Finding the right dress when your weight is carried in your midsection can become a bit of a task. However, it does not have to be so. If you have an apple body shape, then you must have an amazing bustline and legs, as well as a shorter, larger torso that carries belly fat.
In line with the professional styling guidelines for an apple body type, dressing up an apple shape isn’t all about trying to conceal oneself by using loose-fitting attire. No, indeed! The trick lies in manipulating proportions and making use of vertical lines that draw attention upwards to the chest and the face, or downwards towards the legs.
Here is our ultimate guide to the dresses for apple shaped body with belly fat figures, featuring expert styling insights, visual descriptions, and the exact silhouettes that double as flattering dresses for tummy coverage.
The Master Checklist: 11 Outfits for Apple-Shaped Women
1. The Empire Waist Dress
The most important thing to remember when talking about professional fashion stylists is to keep the empire waist in mind. Think about an airy bohemian maxi dress with a seam located right below the bust area, not at the waistline. It highlights the narrowest part of your torso and then flows gently over the stomach area without hugging any other part of your body. It will make breathing easy for you while emphasizing your chest.
2. Deep V-Neck A-Line Dresses
The A-line dress is one of the most reliable tools of styling. It is about a dress that is nicely fitted in the shoulders and chest area,, but gradually flares out in the form of a “capital A” starting from the ribcage till the end of the dress. If this cut is combined with a V-neck, it creates an illusion of elongated upper body parts.
3. Faux-Wrap Dresses
Whereas a classic wrap dress might occasionally tug, gape, or even appear risky on a stomach that is fully rounded out, a faux wrap dress is all about style wizardry. Find a wrap design where the fabric has a diagonal drape on top of the bust like a real wrap dress would have, but with a side seam that is sewn in place. The end result will be an asymmetrical line dividing your torso in half and flattening your belly instantly.
4. Direct Shift Dresses
Visualize a traditional 1960s Twiggy dress, hanging straight and loose on you from shoulder to hem, completely bypassing your waist area. Shift dresses are amazing dresses for hiding tummy fat since they do not constrict your midsection in any way, shape, or form. The key to ensuring that this type of dress remains fashionable rather than bulky is the length of the dress; wear one that hits at the top of your knees.
5. Asymmetrical Hemline Dresses
An optical illusion can be achieved by wearing an asymmetric hemline or a high-low hemline. Think of a dress whose hem is shorter on the front side and longer on the back side, or the hem of a dress which is cut diagonally, as in the case of a handkerchief. There are no straight lines on the hemline and, therefore, our eyes follow these lines. In turn, this distracts our attention from the middle of the body down to our feet.
6. Ruched Midsection Dresses
A lot of women avoid ruching because they think extra fabric equals extra bulk. But stylistic side-ruching, which means gathering up the fabric around the stomach on one or both side seams to create distortion, has been known to be commonly used by professional designers. Picture the stretch crepe dress from designers such as Norma Kamali and Veronica Beard. The undulations around the tummy area serve to blur out your belly shape.
7. Empire-Cut Maxi Dresses
Take, for example, the maxi dress made from airy material such as viscose or linen. The dress will have a stretchable or drawstring waistline right underneath the bustline. This will create a vertical line of color going downward. This creates a longer, leaner silhouette that balances a fuller midsection.
8. Structured Utility Shirt Dresses
Visualize the iconic shirt dress with its crisp, heavyweight cotton poplin or utility linen with its collared neckline, buttoned front placket, and curved shirt tail hemline. Do not opt for skimpy materials that cling to your skin. A structured shirt dress creates its own architectural lines. You may opt to leave some of the top buttons undone to create a V-shaped neckline, giving the rigid material enough room to glide across your abdomen area smoothly.
