How to Dress an Apple-Shaped Body

How to Dress an Apple-Shaped Body

Struggling with dressing for apple shapes? Find expert tips on flattering styles and outfit ideas to enhance your natural curves.
Val's View: How to Find Your Unique Aesthetic Reading How to Dress an Apple-Shaped Body 7 minutes
A red apple in front of a pink background.

Comfy and Confident: Best Clothes for Apple Body Shapes

There’s a growing, empowering movement where women all over the world are embracing their unique curves to feel confident in every outfit—and we are here for it! Learning to love what you have is one of the first steps toward finding the right fashions to instill confidence. If you have an apple-shaped figure, characterized by a fuller midsection, ample bust, and slimmer legs, selecting the right clothing enhances your naturally beautiful self and boosts comfort.  

Let’s give you all the insider details to help you explore how to dress for an apple shape, making you feel fabulous and ready to take on any occasion.  

(above) photo by Bere Del Valle on Unsplash

A Brief Rundown of the Apple Shape

An apple-shaped body will typically have one or more of the following features:  

  • Less defined waist
  • Broader shoulders
  • Average to fuller bust
  • Slimmer hips, arms, and legs
  • Roundness to the midsection

Your biggest goal is to draw attention away from your midsection to highlight your best assets, whether you feel that is your legs or neckline. And remember not all body shapes can be defined into one category! Be open to trying on clothing for other body shapes to see what works best for you!

Why Does Understanding Your Body Shape Matter?

Why does understanding the shape of your body matter? Because when you understand what your shape is, you can:  

  1. Influence your clothing choices and styling strategies to select garments that not only flatter your body but make you feel more confident in your body, too.
  2. Choose outfits that harmonize and balance any proportions you may feel need it.  
  3. Allow you to dress in a manner that looks stylish and never has you distracted with ill-fitting, uncomfortable clothing.
Three yellow and pink apples are arranged on top of a pink piece of fabric with a sprig of baby's breath .
Three green and fuchsia-colored apples hang from a leafy branch on an apple tree.
A stylized blurry photograph of dewy yellow and pink apples in a leafy tree.

(clockwise from top right, all photos from Unsplash) Juliet Sarmiento, Eugene Golovesov, Olesia Bahrii 

The Best Clothing for Apple Shape?

So, what should you add to your wardrobe? These apple shape fashion cuts and designs will help you create nearly endless outfit possibilities.

Flattering Top Styles for an Apple-Shaped Body

  • The V-neckline may be your perfect top choice. V-necks can elongate the torso and draw attention upward to your gorgeous face.
  • Garments that cinch just below the bust, like empire waistlines, create the illusion of a defined waist.
  • A-line tops or dresses that flare out from the bust create an elegant silhouette while skimming over your midsection for a balanced look.

Smart Bottoms Choices

  • You’ll want to ensure that you have straight-leg pants, a staple for any apple-shaped go-to wardrobe. These extend the appearance of your legs and bring a touch of balance to your upper body.  
  • Slightly flared at the bottom, bootcut jeans should be in your outfit rotation as they add proportion to your silhouette.
  • If you want to highlight your stunning curves, a pencil skirt is a must. If you prefer to create a more harmonized silhouette, A-line skirts are your ideal choice.  

Flattering Dresses

  • Wrap dresses remain on trend for the way they define the waist and accentuate the bust, creating a proportional aesthetic.
  • A shirt dress which flows over the midsection without clinging is a perfect addition for those who prioritize comfort and dislike garments that cling.

Layering Clothing for Apple-Shaped Figures: Tips and Tricks

Wherther you're feeling like wearing some cozy knitwear or want to add a jacket to your outfit, here are some quick but effective tips:

  • Knitwear that will flatter your body shape best is open cardigans with breezy, draped fits, not too clingy and not too shapeless. Choose a cardigan that ends below your hip to elongate your figure and skim over your torso and hips.
  • The right jacket or coat for your shape should have structured lines and fabrics. Wrap-style or tailored work fabulously, just make sure the shoulder is snug- not too tight or too bulky. Jackets should end at the hip bone and be single-breasted to avoid a cluttered look.

Layering is not only to keep you comfortable temperature-wise but is also an easy means to add depth and interest to your entire profile.

Color and Fabrics

Colors:

If you want to minimize attention to some areas, darker colors will assist. If you prefer to accentuate your features, lighter colors can help you emphasize them. Color blocking, the fashion technique that involves wearing solid pieces of clothing in a single outfit, is also immensely complimenting for apple-shaped bodies.

Fabrics:

With an apple body shape's waist and upper body being fuller, you might find you need fabrics that give you structure without being uncomfortably clingy. Some of the nest fabrics for your body type are linen, cotton, and certain blends that avoid being too figure-hugging.

Patterns:

Vertical lines are an excellent tool in your fashion arsenal to lengthen and slim your body. Patterns with big prints also can distract from your midsection if it’s something you want to draw attention away from.

Supportive Intimates?

Don’t overlook the power of the right supporting intimates. A well-structured undergarment or smoothing shapewear can make a significant change in how your clothing fits and how you feel. They can provide you with a sleek, cozy foundation that allows your clothing to drape beautifully.  

Each piece of clothing you wear, undergarments included, could add transformative additions to your entire wardrobe, which in turn can help you express your unique personal style and highlight your best features.  

Accessories and Footwear

If you want to ensure you look and feel divine head to toe, you can wrap up a perfect outfit by adding the right accessories and footwear.

  • Play with scarves and statement necklaces. These draw attention upward to your beautiful neck and shoulders.
  • If you prefer to wear belts, you may want to consider using them more sparingly or opt for a slim belt that will sit just below the bust to create the illusion of a higher waistline.
  • For shoes: a moderate heel is perfect for feeling timelessly elegant while making your legs appear longer. If you love a pointed toe, you're in luck as well, because they can also make your legs look longer!

Dressing for an Apple Body Shape Over 40 or 50?

Whether you just turned forty or are past your 60th birthday, the main goal is for your clothing to make you feel as beautiful as you look. The central aim of our apple body shape style guide is to focus on:

  •   Creating harmony by highlighting legs and neckline while minimizing midsection.
  • Prioritizing breathable fabrics that move with you for comfort.
  • Embracing beautiful color in bright or bold large prints and vertical stripes.
Two red apples hang from a leafy branch with the blue sky in the background.

photo by Arthur Tseng on Unsplash

Be You, Be True at Anthony's

While this apple body shape style guide is meant to help, the most important thing is to stay true to your style, which will reflect your personality and boost your confidence.

At Anthony's, we're here to help celebrate the radiant beauty of every woman. Our collections are designed to offer the quality, coziness, and fabulous style you deserve. Explore our stunning range today to find pieces that complement you apple-shaped figure. Embrace our Florida-inspired fashion and fall in love with your wardrobe all over again!

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