With the weather always changing it’s hard to know what to wear. However, a great dress will always save the day whether you sport it on its own, or layer up with a thin knit for the colder days, they’re truly a versatile staple.
Finding the best dress for your body shape can be an obstacle many people face. Whether you follow the conventional types such as pear, triangle and hourglass, or you’ve discovered your Kibbe body type, we’ve rounded up the best dresses that work for apple shaped bodies below to save you the fuss of having to wander around looking for your favourite.
What is an apple body shape?
Celebrity Stylist Scott Wells has been styling celebrities for over five years and has worked with the likes of Denise Welch, Strictly Come Dancing’s Dianne Buswell, model Twiggy and is a Royal Fashion expert. As well as this, Scott has spent over six years dressing women of all ages from 20-50+ and sizes 6-20+, so you can trust that he knows what he's talking about.
He says: “First things first, there is no shame in what body shape category you think you may belong to. Each body is different and made up of various characteristics, so placing yourself can vary from each shape.”
An apple shape is characterised by having broader shoulders than your hips, with a larger bust and waist compared to slim legs. Your top half tends to be a larger size than your bottom half, and you may struggle to highlight your waistline. “These aren’t bad traits in any way, but if you think you align mostly with these, then you may fall into this body shape. When trying to dress for this, it’s not about hiding or trying to distort your body, it’s all about accentuating these features so that your silhouette is balanced” says Scott.
The best dresses for an apple body shape at a glance:
Best denim dress: Phase Eight Grey Senita Denim Wrap Dress - buy here on Phase Eight.
Best summer holiday dress: Seasalt Cornwall Blue Polka Dot Empire Line Dress - buy here on Seasalt Cornwall.
Best cotton dress: Hobbs Khaki Riley Cotton Dress - buy here on Hobbs.
Best paisley printed dress: Live Unlimited Blue Paisley V-Neck Midi Dress - buy here on Live Unlimited.
Ready to get shopping for the best dresses for your body shape? Then continue on to see Scott's top picks from the high street.
Wrap Dresses
Wrap dresses are brilliant at accentuating your bust line and effortlessly highlights your natural shape as it ties to the side. Not only does this help to distract the eye, but where the wrap hits the body, it’s perfect for showing off a waistline, therefore creating more symmetry.
Scott says: “Not only is it good for your shape, but it is one of the most versatile wardrobe staples to own as it can be re-styled to be worn all year round. Layer up with a thin knit for the colder days or wear on its own with trainers for a cool and casual feel.”
Best denim dress
Phase Eightwww.phase-eight.com
Denim has been a huge trend for 2024, and it’s showing no signs of vanishing any time soon. As we all know, dark grey is an instant slimming colour. However, combining it with this durable fabric that has a good weight to it, means that it is something you can re-wear over and over again.
Pros
- On trend
- Flattering fabric
- Great colour for all seasons
Cons
- Fabric can feel heavy
- Wash only on delicate machine wash
Best floral dress
Walliswww.wallis.co.uk
Combine a few styling tricks in one with this Wallis number. As well as the wrap-over cut and added waist belt, the use of the soft flutter sleeves helps to add a delicate edge to the over outfit. The length of these sleeves is important as they stop above the elbow so that it creates the illusion of longer arms which therefore makes your shoulders appear more narrow.
Pros
- Lightweight fabric
- Pretty pattern
- Flowing skirt and sleeves
Cons
- Most suitable for warmer seasons
Empire line dresses
An empire line dress means that it has been specifically designed with a high waistline which sits just below the bust. This then raises the start of the skirt, allowing it to flow more to the floor, therefore elongating the body and makes the wear appear taller.
"You mostly hear this term with wedding dresses; however, this popular style has made it’s way on to the high street due to its figure flattering properties" says Scott.
Best smocked dress
New Lookwww.newlook.com
New Look have struck gold with this dress. The square neckline shows off the colour bone and distracts from the broadness of one’s shoulders, so they appear narrower. The empire line cut allows the skirt to be more free flowing, whilst the shirred bodice is brilliant to allow maximum stretch so you feel more supported and comfortable.
Pros
- Flowing skirt
- Neutral colour
- Soft square neckline
- Shirred bodice
Cons
- Might not suit all skin tones
Best summer holiday dress
Seasalt Cornwallwww.seasaltcornwall.com
This V neck empire dress from Seasalt Cornwall is an easy one to style with its midi length and curved empire waistline. The added design feature of the gathered bodice helps to add an eye-catching feature to draw the eyes in and away from areas you made feel concerned about.
Pros
- Timeless print
- Gathered bodice
- Flattering cut
Cons
- May be too low cut for some
Belted dresses
This simple designed dress works in your favour by giving you more of an hourglass profile. It’s a timeless and traditional style that has been given a more modern elevation in recent years with playful prints or ageless plain colours.
Scott says: “You can have fun with belt dresses without it being stressful. Look for styles that have a coordinating belt to create a cohesive look. Or, if you’re wanting to change up your outfit and add a different option, then you can add a pop of colour, or keep it neutral with a classic brown belt.”
Best cotton dress
Hobbswww.hobbs.com
We’re huge fans of this crisp cotton dress as not only does it come with an added belt which matches that of the dress, but the cool khaki shade is a brilliant colour to sport all year round. This neutral hue to is super flattering on its own, however, the bodice has been designed with princess seams over the bust that assure a better fit.