9. Fit and Flare Dresses with an Elevated Waist
As far as the fit and flair style of dresses are concerned, they resemble the A-line dress as they share similarities in having a fitted bodice that then flares into a wide skirt. In selecting a dress for someone who has an apple-shaped figure, one will need to get a dress that is tight up to the rib cage area around the navel region and then flares outward into a tight skirt.
10. High-Placement Peplum Dresses
The peplum dress is characterized by a ruffle that extends from the waistline. If you have an apple-shaped body type, do not go for the conventional low-hip peplums. Rather, imagine wearing a fitted cocktail dress, whereby the architectural and flared ruffle begins high up near the narrowest point of your ribs and continues downwards to cover your belly area.
11. Trapeze or Tent Dresses
Trapeze dresses are narrow and fitted at the shoulders and armholes, then widen out significantly and continuously toward the hem. They offer maximum comfort and absolute freedom around your middle. For the dress to retain its elegance, select light and airy materials that will sway nicely with each step you take.
The Pro-Stylist Guide: Necklines, Sleeves, and Patterns
To build a truly cohesive look, the silhouette is only half the battle. Stylists look at the entire garment to balance an apple frame.
Best Necklines vs. Necklines to Avoid
- Best: Wear tops with V-neck, scoop neck, and sweetheart neckline. The purpose of this technique is to create a diversion by highlighting your neckline and collarbone rather than your thick breasts.
- To Avoid: Turtlenecks and boat necks should not be worn since they make an unflattering line across the top half of your body.
Sleeve Styling Tips
- Choose: split sleeve, flutter sleeves, and three-quarter sleeves. Three-quarter sleeves are perfect for you since they put focus on your wrists that are in the same place as your waist.
- Avoid: Cap sleeves. They cut off at the widest part of your arm and draw a horizontal line straight across your bust line.
Choosing Prints and Colors
- Monochrome Dressing: Monochromatic dressing in colors like navy, emerald, plum, and charcoal creates a vertical line which will narrow the waist.
- Pattern Placement: Pattern should be abstract in medium size or vertical stripes. Avoid huge, loud florals centered directly over the stomach, as well as horizontal stripes, which visually widen your frame.
Fabric Rules to Live By
The type of material used in your dress affects its drape against your skin.
- Choose: Woven structured cotton, premium linen, viscose, modal, and heavier matte silk. They can retain their shape instead of adapting to the shape of your body.
- Avoid: Thin jersey fabric mixes, cheap satin, and spandex. Such materials attract any belly fat you have and cling to every inch of your contours, showing every line from your underwear.
- Tip for you: Never underestimate the power of your supportive bra. It lifts your breasts, creating some distance between your stomach and your breasts, and hence making you look taller and slimmer without a dress.
3 Critical Styling Mistakes to Avoid
- Bigging to Conceal: Wearing a dress that is two sizes bigger to "conceal" your stomach ends up making your whole silhouette appear bigger. First, make sure you have the right size for your shoulders and bust; your silhouette will take care of the concealing for you.
- Belt at Your Wider Spot: Do not wear a wide belt around the belly button area because it points directly to your mid-section.
- Stretchy Fabric: Do not rush to purchase those stretchy and unlined polyester dresses just because they are comfortable, since as soon as the slightest breeze touches you, the dress will cling to your belly right away.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is an apple body shape?
The apple-shaped body type is the one where weight is evenly distributed across the upper body – chest and stomach. This implies that you have a large chest area, a broad middle section, undefined waist, while your legs, calves, and arms stay small.
Can apple shapes wear belts?
Indeed, but it all depends on how you wear them. You shouldn’t place them at the bottom of your hips or directly across the fattest part of your stomach. Instead, you should put either a thin or medium-sized belt right above your rib cage and just below your bust.
What dress length is best for an apple body shape?
Dresses that are right at or just above or below your knees are extremely flattering. Your calves and legs become emphasized, and thus balance the fuller top part of your body.
Looking for a dress that would make you feel beautiful? Check out the amazing range of dresses on offer at Flora Dress!
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