Ask BFD: Dressing For An Apple Shape
September 6th, 2010
This next question actually was left as a comment, but I thought it would be worth turning it into an entry.
Hello all, I’m Lisa. I’m 32, 5’4″ short and weigh about 300lbs (it fluctuates). Would that I could say that I have the blessing of an hourglass shape, but no. I’m one of the fat girls ‘blessed’ with a rather large belly. Of the spare 170lbs I’m toting around, I’d guess that 50-75% of it is concentrated in my stomach. Any one have tips on how to dress for that shape?
So, any fashion tips for Lisa, and all the other apple shapes out there? Links to the Fatshionista photo stream are welcome!
Posted by mo pie
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Wow! I love these fashion posts. I am no fatsionista, but I do have a few observations and suggestions.
First and foremost, wear what you want! Feeling good in your clothes is far more important than following any fashion guidelines. Experiment and try new things!
Next, this is a bit conventional, I know, but your shape looks great in empire-waisted dresses and tops. These styles can be seriously adorable, nobody wears them as well as “apple-shaped” women. A fun belt or sash worn just below the bust can accentuate your curves, and add definition to loose or flowing garments.
If you have great legs, don’t be afraid to show them off! Pairing a simple, above-the-knee dress with some funky tights or leggings is a great way to do this.
Don’t feel restricted to dark colors or “slimming” prints. You will be just as fat in black as you would be in magenta. Instead, choose colors that complement your coloring, and fit your personal style.
Finally, I am hesitant to add fashion “do nots,” so please take this with a grain of salt. However, if you’re wearing high-waisted pants, I recommend against tucking in your top. The combination of high-waisted pants and a tucked-in shirt might make you look a bit frumpy.
Then again, you might totally rock the tucked-in tops. Remember, wear what you want!
I really hope this is helpful. Happy styling!
SL
“You will be just as fat in black as you would be in magenta.”
Yes, yes, yes. When I finally got this, it opened up a world of fashion for me. I still dress in jeans and t-shirts most of the time, but I don’t base what I wear on if it’s supposedly “slimming,” because who am I kidding? I am 5 feet tall and weigh 260, and I had a baby 10 months ago. There’s not a print in the world or a black dress in the entire known universe that is going to hide the fact that I am fat apple with a big belly. But when I wear something that makes me feel cute/sassy/pretty/adorable/bitchin’ (whatever adjective I feel like I want that day), it doesn’t so much matter if it is “slimming,” because I feel good. And really, I don’t want to shoot for looking “not fat,” as if that is more acceptable than looking fat. I want to look comfortable in my body and my clothes.
Being an apple is tough, because it doesn’t fit the traditionally acceptable shape for a woman (hourglass or at least wider in the hip. Pears and hourglasses will probably argue that it’s tough even if you are that shape — I’m not trying to start a fight). That can do a number on your self-confidence. It took me a long time to get over feeling like I was shaped wrong, and a lot of plus-sized clothes don’t help, because they are not all cut well for apple shapes. Being confident that you look JUST FINE THE WAY YOU ARE, I promise, is a big part of dressing well (no matter what shape/size you are).
Practically speaking (because as much as I’d like to be all proud of my belly, I do try to minimize it), make sure you’ve got good bras. Keeping the rack well-supported makes shirts/dresses fit better, and draws the eye up away from the belly. Simone’s idea of the empire waist tops is good — I wear a lot of them, because I don’t have much of a waist, and that helps create a shape where there isn’t much of one.
If I had a longer neck, I would wear button-up shirts with darting around the bust and natural waist, because those also help create a little more shape.
I try to avoid shirts that cut off right at my widest point (at my hip) and go for something a little longer, but I avoid the tunic, which can be sort of tenty. You might be tall enough to get away with it, though, and tunics are huge (heh) this year again. I also avoid the skinny jean in favor of bootcut, because I think the skinny silhouette makes me look like an apple on a toothpick, but like Simone said, it’s all about what you feel good in and want to wear!
