The apple body shape, also known as the O shape, is defined as a figure that has "a full chest, upper back with no or little waist definition. You might appear top heavy. And your bust and mid-riff might appear bigger than your hips."http://www.thechicfashionista.com/apple-body-shape.html Women with this shape may also have a flat backside, broad shoulders and have a tendency to gain weight in the stomach region predominately. Also, many notice that apple shapes have very thin arms and legs compared to the proportions of their torso.http://www.nzgirl.co.nz/articles/6097 Keep in mind that it is not uncommon for a person to fit in more than one shape category. On this How to Dress an Apple Shaped Figure page, you see how you can pick out clothes that accentuate the positive while masking undesirable features.

Some people associate the apple figure with being overweight or obese.http://www.thechicfashionista.com/apple-body-shape.html However, a person of any weight can be an apple shape. Catherine Zeta-Jones and Drew Barrymore are examples of celebrities with this shape that appear to be a healthy weight.

Below you learn how to balance an apple shape with the right fabrics, colors and styles of clothes. By choosing fabrics and silhouettes that draw the eye away from the waist while highlighting the bust and slender arms, you can craft the appearance of a well put together outfit and appearance. Picking the appropriate colors to suit your figure enhances your style while minimizing the areas you do not like.

First, you should take care to buy supportive undergarments. Many women underestimate the importance of choosing bras that fit properly. This is especially important for the apple shape because they usually have a large bust. It's equally important to wear panties with extra support panels if you are carrying extra weight in the midsection. These garments create a smooth foundation for your top fabrics.

As for main fabric choices, opt for soft, flowing materials such as silk, rayon or chiffon. These fabrics glide effortlessly over your curves while camouflaging problem areas such as the apple's undefined waist. Keep the outfit loose fitting or tailored to the point it skims the shape.

Avoid any fabric that is too tight of clingy especially around the stomach section. The apple figure is better off not wearing stiff, bulky or starched material around the midriff or broad shoulders. For that same reason, stay away from puffy sleeves that add more bulk to the shoulders. It is also worth noting that shoulder pads usually do not flatter the O body shape since they make your already broad shoulders more pronounced. If you do buy a jacket with shoulder pads, you can easily snip the threads with a thread cutter bought at any sewing craft store such as Joann Fabric or Michaels.

Secondly, you want to make smart color choices when deciding if you will or will not buy a certain outfit. Keep in mind that your goal is to balance your larger top half with your skinnier bottom half. So, the easiest way to accomplish this is to keep the top half of your body in dark colors while wearing light or bright colors on your lower half. Pair dark tops with bright pants and skirts while keeping dresses in rich dark tones.

If you like patterns, they can be incorporated into your style while maintaining your goal to equalize your silhouette. Avoid really large patterns especially around the middle and thighs. Do pick subtle patterns and keep them around the cleavage area. This same tip goes for textures such as knitting, crochet, embroidery and beading. The pattern or texture pulls the eye up to the chest and away from the midriff.

Try mixing a monochromatic outfit with a soft, long coat in a color that compliments it. Alternatively, you can combine a V neck camisole or tee with a jacket of a matching dark color with light hued, flared cuff trousers for a look that emphasizes all the positives of the O shape. When wearing jackets and coats, keep them open because it lengthens and slims the torso without adding bulk to the stomach.

Finally, you need to evaluate if the line or cut of the garment highlights your best assets or puts a spotlight on the areas that you would rather hide. When picking a top or jacket, the most important point to remember is that it needs to fall below the waist line while not landing on the widest area of the hips. Look for shirts that have low cut necklines such as scoop necks and V necks. Also, empire waist tops and wraparound shirts accent this shape extremely well. When searching for a coat, give a swing coat a try. Tucked in shirts and wide lapels are bad choices for this figure.

Since women in the apple figure category generally have slim legs, they have many choices when it comes to pants and shorts. However, some are more flattering than others. Wide leg slacks, capris and clam diggers balance the broad shoulders well. Consequently, bootcut and flared cuffs create the same visual illusion. Opt for a low to mid rise pant so that material does not bunch around the middle. To buff up a flat back side, pick pants with back flaps and back pocket decorations to fill out the line. Avoid front pleats, tight waist belts and tapered pant legs.

When choosing skirts and dresses, remember that they need to flow over the torso and not cling at all. For this reason, the empire waist dress works well for this body shape. Likewise, you can wear a wrap around dress without much concern. A line dresses and skirts are also a good choice for apple figures. Highlight your slim ankles with short to medium length skirts and dresses. Just like with pants, dresses and skirts with ruffled or flared hems help to balance the shoulders. Stay away from tapered skirts.