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I thought it might be a good idea to share our good finds that suit our shape.
I saw an apple in a gathered full skirt today. It looked dreadful. It made me think that there must be loads of us on mn. What is your favorite outfit? What do you get complimented most in?
"Apple shaped tends to describe women who have wide torsos (full bust, waist and upper back), as they store body fat around the mid section of their bodies (stomach, abdomen and chest). Such women have relatively slim thighs and upper legs. Apple shaped women often have a 'top-heavy' appearance, with a bust and midriff bigger than their hips, a prominent tummy and a flat bottom.
To assess whether you are apple shaped, again measure your hip-waist ratio; if the ratio is greater than 0.8, then you are apple shaped.
If you are apple-shaped then you are in good company ~ other famous UK 'apples' include the beautiful Elizabeth Hurley and Oscar winning actress Catherine Zeta-Jones.
What to wear if you are an 'apple'
Trousers and skirts that are straight. Avoid very fitted or tailored garments, particularly those with well defined waist bands as these will only draw unwanted attention to your mid-section Avoid mixing and matching many different colours. Choose monochromatic outfits, as the use of just one colour will create an overall impression of length that will focus away from your width Tops should cover the hip area and be worn over tapered trousers that flatter slimmer legs. Shorter skirts also help to draw interest to your lower body region. Light coloured hosiery (preferably 'nude') will help focus attention on your legs Pockets should be avoided as often these can be unflattering and attract unwanted attention to the upper body"
I think I am an apple too as I have a huge ribcage (but only 36b/c boobs) and flat bottom, good legs and although I have a waist it is very high (shortwaisted?) so where a normal waist would be is fat.
I have enjoyed a winter of straight cut jeans and long casual rocket dog boots with tunic tops (or short dresses) over the top. I have felt comfortable and balanced looking slimmer than I might due to good legs in tight jeans. Summer is harder. I have size 6.5 feet so don't like the straight cut jeans without the boots .
No boobs not big enough for goblet <sigh>. I would love to be Gok'ed or Trinny and Susannahed. Is there a website you can send a headless shot to so that someone can define your shape??
Can I join?? I am most definatley an 'apple figure'. My trousers are a size 18, however, I am constantly having to pull them up as I have a skinny arse!
My waist is huuugggee, legs are alright. Bra size is a massive 40D! So, yes with those measurements I need some assistance with my dire wardrobe. I am currently living in black cords & various cheap t-shirts. Will watch this thread with interest
Oh yes, size 14 tops here and 12 bottoms but they NEVER NEVER stay up. I am constantly tugging at them. They dig into my waist and sort of ride down as I have no bum to hold them up.... Plus clothes fit fine as long as I am standing up. When I sit the waist bands cut me in half. Grrr.
Can I tell you all to go to River Island for jeans? They do grrrrrrreat not too too lo-rise jeans that are tight round arse and thighs but accommodate massive stomach. You do need a belt but they are a brilliant fit
Ha VP! My exit from a car is very un ladylike! My arse is always hanging out of my trousers! I was planning to buy a few skirts for summer. I live in trousers and I read somewhere that they are not the most flattering item of clothing for 'apples!'.
Any suggestions for styles of skirts/dresses greatly recieved.
I can't wear low rise jeans due to massive overspill of the stomach. I need a mid waistband to hold my fattest bit in. It seems a pure fluke to find it though. I will try RI though next time I go for jeans, thank you. I bought a lovely dress in Coast last year (in the sale) that gave me a waist (a good high one). I like Coast, just cannot afford it. I also am going for skirts this summer. I think they work better as they won't fall down . And you can move the waist bit up or down to fit comfortably as long as there is a longish top over the top....
Empire line style tops should be good for us. I like things with a tie at the back just under the boobs. My slimmest point really. I cannot wear anything tucked in.
I'm an apple - find pencil skirts, high heels and shirts very flattering, work wise. Tend to denim mini and black v-neck tops (ideally that have a flare) or a colourful cotton smock type thing, ideally fitted around norks.
okay, i hate per una with a passion but i have these jeans. they're nice and comfy on the waist and come a good bit higher than normal stoopid lo-rise jeans so actually control your tummy a bit. this means, i have found, that you can actually buy a smaller size that will fit an apple's non-arse and thighs because it Actually Fits At The Waist!
I discovered Betty Barclay last year when I bought a fantastic linen jacket. I've only bought one other thing since as I haven't liked all the styles and colours, but she often seems to get it very right for my body shape - as above really...
Oooh I'm one. I have great legs (honestly, they really are properly great) but I'm very tubby round the middle – size 18 tubby. Like wineplease, I wear size 18 jeans but am always tugging them up because they fall off my arse. Am currently wearing Dorothy Perkins skinny jeans, which fit my waist but are far from skinny on the legs - positively baggy. In fact, I reckon I've got a size 18 waist but size 12 legs!