And, it’s a cliche, but I tend toward classic cuts and solid colors, and jazz up my look with accessories (and I will keep doing this, sadly, until the fashion industry gets its head out of its ass and starts making trendy and well-cut clothing for all sizes). Fabulous shoes and fun jewelry work on every shape, and a scarf, hat and/or cute jacket/shrug/cardigan (especially going into fall) will make you feel really put together, even if the rest of your outfit is “just” jeans and a sweater.
Good luck!
I’m commenting for the first time to ask: what kind of jeans do you like for your apple shape?? I can NEVER find jeans that fit because anything that’s big enough to be comfortable in the waist is hugely baggy on my ass. Help!
Hey! I am commenting for the first time to, because I tooooooootally have an answer to this problem! I am also an apple shape – i’m 5’4 and 300 lbs and my belly is pretty big – and my recommendation is actually Fit Right Lane Bryant Jeans. I am usually not a fan of that store, but they do have jeans that are more varied in shape! You can pick your shape (based on your hip-to-waist ratios) and then your length and presto! Jeans that fit. They also have a thing where you can put in your measurements and they tell you what fit you are – no guess work.
This link tells you more
http://www.lanebryant.com/content.jsp?pageName=RightFit&
I hope that helps!!
I’m about the same size and second the Right Fit jeans, but if possible try them on. My measurements say I am a “yellow” but with the stretch in the jeans, I find that the yellow falls down constantly once I have them on for an hour or so. Personally, the “red” fit me much better in spite of what the measurements say.
I’m also going to recommend the Right Fit jeans. I’ve had the same problem most of my life, even before I gained weight, and those are the best jeans I’ve found for my shape. The yellow square style is made to fit apple shaped women.
I’ve also found a lot of good pairs that were L.E.I. brand. Torrid used to sell them and WalMart sells them now too, but I think the quality has gone done. I was really excited when I found out that Walmart was selling them because they were only 20$ but the pair I bought was made of much thinner material than the other pairs I’ve had in the past.
See, I’m not hourglass shaped either, but I tend to shy away from empire-waists, because I think my belly ends up looking like a baby bulge (no offense to those who have or have had one, but I am involuntarily childless, so thiking that people think I might be pregnant is maybe even more painful for me than the average gal).
I do tend to bright, solid colors, but that’s a personal preference – which I think is what simone and harmony also were saying – wear what you like and feel good in!
“You will be just as fat in black as you would be in magenta.”
I need that sewn into a pillow.
Re: Empire waists, they can be a look that’s a little young if you are of a certain age (I’m 42). As one of my favorite fashion bloggers puts it “too old for babydoll, too young to die”.
I recommend a book called The Pocket Stylist by Kendall Farr for really good recommendations for people of all body types.
Ruth, as much as I dislike endorsing them, lane bryant right fit jeans/work pants tend to work best for me (belly, skinny -compared to everywhere else- legs and flat butt). I wear the ones with the yellow tag and they seem to be roomy in the waist and a little more fitted in the butt and thigh.
I’ll echo the sentiment about bootcut jeans and pants. I avoid anything tapered.
Fitted button up shirts, good bras are always good.
I’ll have to say though that I’m a little iffy about empire waists. The problem with them is that if they’re too blousey they can make you look kind of pregnant and it always seems like it’s even more obvious that you’re hiding your belly.
I prefer things that are fairly fitted and hit me just bellow the crotch.
I also will mix a longer camisole under a shirt to add a little length on the bottom
A-line dresses with empire waists are good.
So are button up blouses with skirts.
I like to wear shirts with details at the shoulders, like little poofs and structure to add a little shape. I have a fitted shirt that has some blousing at the shoulders and it always looks great.
Also, don’t try to hide that belly completely. I think a lot of people wear clothes that are too big because they don’t want to show the slightest bit of bulge, but in the end it just makes them look like a bigger girl trying to hide how big they are.
