If you have the apple body shape, you have a nice and rounded bust, but you may also feel frustrated with a bigger tummy. It is important to find casual styles that have a slimming effect, especially for your midsection. In this detailed guide, we will walk you through the most flattering styles for your shape in every category of causal wear.
TOPS
Plain V-Neck Shirt
Plain V-neck shirts may look quite simple on the get-go but they have a wide array of style benefits for your apple-shaped figure. First of all, the V-neckline lets you flaunt one of your body shape’s best features which is your entire decolletage, all thanks to your rounded shoulders and shapely bust.
The key feature of this neckline also creates the illusion of a longer and leaner frame which balances out your heavy midsection area. The space it opens up on your upper half deflects the gaze away from your undefined waist and thicker midsection.
Draping Tops
The loosely gathered fabric and flowy silhouette of draping tops create a soft look that camouflages the areas you may be concerned about such as your undefined waist and tummy bulge. The cascading effect on the sides of these types of tops can also visually add curves to your figure.
Wearing tops that flawlessly drape can be a great match for form-fitting bottoms or skirts because this way, you’ll draw the eyes to your legs more rather than your heavier upper body. This will give you more visually pleasing upper and lower body proportions, as well as a more distinct feminine shape.
Ruched Seam Tops
This may not seem to be the first top style to come to your mind when shopping for casual clothing pieces for your apple-shaped figure and that is because some associate ruched seams to bulk or volume. But I’m telling you, there’s a styling strategy behind this and the truth is, ruched seams can be extremely helpful in defining your waist and concealing your heavy tummy.
The key is to have them placed strategically and for apple shapes who wish to downplay their midsection, ruching that goes on the sides of the waist or one at the very center of the garment are the best choices to give your frame a flattering silhouette. The ruched fabric significantly adds texture to your top so this effect disrupts the focus on your midsection and leads the eyes to your more prominent features.
Off-the-Shoulder
Open necklines are generally very ideal for apple body shapes because your upper half has stronger features. Off-the-shoulder tops expose a huge portion of your top half including your gently sloped shoulders, toned neckline, and shapely breasts, which allows these great features of yours to be naturally showcased.
The openness of off-the-shoulder tops provide, draws the eyes upwards to your beautiful decolletage and therefore steers the gaze away from your waist’s lack of definition and your bulky midsection region. If you choose to go for those that feature subtle fabric flounces across the bust line, you can create the illusion of volume and make your proportions look similar to the highly coveted hourglass shape.
SWEATERS
Draping Cardigan Sweater
The structure and style elements of draping cardigan sweaters have the ability to create a balanced and elongated silhouette while providing coverage for your thicker midsection. Because of the loose and flowing design of draping cardigans, you get to subtly conceal and minimize the appearance of the waist and tummy.
In addition to this flattering style aspect, the cascading fabric from the sides of this type of cardigan creates vertical lines that visually elongate the body for better balance and pleasing proportions. Moreover, draping cardigans often have an open front that leads the gaze to your upper body and away from your belly area.
Soft Knit Scoop Neck
Open necklines such as the scoop neck will always be your safest style option when it comes to flattering your apple-shaped body. So for the warmer seasons, try to go for scoop neck sweaters made from soft knit because this particular neckline draws the eye toward the center where your decolletage is and significantly diverts attention away from your problematic areas like your bulky midsection.
Soft knit fabric also offers a gentle drape that naturally contours your body with a more forgiving fit. It also has a bit of stretch to it like most knitted garments do, so you’ll find better comfort in these sweaters by having ample room for your belly area.
Knitted Sweaters with Waist Tie
Knitted sweaters have decent texture that helps accentuate the depth of your upper body. In addition to this, opting for those with a waist tie accent can significantly bring better definition to your straight waist.
Apple shapes can really benefit from waist ties because of how they give you better control on how tight you want your cinch to be and therefore giving your heavier midsection a more forgiving fit. By giving your upper body a cozy and figure-flattering fit, you can effectively avoid drawing unnecessary attention to your problem areas such as your heavier midsection.
JEANS
Dark Wash Straight Leg Jeans
Dark wash straight-leg jeans are definitely a casual wear must-have for apple body shapes because of the fact that they can balance out the size discrepancies in your figure while also providing a slimming effect to downplay the heaviness on your midsection. Dark colors are known to have a slimming effect for their ability to absorb light, which visually streamlines the lower body and draws attention away from your belly area.
Moreover, the straight-leg cut of these jeans produces an elongating line from the hips to the ankles with the help of its consistent leg width. This creates the appearance of a more proportionate and slender figure, while also giving your legs more recognition.
Flared Jeans
Feeling retro? Then you better grab yourself a nice-fitting pair of flared jeans to complete your casual vintage outfit! The structure of flared jeans offers style benefits for apple body shapes by creating a proportionate and elongated silhouette.
This flattering visual effect is due to the flare at the bottom of the jeans that considerably add volume to the lower leg to counteract your heavier top body. In addition to this, the wider leg also helps visually elongate your entire frame which can be very beneficial in terms of evenly distributing your visual weight all throughout your figure.
