The apple is a rounded and fleshy body type. You are blessed with beautiful curves but also have your own set of challenges. This detailed guide will help you understand your body’s strengths and weaknesses, and how to choose the most flattering tops accordingly.
MAIN CONSIDERATION
Your apple body shape may be a bit challenging to style as you have to deal with the lack of waist definition and a fuller midsection prone to a muffin top. But then, you can work around these areas of concern if you choose tops that have the proper structure.
But first, you need to understand your apple body shape to see how to bring better balance and definition to your frame.
Wide and Rounded Shoulders
Your shoulders are noticeably broader and wider compared to your narrow hips, resulting in a strong horizontal line across the upper body. They softly curve outwards which softens the look of your upper half and therefore complements the beautiful shape of your bust.
Choosing tops that seamlessly highlight your shoulder line will help draw the eyes to one of your best features – your upper half.
Well-shaped Big Bust
One of your apple figure’s best features is the shape and size of your bust. With the generous volume and prominence of the breasts, you need to go for tops that feature certain details and structures that will draw attention to the upper half area where your bust is at.
The rest of your body may lack some curves, but if you make sure that you’re opting for tops that will flatter the curves of your breasts, you can definitely bring your figure more definition.
Little to No Waist Definition
Your waistline is less defined compared to other body shapes because of the fact that your midsection appears relatively wider and thicker in comparison with your hips. The lack of a distinct curve on your waist makes your figure more prone to gaining weight in your midsection area.
This is why it’s important to go for tops that will bring definition to your waistline. You can do this with the help of a belt, waist tie, or streamlined side seams.
Thicker Midsection
Apple shapes tend to carry excess weight or fat around the abdomen, which is why your midsection tends to be thicker and fuller compared to the rest of your body. This makes you more prone to the appearance of a tummy bulge, also known as a muffin top.
So in order to work around this problem area, choose tops that flatter your apple figure such as pieces that provide structure and create a balanced silhouette.
FIT
Choosing the right fit for tops is essential to bring out the proportions of your apple-shaped silhouette. Your figure naturally lacks some definition so you need the proper type of fit that will cinch your waist, hug your curves, and tweak your imperfections.
Choose tops that offer a snug fit on your upper half and waist, but a slightly more drapey fit at the midsection. One example of this is peplum tops wherein the bodice features a tailored fit and the flared overskirt helps cover up the potential bulge of the midsection.
Another important thing to look for when it comes to shopping for tops for your apple body shape is to find those that cinches the waist. I need to emphasize the importance of cinching your waist as an apple-shaped girl myself because I know how the proper waist definition can truly level up your overall frame!
STRUCTURE
Ruched
Ruched tops are known for fabric gathering or cinching at the sides or waist, which instantly gives the illusion of a more defined waistline. The effect brought by the ruching at the waist visually narrows the midsection to complement your overall frame.
Not only do ruched tops help bring definition to your waist, but also help disguise and draw attention away from the heavier and thicker midsection. The ruched detailing creates gentle folds and drapes over the midsection, creating a flattering effect that can minimize the appearance of any perceived imperfections.
Peplum
Peplum tops are another very flattering fashion choice for apple-shaped bodies because their silhouette creates a visual balance by accentuating the waistline and adding volume and movement to the hips.
It also has a nicely fitted bodice that helps bring out the natural beauty and proportion of your bust line. With the details of the peplum structure, you can achieve an hourglass-like silhouette with more balance and curves.
Wrap
What’s immensely flattering about wrap tops is their adjustability wherein it allows for customization of the fit around the waist. As someone who lacks waist definition, you can wrap the top more tightly to create a more defined waistline and make it look significantly smaller than your upper and lower half.
The wrap design also creates a V-neckline to help elongate your neck and give emphasis to your gorgeous bust. This particular structure helps visually minimize the fullness around the midsection to create a more balanced and proportionate look.
Off-the-Shoulder
Off-the-shoulder tops flatter apple body shapes because of their ability to draw attention to the shoulders, collarbone, and bust – three of your figure’s most defining features. As the gaze is drawn upwards, it helps give you a balanced look by shifting focus away from the midsection.
The way your shoulders and decolletage are exposed helps produce vertical lines that can slim you down by minimizing the width of the midsection and emphasizing a defined waist. The loose and flowing silhouette of these tops drapes over your midsection, which makes them more comfortable and forgiving in terms of the size discrepancies of your figure.