Try to get over that unease. At this point I don’t fret too much if I show a shadow of tummy bulge. I’ve asked friends “Is this too tight?” and they usually said, “No, you look great!” or in one incident “Your boobs look amazing!” =D It’s one of those things where it probably looks a lot bigger than it actually is.
I’m 26, 5’2, and 225-250lbs. Much to my dismay, the first thing I realized looked awful on me was, super feminine styling. If it’s soft and flowy, it probably won’t look great. A little bit of structure goes a long way.
I actually like tunics, assuming the fit is good. A wider band under the bust that cinches in is fantastic. Something like this, which adds a little bit of width over the hips to help balance things out is great
(Same concept works for dresses).
http://www.zaftique.com/shop_image/large/3fa11d60335371bed845012f3351d929.jpg
A top like that, skinny jeans, over the knee boots, maybe a little crop jacket/shrug is central to my fall wardrobe.
When I still worked in fashion I was the fit/math dork.
Recent research has put 60% of American women in the apple category! Of that percentage, most (46% of women) gain that weight primarily in their stomachs (designated as 9″ or less difference between waist and hips and/or bust), with the remaining 14% gaining throughout their upper bodies (busts more than 3 inches bigger than hips).
Bottom heavy triangles or ‘spoons’ are ~fairly~ well represented (21%, hips 2 or more inches larger than bust), but hourglasses are apparently a minimal 8%.
These percentages are COMPLETELY different in other countries, fascinatingly. For instance, Japan is almost ONLY made up of apples. If you’re small enough, it’s all you. The ethnically british also tend strongly in the apple direction, as do many west africans…but I digress.
Can you tell I’m obsessed? ;)
To add to the empire waist discussion: I’m 22, so I don’t really know much about dressing like a grown-up! I do agree that the wrong high-waisted top can look a bit fluffy. It’s the smoother, sleeker ones that I love on other ladies–and since I’m an X-treme pear, they usually do not work on me.
@ Holls: the body shape research is fascinating. I remember reading that “pear” was the most common body type, at least a few decades ago. But I think it’s completely plausible that things have changed recently; boobs have gotten bigger (in both absolute and relatives terms) just in the last ten years. To me, this lends credence to the belief that “obesity” has risen in recent years, not because we’ve all lost our self-control, but simply because our bodies are *different* (taller, heavier, and differently shaped) than those of our forbearers. And that, in turn, suggests that some awfully complex cultural and environmental factors are at work.
This is coming from a “pearapple” – hourglass figure hiding underneath a large helping of belly.
Empire waists should always sit a few inches below the bust – far enough down that the waistline will not fold underneath the breasts. If the waist is too high, it looks maternity-wear worthy, but if you bring it down to around the base of your ribcage, it should create a smoother effect.
I’m a big fan of tunics – particularly ones that are well-fitted in the top and a little looser around the waist and hip. This will elongate the torso and even out the appearance of belly-to-body ratio.
I absolutely love v-neck wraps on bellied-bodies. It draws the attention to the neck and cleavage (more or less cleavage, depending on venue and conservativeness), elongates the torso (as long as the shirt isn’t too short), and masks some of the belly shape without trying to hide it under miles of fabric.
If you go for looser tops, definitely consider slim-fit or skinny jeans. While leggings may not be the way to go on a lot of larger bodies (it depends on the shape of your legs, hips and butt and your comfort level showing them off) wearing a baggy shirt with loose-fitting pants just makes you look like you’re trying to hide under all those clothes. It also gives you more bulk to your body – so while it might mask lumps-and-bumps, it’s only going to make you look bigger and shapeless.
Ah count me in with the apples.
I’m a costume designer and have the privelege of knowing a lot of sewers and designers, and learning what looks good from truly objective opinions.
I’m a big lover of babydolls and empire waistlines, and believe that when they are constructed with the correct proportions for “you” they are very very flattering. As one poster mentioned, the waistline needs to sit well below the bustline, or the entire effect is ruined and negated.
Here is my biggest frustration: anything that is headlined or advertised as “for every shape/size”. For me that is a HUGE red flag that my big bellied apple shape will NOT be represented there.