Jeans with Elastic Waistband
The flexibility of elastic waistbands can help flatter your apple-shaped figure by providing a comfortable and customized fit around your midsection, which typically has more weight. Jeans with elastic waistbands effortlessly accommodate the waist without creating too much pressure or discomfort that often leads to a muffin top.
This specific design also ensures a streamlined look to make your entire outfit more cohesive, avoiding any unflattering bulges or gaps. Another advantage of wearing these types of jeans is that the absence of buttons or zippers in the front reduces bulkiness, resulting in a more sleek and balanced overall silhouette.
High-Waisted Wide-Leg Jeans
High-waisted jeans feature several benefits that can be very helpful in addressing the typical concerns of apple figures such as the lack of waist definition and the significant weight gain that occurs right in the midsection. Basically, the high waistband effectively provides tummy control and creates a more defined waistline to give your figure more shape and depth.
Combined with the high-rise design of these jeans, the wider legroom this type of jeans has can also help balance the proportions by adding volume to the lower body to counterbalance the heavier appearance of your upper body. This results in giving you an hourglass-like silhouette that has a more harmonious upper and lower body ratio.
DRESSES
Square Neck Dress
Square neck dresses are not just stylishly dainty but are also quite flattering on apple figures who wish to showcase their decolletage but not expose too much skin. Wearing a square neck dress can bring out the beauty of your upper half and shift the focus away from your problem areas, such as your heavier midsection.
The straight lines across the chest that the square-shaped neckline produces help give your upper half more recognition in order to showcase your best features. In addition to this, a square neck also adds a bespoke-like touch as it gives a more structured and tailored look without incorporating too many details on your dress.
You may opt for square neck dresses that feature a fit and flare silhouette to ensure that your waist is also getting the definition it really needs. Try to stay away from shapeless or boxy dresses because even with a flattering square neck, going baggy with your dress can really influence the balance of your body figure.
Button-Down Shirt Dress
Buttons that are placed on a singular row are also a strategic way to bring verticality and elongation to your apple body shape. Wearing a button down shirt dress also means that you have better control over the fit around your waist thanks to the button placement and strategic side seams that this type of dress usually has.
When the buttons at the center are all fastened, they pull the fabric in and therefore indent your waistline, creating a more apparent definition. They are an absolutely versatile casualwear piece that you can easily pull off on many different occasions.
Mini Dress
Always remember that as an apple-shaped girl, your legs should always be the star of the show as they are, without a doubt, one of your apple figure’s best features. One easy and stylish way to show them off is through wearing mini dresses as they feature a short length that exposes a generous portion of your shapely legs.
Since the focus is on your slim and toned legs, you are significantly detracting attention from your less flattering features such as your midsection wherein you may have more weight. Apart from highlighting your apple shape’s best feature, mini dresses can also create the illusion of height by elongating the appearance of your legs.
Flowy A-Line Dress
Flowy fabric and a sleek, A-Line silhouette – the combination of these two can definitely give your apple figure more prominence. The A-Line cut of these dresses provides a more forgiving fit to camouflage the bulges on your midsection due to the fabric gently flaring out from the waist down to the hem.
The movement of flowy fabrics can also contribute to dividing attention to steering the gaze away from your less flattering features. Not only does it give a more feminine look, but also helps bring proper proportions to your overall silhouette.
JACKETS
Zipper Denim Jacket
Denim jackets are typically structured by nature, that’s why they may tend to look a bit bulkier when not styled right. However, with the help of a zipper closure in the front, your denim jacket will nip in the waist to give you that obvious waistline curve we all want for our body frames!
The way it cinches the waist creates a clear but natural divide between your upper and lower body. This results in a silhouette that’s very similar to hourglass body shapes.
Mid-Length Leather Jacket
This jacket’s length which falls just right around the hip area can also be very beneficial in balancing your apple figure’s proportions. This particular length is just the right cut to conceal and minimize the appearance of your midsection without overwhelming your features.
Because of the fact that mid-length leather jackets are shorter than regular ones, it gives more exposure to your lower body and therefore visually create the appearance of longer legs. By going for such cut and structure, you don’t have to worry much about the bulky look most leather jackets have and you can just fully flaunt one in style!
SHOES
Low Platform Shoes
Comfort is always very essential when it comes to choosing casual shoes, although it’s not always easy when you’re looking into incorporating some height into your frame. Apple shapes tend to be top-heavy and one of the quickest solutions for this is to go for high heels to create a sense of elevation and leanness to their figures.
However, I have the perfect style alternative for that by going for low platform shoes. Platforms feature a heel that’s evenly consistent in height through the entire sole so this can efficiently elongate your apple frame while providing superior comfort.
Espadrille Wedges
Here’s another option if you are looking into adding a significant amount of height boost to your apple body shape. The wedge heel of the classic espadrilles provides added height, but just like platform shoes, they also have a thicker heel that gives better support for the foot.
Espadrille wedges typically have strap details which can also further enhance the appearance of your lower body by drawing the eyes to your slim and shapely legs. This also maximizes the elongating effect to give your frame a more pleasing and symmetrical overall balance.