Empire Waist
If one of your main concerns is your tummy bulge or muffin top, then empire waist tops may be a great option for you. It may not have the ability to give your waist a snug fit because its structure features a seam just right under the bust to create a faux waistline that’s higher than where your natural waist is.
Despite this, it can be very helpful in concealing your heavier midsection while still showcasing the beauty of your bust line. The fabric attachment just right under the bust skims gently over your midsection for a more flattering and elongating look.
SLEEVES
Flare
Flare sleeves can be of tremendous help when it comes to adding curves and definition to your apple body shape. These sleeves are constructed to gradually widen out, more usually at the wrist level.
When your arms are resting down, the flare is on the same level as your narrow hips. This effect helps add some volume to your hips and therefore neutralizes the wide and thick appearance of your midsection.
Cap
As mentioned earlier, the shape and width of your shoulders are definitely quite notable so it’s only natural that you draw more emphasis on this area. Cap sleeves draw attention to the shoulders and enhance their desirable roundness, therefore giving a symmetrical balance to your upper half.
In addition to this, their short length that stops at or above the upper arm helps create a clear horizontal line across the shoulder and upper arm to provide the illusion of a more defined waistline. By focusing attention on the upper area of your apple-shaped body, cap sleeves divert attention away from the midsection.
Flutter
Flutter sleeves are loose and flouncy sleeves that create a delicate and feminine look that’s perfect for apple figures. These sleeves have a shorter length and loose drape, which makes them quite subtle in giving additional volume and definition.
As flutter sleeves create a sense of movement on the upper half, the eyes are more drawn to looking at your shoulder line and voluptuous bust instead of your heavier midsection and an undefined waist.
NECKLINE
V-Neck
The best way to bring emphasis to your decolletage is through a classic V-neck. V-shaped necklines feature an open neckline that exposes the beauty of your shoulders, collarbone, and bust while its pointed dip gives you a much elongated frame.
Square
Generally, open necklines are very beneficial for apple shapes and that includes square necklines. Its angular, square shape perfectly frames your upper half to bring more balance to your look.
They provide enough coverage while still being able to draw attention to your apple shape’s best features.
Sweetheart
If you’d like to showcase your well-shaped and pronounced bust line, going for a sweetheart neckline should be an excellent choice. This particular neckline is shaped like the top part of a heart, which is a great silhouette that traces the natural curvatures of your cleavage.
PRINTS & DETAILS
Choosing elongating prints such as vertical stripes can help slim your frame down and minimize the appearance of your heavier midsection. It’s also an efficient way to work around your body proportions to make you look more well-toned and balanced all throughout.
Another wise style choice to consider for your tops is streamlined seams or fabric pleats that help bring more definition to your upper body, particularly side seams on the waist or pleats that give your bust a nice, subtle lift.
Remember to stay away from bulky-looking details such as dramatic ruffles or large-scale prints, as they might overwhelm your figure and make you look shapeless.
STYLES TO AVOID
Crop
Crop tops are cut at an unflattering point for apple-shaped women because they expose a significant portion of the midsection, revealing your undefined waistline and muffin top.
Wearing a crop top can also create an imbalance between the upper and lower body as they may potentially exaggerate the visual width of your midsection, and therefore result in an unflattering silhouette.
Tight Fitting
Tops that feature a fit that cling too close to the body will only emphasize the imbalance present in your body shape. If you wear tops wherein the fabric clings tightly, this will make your midsection bulges and straight waist look more apparent.
This will also make the size disproportion of your upper and lower body more obvious and therefore highly unflattering.
Large Prints
Large prints tend to be very eye-catching so wearing a top that has large-scale prints and patterns also means that you’re drawing the eyes to your figure’s imperfections. This is even more concerning if the large prints are placed on your heavier midsection.
These prints are not just attention-grabbing, but they can also disrupt your figure in a way that they can significantly add volume and weight to your body. This effect will make you look wider and therefore even more disproportionate to your lower body.
Tunic
Tunic tops typically have a loose and flowy silhouette that lacks the ability to provide waist definition. This often results in a shapeless silhouette that may even highlight rather than conceal your thick midsection.
In addition to this, they often feature a length that hits right at the hips or sometimes, even mid-tight. This causes you to break your visual line and make you look unbalanced overall.
High-neck
Your apple body shape’s best features are on the upper half region of your body, so wearing high-neck tops would mean that you’ll be hiding these best parts of yourself. Since your bust also tends to lean on the bigger side, high-neck tops will cramp up your décolletage and make you look way heavier than you actually are.