Exploring Apple Body Shape

Giving fruit names to body shapes is amazing way of imagining them, isn't it? As we had a Pear, an Apple, a Banana, etc.. :D But indeed these fruits cast an instant image of the shape and thus we can relate to them easily. Here we'll b talking about doctor's favourite Apple Shape.

I know you have already started framing the Apple shape in your mind.. So what do you see - Wide on the top, convexly curved middle and tapering bottom..?? That's exactly how our ladies with the Apple Body Shape look like..

Let's read some of the obvious visible characteristics of the Apple Body Shape:

- You have a wide back and full breasts
- You may have slim arms, and yet have wide shoulders
- You have slim hips and trimmed backside
- You gain weight at the middle section first

Having said that, it's also important to note that you may be a plumpier version of an Hourglass (with little waist definition) or a Column (with no waist definition, infact with tube tyres around the waist). So Apples can be and Inverted Triangle Shape, a plumpier version of Hourglasses or a broader version of the Columns..

To dress an Apple Shape is more challenging than other shape, but it's more easier to camouflage the trouble areas! You're blessed with slim arms and legs (which every other shape dies for), which you can use to your advantage. When you focus on your positives, you will certainly look more shapely and a few kilos lighter too! Not bad, isn't it??!

Before setting any guidelines to dress your body type, you need to identify which kind of Apple are you. Based on that you can check out the tips below..

@@ Apple as an Inverted Triangle @@

So you've got wide shoulders, almost equal sized tummy and you narrow down at your hips.. Meaning you're heavy on top half and lighter on the bottom half.. So what do we do?? We balance your top and bottom halves by:

1. Reduce volume from the Top...

Wear lowish neckline like scoop necks, cowl necks,wide V-necks, open collars, etc., which will given an illusion of a wider lean line. Empire lines will look great cutting your large torso and hiding your mid-flab. Add to it sleeve details like slits, gathers, embroideries or embellishments to carry the attention on your lean arms. Avoid wearing bat-wing, flared or puff sleeves as they will add volume. Instead either keep them short with detailing or full but lean.

2. Define your Waist..

Wear wrap tops, front knots, crossover tops which will try to give your body a waist-line definition. Make sure the folds are strategcally placed to give you the right curves. Also, choose woven (non-stretch) tops over knits (stretch), as knits tend to cling near your tummy area and highlight the bulge more prominently.

A-line dresses with sleeve and hemline detailing will compliement your figure. You can sport leggings with a-line dresses or tunics but make sure to have a vibe about the tunic and not the legging.

3. Add volumn to the Bottom..

If you're a skirt person, you will have many many options to choose from, starting with pencils skirts, short skirts with front pleats, A-line skirts, bias-cuts skirts, etc. Skirts will elongate your leg-line, breaking up the large torse.

If you're a pants/jeans person, you'll have the advantage of wearing bottoms like high-rise, jodhpurs, harems, cargo pants, etc.. Even boot cuts and flared pants that are flat fronted. Avoid wearing skinny pants or sleek leggings as thet make make your top half appear more broader and bottom more narrower.. If you want to wear them, team them up with boots to add volume.

You can also use darker colors, smaller prints and solids on the top and brighter colors and large prints on the bottom to shift the attention below.

@@ Apple as a Plump Hourglass @@

In this shape, you've certainly got the curves, just that you need to de-volumnize your top and volumnize your bottom to very minute scale to give a good shape. You can follow all the tips in points 1 & 3 mentioned above (or read up on dressing the Hourglass Shape here).

In addition, you need to add striking belts on mid-waist level, avoid too much volume on the bottom (can keep it minimal like harem pants or high-rise), not de-volumnize the top too much by choosing mid-necklines, wrap tops and Fit & Flare method)..

@@ Apple as a Broad Column @@

In this shape, as contraty to plump Hourglass, you've got no curves at all.. So we need to create curves by giving little volume on the top and bottom so that we can get a waist definition.. You can follow point 2 & 3 from the top (or read up on dressing the Column Shape here).

In addition, you'll need to layer a bit using shrugs or crop tops and use sleeve detailing like puff or gathered sleeve. Also avoid straight cut pants which will add to the column shape.

So how are you planning to shed the extra kilos in the eyes of the onloookers?? What kind of Apple are you? Do write to me.. As always, I'll be waiting..