I have yet to see, ever, even once, a presentation of “for every shape” address big bellies. Even on Size Acceptance sites, shows, articles and entire magazines…it’s all hourglass amazons, which, goddess knows I wish that were me, but it’s not. It’s always girls with thick legs and big bottoms, or big hips and bust…never us big bellied sneeches.
So it’s always a carousel of “for every shape” but mine. It only adds to the depression and frustration. I’m sick of it, and find myself especially angered when it comes from sources that want to stake a claim in the “for every shape/size” movement.
Wow, what a great discussion! And great tips for us apples. Elizabeth, the phrase “big bellied sneeches” is going to make me giggle all day. :)
I’m 52, 5’9″ and 295 lbs, and as Jez describes it, a “pearapple” (for me, former hourglass with a huge helping of belly). Wraps and V-necks are my friends. I love empire waists as well, but at my age I try to be careful that empire doesn’t equal babydoll — really not a good look for me. A fairly fitted empire is perfect. I too like Right Fit Yellow pants from Lane Bryant (how funny that we all found these!).
I only wear tunics if they have some fitting below the bust (again, an empire waist works). Narrow-legged pants are fine, but leggings throw off my proportions completely. I miss shoulderpads! Not the big ones, but *something* in the shoulders to square them off a bit or to draw the eye — epaulets, anyone?
A few favorite designers for this apple:
Igigi, Kiyonna: great sexy empire-waist and wrap dresses
Olivia Harper: Proprietary brand of LeeLee’s Valise in Brooklyn (leeleesvalise.com). The designer herself is an apple and she designs for us! Generally above my price point but well-made classic styles.
Thirding, fourthing, fifthing (?) the suggestion for the Lane Bryant Right Fit Yellow jeans. I stocked up on the flare while they still had them. I have PLENTY of issues with Lane Bryant, but they really did something right when they created those jeans. They don’t cut in at my waist, they make my butt look amazing (and normally it’s not all that bodacious since I carry most of my weight in my midsection and chest), and they fit the thighs and hips snugly yet comfortably with no binding or camel toe. I get compliments every time I wear them–I’ve had to disappoint quite a few thinner ladies who ask me where I got them with the news that they only come in plus sizes.
Also empire waist dresses for sure–but yeah, you do want to make sure that the narrowest point is more around the upper ribcage so it doesn’t look like the skirt is hanging from a curtain rod right under your boobs. ;)
I have the same shape. I am probably a couple of inches taller than you Lisa, but the same size and shape.
You know what? Wear whatever you love and makes you feel good, and you will look good. If anyone else doesn’t think so, they have the problem, not you.
My mom is an archetypal apple and she tends to do well with trapeze style dresses. These have no waist definition at all (like my mom!) and just tend to skim over everything. She also likes dresses with princess seams (long vertical seams, the center of the dress should be one panel with a panel on the left side and right side often with darting under the bust)
I’ve also seen apple shaped women wear sheath dresses to good results and younger women have the advantage of miniskirts and knee high boots.
I would suggest avoiding drop waist dresses. These are meant to emphasize a narrow waist and really only work on 16 year old girls. Other wise try everything on that catches your eye!
My other advice is to take a day in the middle of the week, like a Wednesday and head to the mall that has the most plus sized options and try everything on. Look for color and pattern that attracts you and try it on. Try everything on until you’ve figured out what works for you. Then, you’ll have guidelines and it will make shopping something easy.
I loved reading these comments! I’m also and apple: 5’4″, 285lbs. I used to think I couldn’t wear dresses, because I don’t really have a waist. But then I tried a mock-wrap dress in a jersey material. In the abstract it seems like it wouldn’t work–a dress in a stretchy fabric. But it does. And with a good bra and a slip (i.e., proper underwear) I have no need for spanx-type underthings. The mock aspect is great, too, because I don’t have to worry about my dress flying open.
