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Body shape guide
Apple body shape
An apple reading, also called round, means your midsection measured close to or beyond your hips. The widest line sits at the waist rather than above or below it, and legs and arms often read slimmer by comparison.
- Shoulder / hip
- above 1.00
- Waist / hip
- above 0.80
How to tell
- The midsection is the widest measurement
- Waist-to-hip ratio above 0.80
- Little natural narrowing at the waist
- Often a fuller bust and a broader upper body
- Legs and arms slimmer relative to the torso
What tends to work
- Empire waistlines that fall from above the widest point
- V-necklines, which lengthen the line down the torso
- Fabrics with enough structure to hold their own shape
- Fitted trousers and knee-length skirts, since the legs carry it well
- One colour head to toe for an uninterrupted line
What to watch for
Clingy fabric and a tight waistband both concentrate attention on the widest line. Structure and a higher waist point do more than a size up.
Often confused with
-
Rectangle →
Both read as little waist definition; the difference is whether the waist measures wider than the hips or matches them.