Last updated on September 12th, 2025 at 04:18 pm
I will now explain what to dress for the apple-shaped body and what to avoid for a flattering look.
Table of Contents:
Apple Shaped Body – Characteristics
In Between Body Shapes
You can have 2 body shapes.
In this case, consider guidelines for both body shapes when you get dressed.
- Hips wider than your shoulders, require you to consider pear shape styling guidelines when you dress your lower body.
- If your shoulders are wider than your hips, consider the inverted triangle shape styling guidelines when you dress your upper body.
- If your bust and hips are the same widths consider rectangle shape styling guidelines when you get dressed.
Black Women with The Apple Shaped Body
Follow these women for inspiration on how to dress and see how outfits look on this body shape.
You can click each image to go to their respective Instagram profile.
I also made 3 part videos with all the black women with the apple-shaped body. Watch now.
Apple Body – Fashion Strategy
The waist is the widest part of the apple body.
As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the waistline and create curves to the hips and butt.
This is not supposed to make you feel bad about your body and is not meant as fat shaming.
It is strategizing with fashion to create a defined silhouette.
It has worked for many women for decades. So don’t feel discouraged.
You can try it first to see if you like it.
These are only suggestions on how to dress, not inflexible guidelines.
Tops for The Apple Shaped Body
Role of Tops in your Closet: Tops create the illusion of a waistline, widen your shoulders and draw attention away from your abdomen.
Feel: The right top will highlight your bust, neckline and arms drawing the eye up and away from the abdomen.
It will naturally balance your proportions and elongate the body.
What to Look for in tops? Look for tops with a built-in waist and cuts that accentuate your upper body.
Tops – How To Create a Waistline
– The illusion of a waistline can be created by defining the smallest area of your abdomen with accessories and styling.
To create curves at the waist and hip you can:
– Wear longer tops to lengthen your torso.
Tops should be long enough to cover the abdomen and end below the hipline.
– Belt your clothes at your natural waistline.
Buy waist-tie tops and dresses.
They are specifically constructed to create a more defined waist.
Alternatively, you can use any belt on top of your garments.
– Use tops with diagonal lines, big prints, and textured fabrics.
It will help make your abdomen look longer and slimmer.
– Avoid tucking your top to avoid excess fabric at the waist.
– Details and embellishments around the abdomen area, especially horizontal stripes, make it look wider and should be avoided.
Keep details above the bust and below the hip.
Everything in between should be plain and simple.
– Some experts say to avoid crop tops and tight-fitted shirts, but I recommend you wear them if they look good.
I have seen people with the apple body shape rock these clothing styles.
Tops – You Should Highlight the Bust, Neckline, Shoulders
– Accentuate your chest.
A large bust and waist can give the impression of having no division.
A well-fitted bra will lift the chest and fix it.
– Accentuate your neckline.
Wear tops with embellishments and details around the neckline.
– Low necklines help elongate the body and wide necklines help create a clear division between your bust and your abdomen.
V-necklines accomplish both functions.
– Accentuate the upper body and arms.
Long, detailed sleeves with embellishments – such as lace, cuffs embroidery, and draped fabrics are very flattering.
They help shift the attention away from the waistline and into your arms.
– Widen shoulders: Tops should widen the shoulders to balance their proportions with the rest of your body.
You can do this through visual aids like wide necklines that visually elongate your shoulder line.
Or styling and accessories that make the shoulders appear wider.
Cap sleeves or shoulder pads are an example.
Find the video resume below of the best tops for you with photos.
Coats/Jackets for The Apple Body
Role of Coats/Jackets in your Closet: Coats/Jackets create structure and shape.
The apple body is very rounded, and coats bring in vertical lines that elongate the body.
Feel: The right coats/jackets have structured lines and fabrics.
This will naturally make you look longer while creating curves at the bust and waist.
What to Look for in coats/jackets? Look for coats/jackets that elongate your neckline and bust.
How? Continue reading.
Coats/Jackets – Should Elongate Your Neckline and Bust:
– Find single-breasted styles, tailored blazers and wrap jackets.
These styles are flattering on this body shape because they avoid adding more volume to the bust and define the waist.
– Wear coats/jackets that don’t have closures (no buttons or zippers) to elongate your body by adding long vertical lines.
This also has a slimming effect.
– The length of your coat/jacket makes a crucial difference to how you look.
Shop for coats/jackets that end at the hip or longer.
Any buttons and belts should begin immediately under the bust.
– Simple designs without decorations (buttons, belts) are a better fit.
Details accentuate the waist.
Bottoms for The Apple Shaped Body
Role of Bottoms in your Closet: Bottoms maximize the lower body.
They create a waistline, widen your hips and balance any volume around your shoulders.
Feel: The right bottom styles for the apple body don’t add weight to the abdomen but gently embrace it.
They elongate your legs.