Last year was blinking great - lots of empire-line/tunicy tops and leggings. But I was really dismayed at the wide trousers and filmy little blouses around this year - I do have some wide trousers but they don't look great, especially since I'm a bit of a shortarse too, and anything that buttons down the front makes me look like my mum. My gran if it's floral.
I'm glad I found this thread because I've just come away from a session in front of the full-length mirror miserably prodding my flabby bits and thinking 'I really shouldn't have a glass of wine tonight because I need to lose weight'. Not a fun Friday night activity <pours wine>.
try those marks and sparks jeans i linked to, seriously. i'm two sizes less in them than in most other shops cos of the stretch and the waist height (so you can use your hips and a belt to keep them up).
my legs are Rocking, foxy, they're my best bit. dh said only the other day 'how come your legs are so toned when in fact you barely get your arse off the sofa?'
yup, long body, short legs. gary barlowe syndrome, we call it in this house. hence the need for the high waist jean in order to avoid the dreaded hoof.
oh it's so pleasing meeting someone with short leg long back issue. You are the only other person who gets it when I talk about normal shirts only reaching my belly button.
ah yes, the barrel. we were watching an old western when a man wore a barrel and braces and had spindly wee legs hanging out the bottom. cue dh: that's you, that is. it's a wonder he survived as long as he did, really...
it's weird, isn't it, about the shirts? lots of these empire line smock tops are like babydoll nighties on me. not a lood gook, as almost no-one in the world says.
i dunno, it could work out well for dd. or it could work out Really Badly. don't think for a minute that i don't catch myself worrying about it. seriously.
are empire line smocks those pregnancy like tops? They make me look pregnant. Properly pregnant. People ask me if I'm pregnant type pregnant grr (and I'm not)
yes, I see those dress like tops and they look like shirts on me. Is all very annoying.
i quite like that skirt, actually. i have a couple of dries van notens that are a bit similarly mental. but i do think you'd have to really rock that ibiza look, or else you'd look like a bit of a plum.
Countessdracula I bought that dress from Monsoon too!! I am ceratinly an apple, and it is great!! I wear lots of jeans (goodish legs) with long tops over (no waist!) Can't tuck them in or look huge!! Its so nice to find other people that have this problem! Does anyone find that if skirts fit at the waist, they nearly fall down over hips by themselves???
yes, I love Monsoon petite trousers. They fit me incredibly well (but I do find them quite pricy so don't buy loads). My favourite work trousers are Monsoon petite ones but annoyingly, I think a lot of their tops are just not long enough.
I love that CD dress though. I might go and have a nosy there next week.
maybe if we ate more apples we'd be less apple shaped....
right, i have big norks & great legs. and not a bad bum. but badly let down by my hulking great tummy.
skinny jeans suit me, wore lots of those in the winter with sweater dresses. wrap dresses also good (thanks aitch!). realised the other day i have no trousers in my wardrobe except jeans. . but don't want any i don't think...
have got some really nice things from jigsaw recently, but they have a crap website don't they?
oh, & am a big fan of accessorizing as distraction.
god i loved that dress... how i wish i'd been tall enough to carry it off. glad you're enjoying it, hc. jigsaw, interesting. i never go there. i'm mostly a fine knit and lunatic skirt type. or jeans. hard to get good trousers for an apple, i find, anything remotely tailored does mad round things at the tummy. hence the skirts for smarts.
Ok, the elasticated waist is a bad idea. However, I thought with a long t-shirt (that covered the offending band) would be fine. Also, I thought the ruffles on the skirt would divert the eyes away from the apple tum. We should maybe ask Gok on his thoughts?!
As you can see fellow apples, I need fashion tips!!
Ok, the elasticated waist is a bad idea. However, I thought with a long t-shirt (that covered the offending band) would be fine. Also, I thought the ruffles on the skirt would divert the eyes away from the apple tum. We should maybe ask Gok on his thoughts?!
As you can see fellow apples, I need fashion tips!!
I'm probably a golbert, oops goblet, as have man shoulders, huge tits, big blubbery tummy, small bum and good legs with amazing calves and ankles .
The tummy has become well and truly unleashed after second child. It was pretty much under control pre-children, owing to obsessive gym bunny tendencies.
Can certainly not wear low-rise anymore, am loving my high waists. Also v-neck tops, high heels, skirts that finish just slightly under the knee (as have slightly knock knees and a bad case of housemaids' knee).
