This is continuation to our articles on how to dress for your body type. In this article we are going to look at the apple body shape. As a quick reminder you have an apple body shape when....
- You have no defined waist
- Weight tends to form on the stomach
- Average to large bust size
To be honest this is not the easiest body shape to dress as many women with this shape will be well aware of. Some women tend to cover it all up with lose garments, which in most cases is not the right thing to do.
What you DO want to do is to create the nicest silhouette possible. For many apples you can do that by creating the illusion of a waist, highlight your cleavage and create nice vertical lines. I also like the looks of a straight silhouette, but with the use of lots of vertical lines for a long and lean silhouette.
Below are some rough guidelines what will and will not work for many apple shaped women over 40.
Which garments are good for an apple body shape?
Tops
- First of all, since a lot of attention is going to be drawn to the top part of your body, get yourself a good fitting bra.
- Tops that highlight your body at the slimmest point which is often just underneath your bust. They should have enough space for your belly but not be too wide.
- Buy t-shirts that are ruched in the middle. This will confuse the eye and you can’t tell that there’s a big tummy underneath.
- Get Tops with a V-neck to break up the size of your chest and create a vertical line.
- Look for tops with a thicker texture that don’t cling so much. Woven tops can be great.
- The best height for tops is just belong your hipbone (when worn with pants)
- Patterns tend to look very good on a apple shape body as they flatter and camouflage.
- Tops should cover the whole belly area and end just below the hip bone.
- Shirts look nicest when they are tight just underneath the boobs and then go out. Also try to get the v shape with your shirts.
- Choose tailored jackets that have a nice v shape at the top.
- Tops that draw attention to your arms with e.g. flares, a flit or embroidery will draw attention from your belly
- Having a tie at your thinnest part is great as it highlights the waist and hides the belly. You don’t have to use your natural waist but can go higher.
- Structured jackets help to create a nice silhouette. Wear them over tops and make sure that they define your waistline.
- Make sure that the jacket fits the shoulder perfectly, so choose the size for your shoulders, not your belly. If you can’t close the jacket, you can always use a scarf to fill the gap if you like.
- Dresses should have their waistline just below the bust.
- It’s always good to have some detailing on the tummy area for camouflage.
For a long and lean silhouette
- Layer with a long cardigan or a long sleeveless vest
- Make sure the top underneath is not too short
- Try to have v-neck lines with your long jumper or tops underneath the layering piece
- Longer tops and jackets that skim the body can be worn with leggings or skinny jeans
Bottoms
- Get trousers that have zippers at the side to avoid adding extra bumps on the front.
- Trousers should be flared or straight and not cling to tummy or thighs unless you are opting to create the long and lean silhouette using vertical lines (see above). Avoid pleats.
- Also choose jeans that are tailored and either straight or flared. Trouser jeans are ideal.
- Pants with a high rise will create a nice silhouette.
- It’s best to get trousers with some stretch for extra comfort and a good fit.
- Choose skirts that have their zippers at the side.
- Structured pencil skirts work well, but keep them at knee length. Make sure to add the focus to the top with the tips above.
- Make sure that any pleats of skirts start below the belly to avoid adding extra volume.
What not to wear?
- Big puffa jackets
- Big shapeless garments that don’t show any waist or don’t use vertical layers
- Bulky trousers with lots of pockets and zippers at the front
- High necklines (you can wear lighter tops underneath a layering piece as shown in the top image)
- Tight clingy T-shirts
- Avoid wearing everything in one solid color. Better to mix color with a texture or to use several layers in different colors to create vertical lines
