It’s time for the last, but certainly not the least of our gorgeous body shapes – the juicy Apple!! Now for all you older ladies out there, this shape may start to sound familiar – it tends to be a shape quite a few of us turn into as we get a little older – but there can also be some Spring Apple chickens in the mix too!
So what makes you an Apple shape and how can can you look your best?
THE APPLE.
I’ve said it before and I’m going to say it again. This is the MOST important thing to remember – this is not at all about your size, dressing for your shape is all about balancing the proportions of your body – no matter what size you are, you can still look amazing!
How to identify an Apple:
1. Wider back and upper body
2. Medium to large bust
3. No defined waist and a bit of a tummy
4. Slender hips, bum and legs (often you will buy a size smaller for your bottom half)
Does that ring any bells? Here are some ladies in celeb-land that lay claim to being an Apple shape:
Recognise these stunners? Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta Jones and Liz Hurley all have the typical Apple-shaped body
See? These are some of the world’s most beautiful women and they are Apples! We ALL coming in different shapes and sizes so here’s how to embrace your Appleness!
My top 4 tips for dressing for an Apple:
1. Create vertical lines
Vertical lines are EVERYBODIES friend, but for you in particular, Apples – you CAN NOT go wrong with vertical lines. Because you are slightly wider at the top of your body, anything that draws the eye up and down your shape, rather than focusing on the width of your torso is going to make you look slimmer.
Weather its wearing a long scarf or necklace, or using a cardigan or jacket to create the vertical lines – anything that draws the eye vertically and skims over your tummy is going to be good!
1. Diva long tribal necklace AU$12.50 (click here to buy). 2. Decujba utility jacket NZ$149.95 (click here to buy) 3. Witchery summer block scarf AU$49.95 (click here to buy)
2. Define your shape through the sides and back – avoid the tummy!
You need to look for garments that still give you a shapely silhouette without exaggerating your tummy – this is where shaping of garments is important! Look for anything that pulls in at the back, or has some shaping through the sides of the garment without a seam or a tie across the tummy.
Tunics and tunic dresses are good options for this! If a dress or a tunic has a waist tie don’t disregard it – often you can tie the tie back around the BACK of the dress – this will pull the garment in at the sides, giving you shape, without cutting across your tummy! A tunic has an added bonus in that you can wear it with leggings or a skinny pant to show off your awesome slim legs!
1. Asos tunic AU$253 (click here to buy) 2. Decujba Clutch Dress AU$199.95 (click here to buy) 3. Sacha Drake Jett tunic AU$199 (click here to buy)
3. Minimise your bust
Just like the busty Hourglass shape, taking the focus off your bust by minimising it is always a way to make you look better. Tame those puppies with deeper necklines. It’s all about surface area – the less fabric you have across the surface area of your décolletage the smaller they will look, and less fabric is created by deeper necklines! Kapish?
1. Sweetheart neckline: Barkins top AU$39.99 (click here to buy) 2. Square neckline: Sacha Drake Iris dress AU$199 (click here to buy) 3. Cowl neckline: Witchery blouse AU$49.95 (click here to buy)
Minimising the bust also works well with tip number 1 – vertical lines and smaller bust = more flattering silhouette!
4. Show off your slim hips and legs
These are your key assets (along with your fabbo set of knockers!) so make the most of them! Leggings, jeggings and skinny pants are MADE for you. Still want to hide your tum? Easy! Tunics and short dresses are perfect! They give you the coverage you want over your middle whilst showing off your pretty pins!
1. Portmans 7/8 pants AU$79.95 (click here to buy) 2. SpencerLacy cotton leggings AU$69.95 (click here to buy) 3. Sacha Drake Capri pants AU$179 (click here to buy)
So my yummy little Apple’s does that clear things up a little? I hope it does! Don’t forget you can always ask me any questions you like in the comments below, or email me: chasingcait@gmail.com.
Still need some help with what to wear? Did you know that if you live in Auckland, you can book me for a personal styling session to suit your needs – click here to find out more
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Love & Style Always
Cait xoxo
I really appreciate your blog. I have some serious self esteem issues,and after 2 kids, and a bad relationship with myself… I have rolls in unflattering and uncomfortable places. I can never seem to find anything to fit right. I work (starting next week) in a new job that is super professional business wear all the time. On casual Friday, the boss loosened his tie. Everything here wrang true, except my hips are… well… just as wide, if not wider than the shoulders and bust line. Shapewear helps my confidence levels, but in the end…. I still can’t make anything work together on my body that will work for my works dress code.
Hi Echo – first of all, you are not alone! So many women I see have the same issues. The first thing to remember is that your amazing body MADE those two children! that’s a pretty awesome accomplishment so cut yourself some slack!
It sounds like you need to look for outfits that skim over your tummy, but give you some waist definition.
I’m not sure where you live so I can’t give you any specific advice on what to wear, but you want to look for pants that have some stretch to them, so they fit over your hips – and go for a SLIMMER leg to take some of the bulk out of your shape.
Then add a nice, floaty top that has some drape over your tummy, and is a little longer (to make you feel more comfortable in your skinny pants).
Then add a structured jacket of some sort that has some shape through the sides to show off you waist 🙂
I hope that helps a little?
Hey Cait,
I’m 62. Irish-English & a tiny smudge Italian. I am fit – 5’6″ and 118#. I have NEVER found my body shape described, EVER. This is so amazing. 32″ waist, 35.5″ hips, 32″ inseam… that’s me! I dress like this all the time. I can’t believe you posted us as “yummy little apples”. So darling and flattering. I had to share this with my sister and best friend, I was so tickled.
Thank you to the third power, you rock. From a relieved and happy fan,
Liz
Hey Liz! so glad I could make you smile haha! The most important thing to remember is that there is no bad shape! Everyone is different, but amazing in their own way
xx
Your blog is amazing, but I’m still convinced the apple shape _sucks_. Which is sad because I’m suspicious that’s the shape I’ve got. Why can’t I define my own body type?! Aaargh, frustation.
Carry on being awesome (and forgive me for my lacking English skills, it’s not even my second language).