Style Tips for Real Women: Short, Overweight, Apple-Shaped
As a 5'3", overweight, apple-shaped 50ish woman, I know how hard it can be to find flattering clothing.
What to Wear If You're Overweight and Apple-Shaped
Do you cringe when you look at yourself in photos? Do you have bulges and curves in all the wrong places? Do you get depressed when you think about shopping for clothing? Have you ever mortifyingly been asked, "when are expecting?"
You and I, my friend, face a similar dilemma.
It is an uphill battle trying to find appealing outfits for someone like me: 5 feet 3 inches, overweight, apple-shaped, and 50-something. The tips I find online are helpful, but when the photos are for expensive designer outfits made for celebrities or the wealthy, it doesn't leave me much to go on.
I needed to find clothing tips for real women like me.
After years of trial and error, I have found a few nice pieces I rely on that never fail to make me feel confident. Importantly, I've figured out why they work, so I hope my thoughts on this page can be helpful to you, too.
On This Page
- What Does Apple-Shaped Mean?
- Video: Apple-Shaped Body Style Tips
- Style Tips for Overweight, Apple-Shaped Women
- Video: Plus-Size Style Tips
- Photo Guides: Dresses / Pants and Skirts / Tops / Jackets and Outerwear / Swimwear / Everyday Shoes / Dressy Shoes
- Apple-Shaped Celebrities
- Video: Who Is Your Celebrity Body Twin?
- Links for Further Reading
Apple-shaped women are fuller around the middle.
What Does Apple-Shaped Mean?
Apple-shaped women are fuller around the middle. If they gain weight, it shows up around their belly and upper body. They’re usually larger-breasted, and their upper arms and shoulders are broader, too. Their legs tend to be thin and their butts tend to be flat. The ratio of bust to waist to hips is 4:4:3.
Style Tips for Overweight, Apple-Shaped Women
When I look up styling tips for this body shape, I typically see recommendations like this:
The main goal is to create the illusion of a trim waistline. Choose tailored tops, dresses and sweaters. They trim the silhouette, as opposed to boxy tops, which exaggerate a wider waistline. A plunging neckline lengthens the neck and minimizes the chest and torso. Tops and dresses featuring ruching or shirring at the middle or side define a large waistline. Wear straight wide and flare leg pants, which balance the bottom of the body.
Useful Tips
- Wear properly fitted bras that support the bust
- Dress in one color/hue/shade to give a uniform look
- Wear clothes that fit properly (do not sag or bind)
- Select garments with vertical lines
- Choose V- or U-shaped necklines
- Avoid bulky fabrics
- Avoid sheer or clingy fabrics
- Avoid styles with extra bulk: frills, pleats, or ruching
- Avoid bright colors and large patterns
- Avoid belts altogether
- Choose pants without cuffs, bulky pockets, or pleats
Read More From Bellatory
Impractical Tips (In My Opinion)
- Avoid oversized handbags. I have a lot of stuff to lug around!
- Wear high heels. I have bad feet, so that rules out high heels for me for everyday wear.
- Choose an empire waist top: This common tip for the apple-shaped body doesn't work for me. In fact, the cinching or gathering below the bust draws attention to my rounded midsection. It only works if you have a flat tummy, or if you can flatten your torso with a body shaper.
More Tips That Work for Me
- I highly recommend medium-weight jersey and knit fabrics with a little spandex for tops, as they provide maximum comfort and movability.
- Dark colors with no pattern or a small pattern are best. Sometimes, a pattern can camouflage lumps and bumps.
- Hip-length tops are more flattering than waist-length tops (think about how waist-length tops slide upward when you lift your arms up!).
- Avoid low-waisted pants. I get a muffin top when I wear pants that are cut this way. What works better for me are loose-fitting pants that sit at the waist and hang straight to the floor.
- When shopping online, stay away from clothes that include the following phrase in the description: "emphasize your feminine curves." This is because you want to de-emphasize your curves! Descriptions that say "easy-care stretch fabric," or "comfortable and effortlessly stylish" are good.
- Wear shoes that are comfortable and that offer good support. Sensible shoes don't have to mean ugly shoes—there are lots to choose from these days. But comfy is key because feeling good is essential to looking good.
- Wear dazzling necklaces to emphasize your neckline. Medium-sized pieces that lie flat work best. Don't go too chunky—this will make you look top-heavy.
Dresses: Photo Guide
Plus-size fashion doesn't have to be boring! This simple velvety electric blue cocktail dress with black scroll pattern is guaranteed to dazzle.
A-line chiffon floor-length one-shoulder formal dress with fitted bodice and rhinestone trim
Jewel neckline chiffon dress with trapeze silhouette and long sleeves
Evening pant set with chiffon popover capelet, cold-shoulder sleeves, and sequin trim at neck and shoulder
Sleeveless V-neck loose-fitting swing dress with asymmetrical hem
Swing dress with lace yoke and sleeves detail
Sporty and youthful sheath dress with printed flounce hem
Knit sleeveless maxi dress with a scoop neckline and high-low flounce hem
Feminine sheath dress with beautiful border of flowers at the neck and hemline
Deep V-neck empire-waist black and white jumpsuit
Three-piece pantsuit with glitter details and mesh sleeves
Easy trendy lace slip dress with spaghetti straps, romantic lace, V-neck and back
Sleeveless dress with A-line silhouette, colorblocking and high-low hem. The stylish hemline emphasizes the legs.
Crinkle-chiffon maxi dress with split neckline and elasticized waist
Sleeveless chiffon swing dress with stone embellishment on chest
Relaxed jersey sleeveless swing dress with scoop neckline with beaded embellishment, cutout back with an embellished beaded trim, and a dipped reverse hem
Basic relaxed jersey swing dress with V-neckline
Velvet T-shirt dress with round neck and long mesh sleeves. Curves have never looked sexier!
A-line swing dress with floral placement print
Swing dress with rounded split neckline, lace-up styling and eyelet trim at front yoke, and seamed, shirred back waist
Rayon stretch jersey dress, relaxed through the body with a flared hem that swings out
Pants and Skirts: Photo Guide
Midi skirt with sheer pleated tulle, lace underlay, and high-rise waist
Faux wrap skirt
For those with lovely legs, this vibrant stretch-knit skirt with asymmetrical black-mesh overlay wrap is for you.
Casual yet elegant pull-on straight-leg pants with elastic waistband, and no pockets (70% viscose rayon, 24% nylon, 6% spandex)
Classic straight-leg cut pants tailored for a smooth, clean fit in any-season crepe. Elastic insets discreetly hidden at the side waist, zip-fly with hook-and-bar closure, and back welt pockets.
Extremely comfy relaxed fit cotton-poly velour pants can be dressed up or down. The thin elastic waistband won't fold over at waistline.
Cotton/polyester fleece relaxed sweatpants with flat elastic waistband. No drawstring, pockets, or cuffs.
Comfy, stretchy wide-legged denim pants with all around elastic waist, drawstring, slash pockets, and stitched cuffed hem
Classic-fit lightweight cotton canvas pants with elastic waist
Cotton-polyester French terry Bermuda shorts with drawstring waistband and two side pockets
Soft cotton jersey shorts with wide, ribbed elastic waist that flexes for ease of movement
Tops: Photo Guide
Easy-fit long-sleeved blouse with lace overlay and scoop neck