What a great post. Thanks everybody for the great input! I love wrap dresses, tunics, and LEI jeans, too. I found a couple of wrap dresses at Target last summer that I am still wearing. I avoid the low-cut waist jeans, on me they tend to create a shelf to display my fat, not flattering!. I recently found the best fitting pair of jeans I’ve had in a long time; alas I found them on clearance at TJ Maxx so who knows if I will ever find them again? They are Bill Blass, “circular fit” jeans. Which cracks me up, but by gosh they fit well.
What a great thing, all of us lovely Apples gathered in the same space! I’m going to take advantage of this to ask a question that’s been driving me bonkers for years:
What kind of panties work best for you? I have no real hips to hold them up, and almost every panty that I have slides down my big belly and my flat butt when I walk. Thongs are the only ones that consistently stay up — but honestly, a 16-hour day in a thong is torture of my nether regions. I end up going commando much of the time. Any recommendations, fellow Apples?
I’ve found for me (at 5’6 and roughly 250…age 24) that boyshorts/”briefs” work well for me. I’ve also found that (surprisingly) dropping a size from whats suggested helps. (for example, at aerie, my favorite place to get underwear, it’s recommended that I get an xl according to their sizing charts. I’ve found that the large fit me perfectly.) And I’ve found (and have several smaller/different shaped friends who agree) that Victoria’s Secret tend to slide down. It’s incredibly annoying/frustrating.
First and foremost let me say that all of you are AMAZING!!! Even the ideas that I already knew of or that don’t work for me have been great to read, and I now have advice for my apple-y friends.
Sadly, I cannot really wear the baby doll/empire waist style as I have a short torso to go with the short rest of me. As I recall one of the suggestions about that style was to see that the “waist” hit just below the ribs, but that is actually where my natural waist is LOL! Still, love the advice, and the faux/genuine wrap is a find I will adore the rest of my apple days. I had already found the right fit LB jeans, I am a red. Don’t know if anyone else has had this issue, but the yellow do a strange thing right at about my belly button, they dip down sharply. The waist hits exactly where it ought to be everywhere else, just that strange dip of about 4 inches. Oh well, red work great for me.
Sue, I used to have that exact problem with panties! Though this doesn’t work for “cute” panties, if you don’t mind regular cotton for everyday, I have a solution! Hanes Her Way bikini cut panties work for me. They sit below the belly, just above your…shall we say, girly bits? Barely covers the butt crack, but I have no problem with sliding and since they aren’t being asked to accomadate a belly (my largest area by far) it is easy to find them. They have a few decent colors or patterns, but as I said, these are fairly boring. As for cute undies….well, if you are particularly needing to impress someone you probably don’t need to worry about a 16 hour stint, so the thongs ought to be fine, right? *grin*
I have such a trouble finding whatto wear to suit me, i carry all my weight above the belly button so short skirts only emphasise the thinness of my legs compared to the rest of me, from the belly button down I am slim but above that I am almost box like as opposed to round, I have large breasts. I have a problem with pants in that I have to hitch them up all the time as I have no hips to hold them up. I wear boxers as undies for comfort, the plus size shops have too many sleeveless styles and short dresses with no shape, I don’t like sleeveless as I have VERy broad shoulders but a sleeveless dress over a long sleeved top makes me look bulky.
I don’t think apples suit leggins or skinny jeans as it makes our legs look spindly, you need curvy outer thighs and hips to look good in those styles, I think they make apple shapes with slim legs and big upper bodies look like beach balls on match sticks and a bit commical.
I think any shape can wear whatever they please, and if they like it, it suits them. We have to let go of this whole notion that we’re obliged to “flatter” our bodies. What suits us is what makes us feel good. When you feel good, you look good.
So true. I have no clue whatsoever as to what shape I am (there’s big boobs, big belly, some hips and apparently (I don’t see it but others do) a pretty wide butt) and I totally rock the leggings. They are the best, most comfortable thing I own even if the lifespan is a little short on them. I feel awesome in them. Therefore they get to bask in my awesomeness. Lol