Aaaah, I've found my spiritual home, full of fat curvaceous women whose trousers fall down! I'm a fairly tall apple with big boobs and look pretty good in a long bias-cut skirt, as long as I've got a longish top over it to cover the tum. I pretty much live in t-shirts but I'd love to find something smarter for up top. I'm always envious when I see someone pulling off that crisp white shirt and jeans look as dress shirts make me look like Rosie the Riveter.
noddy, if you're big-boobed Bravissimo do good underwired ones to hoik you up. Also M&S have these ones made of some kind of fabric that's supposed to squnch you in, but when I tried to try one on I couldn't get into it...
I've always been an apple, but tummy exercises do work. I used to do two half hours abs classes a week and my tummy was almost flat (though I didn't realise at the time).
I don't do any at the mo. 'Red' magazine's got some good exercises in this month that I've ripped out. Can tell they would do the job, but haven't tried them yet . Diagrams are putting me off, as can tell it will hurt.
lol, coco, yes I need to eat less too, but I have lost weight and it goes first of all off my bust and hips - which just makes the midriff look even bigger!
The thought of exercising though - other than walking and swimming, which I do - depresses me immensely.
That bravissimo top is lovely but would be too tight across the tum for me . I have a t-shirt on today that is scoop neck with a little plastic thing, and long line (M&S £5). It looks fab with the long flowing skirt I have on. But it looks absolutely shocking with my tight jeans as it makes me look really wide if I wear them together because of where it stops on me. It is about getting combos right isn't it? <sigh>
I had a catalogue from these people delivered the other day. I thought their stuff looked great and lots of tunic / tie back tops for us apples. But I have never heard of them before so I don't know about the sizing or if they are any good. Anyone any idea?
I also cannot wear wrap dresses at all. This makes me as I think they look fab.
i have a speedo sculpture empire job, is super a version but mine is nicer, blue.
smurf to be a properly flattering empire line it must go right in under bosom and then sort of flow down. if the seam is in teh slightest wrong place or there is much gathering then it will not be nice.
I'm so glad someone agrees with me about cropped trousers. Conventional wisdom says that shortarses shouldn't wear them, but I've always liked them on me because they show off my little ankles. I shall proudly carry on wearing them (with a long top, of course).
My dream is to find some city shorts that look nice. As usual, anything that fits me round the waist is hugely baggy round the legs and makes me look enormous – I'd love some trim ones to just skim my trim(ish!) thighs. Might have to take up dressmaking...
Hello fellow apples. It really is a sh*t shape to be, however I've always worn tightish trousers to show off my decentish legs and baggier tops that cover my big fat tummy. I love cropped trousers too. Aside from huge knockers, slim legs, no waist and fat tum, I also have shortish arms (is this also an apple thing?) so have to turn sleeves up (sigh) I've also found that my arse has got flatter as i've got older!! Happened to my mum too so I'll blame her.
oh God it could have been me you saw CD - i bought this skirt in a charity shop and have a soft spot for it but it is VERY gathered and i agree a mistake
must buy full length mirror and Know the Truth
so can i join? - am a tall apple with very broad shoulders and back, mahoosive belly, am 40C or thereabouts, have decent legs and jeans permanently heading for the floor
Yes, Evans is dire for apple shapes, the cut for all their trousers is entirely pear-oriented so they look like rediculous clown trousers on apples.
Buda I bet if you measured you would be several sizes different between your waist and your hips. I generally wear a 20/22 but when I measured it turned out that my hips were a 14. On another thread someone suggested I try maternity trousers so I ordered a pair from jojomamabebe in size 16 and they are a very good fit compared to 'normal' trousers, although I probably could have gone for size 14 as they are a tiny bit loose on the hips still. I have to wear long tops to hide the flexible waistband, but I always wear long tops anyway.
<Settles happily into the apple gang> This is a little like being at a family wedding on my Dad's side. We are all apples and all turned up in pretty much the same outfit at the last wedding. Genetics, pah!
I always thought bias cut suited apples but I'm not sure now.
I was at a posh do and was sitting next to uber fashionable fashion student and a woman (apple) went by with bias cut dress on and fashionista girl nearly vommed on her cheese and crackers saying "bias cut is so not a good look if you have a tummy" I immediately thought of all my zillions of linen bias cut skirts I think from the front ok ,but side not good and sometimes they gape at side and look like your bum has ears.
we need pic of you in bias cut skirt Hoxtonchick, then we can settle it once and for all.
While I'm here, I must apologize for recommending tummy exercises in Red. I tried them tonight. My abs are so shot I COULD NOT do them as per instructions. Specially one where you're supposed to lower yourselves down to ground slowly slowly and then slowly slowly raise up again, like a sit-up in slow mo.
My version - Coco falls to ground groaning then has to use arms to get off floor again.
Was going to join in but I think I may be a brick! DH reckons I'm a goblet.. Still, I've got no waist, big back and shoulders, decent legs. Am I allowed?
. 
I was planning to buy a few skirts for summer. I live in trousers and I read somewhere that they are not the most flattering item of clothing for 'apples!'. 
