Apple Shapes! What works for you...?

[babysaurus]

I think I have a reverse version of body dysmorphia and am actually bigger, rather than smaller, than I am. However, some recent purchases have shown that some fresh ideas may be in order while, or if (if), i get round to losing a few stone.

Generally I reckon I dress okay but I was wondering what other apple shaped people wear, and where from. I am round of the middle (ie no waist), horrors big upper arms but relatively slim legs and not too bad a bum.

What about clothes from budget-priced shops, I've never purchased clothes from Boden or Phrase Eight and the likes, they're all alien to me! I can't won't spend more than £14 on a top & I don't do dresses - I look like a bag of shite tied up. And I have to have top of arms covered, although my arms are slim in comparison to my torso, I have got a tatt that I don't like showing! Most of the stuff I see lately is either too old looking - next or teenager - new look. Sigh.

I'm a slim apple shape, also short too.

I wear skinny jeans and loose tops.

Loose dresses or tunics with a wide waist belt to cinch everything in is a recent discovery and it really really works. It gives the illusion of a waist and I can wear tunic tops without me looking pregnant.

Also wear short dresses, skater style mostly with tights or leggings.

Empire lines makes me look pregnant.

No empire style tops.

I wear long length tops so that these end at my hips rather than
my waist. I wear a lot of above the knee skirts as well as skinnies. No leggings as I look like a parsnip then.

Phase eight do a lot of ruched/long line/tummy skimming tops. There is always a sale online - I hardly ever buy stuff from there or Boden full price anyway.

to reduced lines www.phase-eight.co.uk/fcp/categorylist/sale/tops?resetFilters=true&productsPerPage=25

Is it the pleats at the front

Oops! Bloody phone!
As I was saying... Is it the pleating at the front of the dress that makes it so flattering? I am always a bit wary as sometimes that can make it look a bit maternity

Marking place as really struggle too. I have alot of empire dresses which I wear to work. This week I went with a different look (for work) of a shorter than normal skirt (just above the knee) and a plain blak v neck top and got about 10 (yes 10 - that's a pb!) comments on how slim I looked/how much people liked the outfit (it wasn't special..) so I'm concluding that look must suit me more than the empire dress finishing below the knee look.

I really struggle with tops though, I don't own a single top that I think looks nice wth jeans (stupid stomach overhang when wearing jeans even with high waisted)

corrected link for nice tops

Pleating at the top under your bust is fine as long as the skirt bit of the dress drapes nicely but not around your middle, but then I am a slim apple. I would suggest a trip to a dept store like House of Fraser and try on as many dresses as you can so that you get an idea of what works for you.

Empire line dresses/tunics can work as long as the rest of it drapes nicely e.g nice dress

(and shape wear will help too!)

That knot under the bust style dress that Mad linked to really works for me too.

I tend to wear loose hip length top (have had some succes in uniqlo, tho today am wearing ghost from brand alley), slim leg trousers (m&s five pocket jeggings are good) and ankle boots or sandals with a bit of a heel.

I have a good black jersey blazer from uniqlo which is very slimming too

Empire makes me look pregnant too- perhaps it depends how wide you are under the bust? I have a big rib cage!