What to Look for in Bottoms? Look for bottoms that define your waist and draw the eye to your legs.
Best Jeans/Trousers
– Wide-leg is the best fit for this body shape.
You can wear a high waist, mid-waist or low waist as long as it is not super skin-tight.
– You want your jeans/trousers to go straight down from the widest part of your hips or flare down at the bottom.
This adds width to your lower half and balances the volume added on the shoulders.
– Because you have narrow hips, details in the back and sides like pockets, buttons, and embroidery will add curves to your hips.
Cargo pants do this very well.
– Some experts say that skinny jeans/trousers accentuate the legs too much and make your upper body look disproportionally larger, but I have seen apple body rock this fits as well.
So I recommend you to wear what you think looks good.
Skirts
– High-waisted skirts are the best for this body shape because they elongate the body and define the waist.
– Straight skirts elongate the body and hug your hips.
A skirt that flows away from the body creates the illusion of fuller hips.
Flared skirts, just like flared jeans, look good and balance the volume added on the shoulders.
A-line, asymmetric, pleated and pencil skirts are flattering for the same reasons.
– Mini and knee-length skirts flatter the slender legs and show them off.
– You should avoid tiered or ruffled skirt styles that would bulk the waistline area.
Best Shorts
– The best short styles for the apple body are mid or high-waist combined with a wide-leg or a loose fit around the waistline.
Low-waist shorts may not hold the wide waist in place and should be avoided.
– The length should be at least to the knee.
This longer style and a wider hemline will elongate the body.
– Tight shorts around the legs unbalance your figure and make the upper body look very large, so you should avoid them.
– Too many details, like ruches, drawings, and pockets at the front, bring attention to the waistline and enlarge it.
Simple designs work best.
Find the video resume below of the best bottoms for you with photos.
One-Piece Outfits for The Apple Shaped Body
Role of One-Piece Outfits in your Closet: One-piece outfits have the combined roles of tops and bottoms.
Dresses have the combined role of tops and skirts.
Jumpsuits have the combined roles of tops and jeans/trousers.
Playsuits have the combined roles of tops and shorts.
Feel: The right one-piece outfit will skim past the wide waistline and elongate the body.
What to Look for in one-piece outfits? Look for one-piece outfits whose fabric does not cling to the body while defining a waistline.
One-piece outfits should:
– Draw attention to the legs.
Either show them off (short – knee length) or elongate them (long – calf or feet length).
– Highlight your bust, neckline and arms.
Use shoulder, neckline and sleeve details, as well as, wide and low necklines.
– Create the illusion of a defined waistline and fuller hips to balance the waist and shoulders.
To do this, belt your outfit at the waist, or buy them with a built-in waist.
Wrap dresses or empire-cut jumpsuits do this very well.
– Fabrics that don’t cling to the body are more flattering because they naturally narrow the waistline.
– Patterns like vertical/diagonal lines and big prints or textures will distract and disguise the waistline.
Straight cuts and flowy or flared outfits are good options to elongate the body.
Find the video resume below of the best one-piece outfits for you with photos.
Outfit Ideas
What’s Next?
Now that you know the theory behind dressing better, it’s time to experiment with fashion.
This does not mean you have to go shopping for new clothes.
You should instead, take the clothes you have in your closet and adjust them to your body shape.
Belts, high-waisted jeans/trousers and well-fitted bras are great cheap ways to get started that show you instant results.
There is no point in spending money before trying as much as you can and figuring out your new style.
Mixing and matching clothes according to the instructions in this guide is also a great way to start.
You can build your closet as you evolve on this fashion journey.
Remember that a learning curve is required, but practice makes perfect.
Don’t be discouraged and remember that if the clothes don’t look good, the problem lies with the clothes, not with you!
– Change clothes or adjust them to your shape and try again.
You can look beautiful and confident with the outfit of your choice regardless of your body shape!
Find the video resume below of the main guidelines for you with photos.
I have seen the results of dressing for my body shape.
Not only my style but also my confidence improved.
I was no longer self-conscious or tried to cover my body.
Instead, I understood how to make the best of my features and use them in my favour to feel and look beautiful.
You too will see the results!
Thank you for reading this guide.
I sincerely hope it was helpful to you.
Leave a review to help my content reach more people.
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Style Guides
The rectangle body already has a balanced silhouette. But it is flat with no curves. For this reason, you should focus on the waistline and create the illusion of curves there.
The hips are the widest part of the pear body. As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the hips and accentuate the upper body.
The waist is the widest part of the apple body. As we try to balance your proportions, the tendency is to narrow the waistline and create curves to the hips and butt.
The shoulders are the widest part of the inverted triangle body. As we try to balance your proportions,
the tendency is to narrow the shoulders and add volume to the lower body.
The hourglass body already has a balanced silhouette with a defined waist. To best dress this shape, you can leave the upper and lower body untouched and instead belt the waistline.