Pros
- Flattering shape
- Cinches you in at the waist
- Great neutral colour
- Made from organic cotton
Cons
- Expensive price tag
Best shirt dress
Bodenwww.boden.co.uk
Add a punchy print to your wardrobe to inject some fun into your outfits. This Boden option is also great if you’re in a rush as you can easily throw it on to look polished and ready to seize the day in seconds. The fit and flare style will work with your body to give more shape on the lower half as the top half remains tailored but not too tight. Open up the buttons for a deeper neckline so that this will equal out your broad shoulders.
Pros
- Side seam pockets
- Smart silhouette
- Available in petite, regular and long
- Machine washable
Cons
- Very bold pattern
Colour blocked dresses
Creating distractions with design details are excellent at tricking the eye or making them focus on different parts of the outfit. "Colour blocked patterns are one of the best ways to do this as the viewers eyes are fully focused on the print rather than how it fits you" explains Scott.
Best bright coloured dress
Coast X Debut Londonwww.debenhams.com
It might sound like a bonkers pairing but pink and red have become a successful colour combination of the years and this dress is a brilliant staple to snap up. Perfect for garden parties, holidays or weddings, you will be able to re-work this look for various events. The deep wrap-style neckline along with the soft fluidity of the satin fabric will allow it to flow gently down the body.
Pros
- Flattering wrap style
- Soft fabric
- Eye-catching colours
Cons
- Fabric might stain
Best monochrome dress
Verywww.very.co.uk
If block colours aren’t your thing, you can easily interpret this with a large pattern instead to create the same effect. This short length, wrap dress is super flattering as the monochrome shades all it to pack great versatility, which the wrap style highlights your natural curves. The loose-fitting sleeves are an excellent size to balance out with the print and the neckline.
Pros
- Bold print
- Versatile dress
- Available in UK size 8-20
Cons
- Length might be too short for some
Low necklines
Scott advises: "Opting for a low neckline dress works to narrow your shoulders, which therefore make them appear balanced with your hips. This also helps to elongate the body and break up the chest so it doesn’t look like the fabric is swallowing you up."
Best paisley printed dress
Live Unlimitedliveunlimitedlondon.com
Live Unlimited are known for their incredible, well-thought-out designs which they develop with real women and different shaped bodies in mind. This bold blue option comes in both regular and petite fit and has a built-in shirred waist panel to allow for maximum comfort without jeopardising the style. The tiered hem is a universal flattering key design which also adds a decorative elevation.
Pros
- Available in petite
- Shirred waist
- Comfy fit
- Great for holidays
Cons
- Might be too low cut for some
Best fabric choice dress
H&Mwww2.hm.com
If you’re jetting away or having a staycation in the UK, this is the dress for you. This printed dress comes in a plissé fabric which automatically creates a distracting feature along with the playful print. The shorter length hem is well balanced with the long sleeves which come with a small amount of elasticated cuff to create a chic yet subtle puff sleeve.
Pros
- Perfect for various occasions
- Flattering plissé fabric
- Pretty decorative pattern
- Lightweight
Cons
- Hemline may be too short for some
FAQs
What necklines work best for an apple shape?
It might not be something you have considered; however, a neckline can make or break an outfit. Whether it’s a sweetheart, off-the-shoulder or a halter neck, these all change the appearance of an item. Just like in Scott’s selects, a deep V-neck is one of the most flattering shapes as it creates a narrow illusion for those of have broad shoulders. As well as this, to cater for larger chests, scoop or square necklines are another alternative.
Scott says: “Bateau necklines are super flattering as these aren’t as deep as an off-the-shoulder, but it just sits perfectly on the edge and usually scoops gently along your collarbones. These open your neckline a lot more without creating too much space. A celebrity who is a big fan of this style is none other than singer Adele. You will see that most of the gorgeous gowns that she sports come with this adjusted neckline.”
Which dresses should apple shaped women avoid?
Avoid those which come with large embellishments as these will only add more layers to your outfit and not in a good way. Small sequins are fine, but it is best to stay away from chunky appliques. Puff sleeves will only make you appear broader due to their size, really you want to focus on narrowing your shoulders.
“If you’re in between sizes, I always suggest sizing up. Not only will this obviously be more comfortable for the wearer, but clingy, tight fabrics tend to make you look larger” advises Scott. He continues: “Softer, less-structured fabrics will be best, a heavy knit, for example, comes with a good drape so that it skims along your silhouette and doesn’t hug you in the wrong places.”
Which celebrities have an apple shaped body?
If you’re wanting some wardrobe inspiration, then looking to what celebrities are sporting is a good way to find this. Scott previously referenced Adele belonging to this body shape, however there are a wide range of apple body shaped celebrities such as Drew Barrymore, Oprah Winfrey and Catherine Zeta Jones, all of whom have incredible style.
Scott explains “When looking at what the famous presenter likes to wear, you can see through many of her outfits that she, just like Adele, is a fan of the bateau neckline. In this beautiful purple outfit above, you can see her dress has an empire waistline to highlight her waist underneath and then allow the skirt to drape down.”
“Drew likes to keep her dresses to a boho theme, which usually means a floating skirt and long sleeves. However, when looking at what else the star likes to wear, it is evident that she is a huge fan of a blazer and high waisted trouser combo. I believe these are always a recipe for success. Not only do high waisted trousers instantly give you a height boost as they elongate your silhouette, but they highlight your waistline brilliantly. Add a matching oversize blazer to complete the look” advises Scott.
Scott finishes with: "One thing to remember is that you whilst you might not know where you sit in the endless body shape categories, as long as you feel comfortable and confident, that is all that matters. It's all about embracing and showing off your personal style."
Scott Wells is a Celebrity Stylist & Senior Style Writer. As well as styling various celebrities for red carpets and photoshoots, he is an avid Royal fashion fan and makes custom clothing designs.