10 of the best dresses for apple shaped women

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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."

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.