top and they are perfect for apple shapes.
They draw the eye right into the smallest part of your waist.
Choose a shape that is more defined and fitted avoid a square cut top.
You want to length to hit right above or at your bottoms.

Color | Pattern

Using color is a great way to add definition to your look.
Using print is a fun way to highlight or minimize areas of your body. Take the triangle shape of this print on this top. It puts the widest part at your shoulders which is what you want to maximize and the point cinching the eye in at the waist.
Black of course is always a standard and slimming but, don’t be afraid to play with color there are lot’s of dark color options to choose from navy blue, hunter green, cranberry ect.

Empire Waist

The Empire silhouette came into fashion in the 1800s and still remains strong to this day.
An empire waist draws the eye in the waist right underneath the bust line.
Also think about interesting necklines like this asymmetrical dress. Bring all the drama right up to you bust line and shoulders.

High Waist Pants

A higher waist pants gives you the same benefits of the empire waist because, they sit up nice and high hitting right under your bust.
Choosing a fuller width pant will balance out the fullness of your torso.

Below I have broken them down by category and curated some of my favorite current pieces that I think would look fantastic on an apple shape. Remember have fun and think about the different ways to highlight and contour with your existing wardrobe. Getting dressed is about feeling empowered and you should feel good in what you are wearing.

Wrap Dress

The first wrap dresses were designed by Elsa Schiaparelli in the thirties and Claire McCardell in the forties, later in the seventies Diane Von Furstenberg reinvented them making them an international success and staple in many women’s wardrobes. And for good reason because they are flattering on all bodies. You can adjust them so you can wear them when your body is in flux. I believe that every woman should have one in their closet.