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40+Style

The complete guide for dressing the

apple body shape

Welcome to this special guide by 40plusstyle.com where we celebrate style and beauty of
women over 40 and 40plusstylecourses.com where we teach you how to get more style.
My name is Sylvia, creator of both sites and I believe that we should have FUN with style
& fashion.
I feel that personal style advances as we age as we become ever more aware of what
suits our personality, our body and our life. I also believe in personal style that is unique
to YOU. I feel that when you nd the style that suits you, you will feel happier and more
condent living your life.
I know that many of you struggle with dressing your unique body so this guide is for you.
It will give you some Hps and tricks that make dressing your body type easier, so you feel
happier and more condent!
Please note that these are guidelines only and you can break them as you please!
Enjoy this special guide!

the complete guide

for dressing the apple
body sha pe

First, confirm which

body shape you are

De t e r m i ne w h ic h
body shape you are
There are several types:

Lets have a look at 5 basic female body

shapes. There are several ways to define your
body shape.
Hourglass
Inverted triangle

c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s o f A p p le s h a p e

Pear (also called triangle or spoon)

You have a defined waist

Rectangle (also called ruler or banana)

Weight tends to form on the stomach

Apple (also called cone or downwards

Average to large bust size

triangle)
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De t e r m i ni ng you r b ody s h a pe
with measurements:
If you know the measurements of your bust, waist and hips you
can also use this online calculator which will give you a general idea.
Please note that we are all different and the 5 mentioned shapes
above are just the 5 basic shapes. For example when I changed my
bust size with just 1 cm, I got different results.
However, most of us will be leaning towards one of these basic
shapes but only few of us will be exactly one of the 5 body shapes
mentioned.

How to dre s s the

Apple body type

How to dre s s the a ppl e

body type
KNOWING YOUR BODY TYPE

The aim of dressing for your body type is to achieve a flattering

look that accentuates your strengths or the parts you wish to
highlight. In general you will want to achieve a nice hourglass
shape.
In order to achieve that you will:
Create the illusion of a waist
Highlight your cleavage and create vertical lines
Downplay your tummy
Please note that these are general guidelines as every body is
different. Always experiment with your unique shape and see
what works for you.

G u i de l i ne s f or t h e a ppl e b ody s h a pe
Guidelines for tops and jackets
First of all, since a lot of attention is going to be
drawn to the top part of your body, get yourself a
good fitting bra.
Tops that highlight your body at the slimmest
point which is often just underneath your bust.
They should have enough space for your belly but
not be too wide.
Buy t-shirts that are ruched in the middle. This
will confuse the eye and you cant tell that theres
a big tummy underneath.

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G u i de l i ne s f or t h e a ppl e b ody s h a pe
Get Tops with a V-neck to break up the size of your chest and
create a vertical line.
Look for tops with a thicker texture that dont cling so much.
Woven tops can be great.
The best height for tops is just belong your hipbone (when
worn with pants)
Patterns tend to look very good on a apple shape body as they
flatter and camouflage.
Tops should cover the whole belly area and end just below the
hip bone.
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G u i de l i ne s f or t h e a ppl e b ody s h a pe
Choose tailored jackets that have a nice v shape at
the top.
Tops that draw attention to your arms, for example
flared sleeves or embroidery will draw attention from
your belly.
Make sure that the jacket fits the shoulder perfectly,
so choose the size for your shoulders, not your belly. If
you can't close the jacket, you can always use a scarf
to fill the gap if you like.
Dresses should have their waistline just below the
bust or at your thinnest point.
Asymmetry in your tops and dresses helps to create
vertical and slimming lines.

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G u i de l i ne s f or t h e
a ppl e b ody s h a pe
For a long and lean silhouette
Layer with a long cardigan or a long sleeveless vest
Make sure the top underneath is not too short
Try to have v-neck lines with your long long jumper or
tops underneath the layering piece
Longer tops and jackets that skim the body can be
worn with leggings or skinny jeans

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G u i de l i ne s f or t h e a ppl e b ody s h a pe
Guidelines for bottoms
Get trousers that have zippers at the side to avoid adding extra
bumps on the front.
Trousers should be flared or straight and not cling to tummy
or thighs unless you are opting to create the long and lean
silhouette using vertical lines (as described before). Avoid
pleats.
Also choose jeans that are tailored and either straight or
flared. Trouser jeans are ideal.
Pants with a high rise and elastan added will create a nice
silhouette and help to tuck your tummy in.

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G u i de l i ne s f or t h e a ppl e b ody s h a pe

It's best to get trousers with some stretch for extra comfort
and a good fit.
Choose skirts that have their zippers at the side.
Structured pencil skirts work well, but keep them at knee
length. Make sure to add the focus to the top with the tips
above.
Make sure that any pleats of skirts start below the belly to
avoid adding extra volume.

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w h ic h pi e c e s
s hou l d a n a ppl e
body shape avoid?

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What not to wear

Big puffa jackets

Big shapeless garments that don't show any waist or don't use
vertical layers
Bulky trousers with lots of pockets and zippers at the front
High necklines (you can wear lighter tops underneath a layering
piece as shown in the top image)
Tight clingy T-shirts
Avoid wearing everything in one solid colour. Better to mix colour

These guidelines are not set in stone rules are meant to be broken!

with a texture or to use several layers in different colors to create

vertical lines
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a n e x a m pl e of a
c a p s u l e wa r drobe
for the apple shape

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what is a capsule wardrobe?

A capsule wardrobe is a a set of clothes that mix and match well together.
You can create your whole wardrobe as a capsule or create capsules for particular
functions, for example work, casual, sport or even colors, for example a yellow
capsule.
Creating capsules within your wardrobe gives you multiple ways to wear several
items and will create a lot more variety with fewer clothes.
You will find the pieces of your capsule in the following pages.

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Different types of tops

These would be even better with V-necks

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Flattering pants

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SKIRTS THAT END AT THE KNEE

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the best dresses

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THE BEST JACKETS FOR

YOUR SHAPE

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SHOES & other accessories

When selecting shoes, apple shaped women should
opt to highlight their fantastic legs. Select shoes with
visual interest, bold colors, or elongating lengths.
Strappy sandals, pointed toe pumps, and flats are
some of your best bets.

Great accessories for the apple shaped body bring

attention to your best assets. Scarves, sunglasses,
statement necklaces, and statement earrings draw
attention to your bust, neck, and face.
Larger handbags that you can carry in hand also draw
the eye down and away from the fuller midsection
you are wanting to downplay.

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c a p s u l e wa r drobe ou t f i t s 1- 3

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c a p s u l e wa r drobe ou t f i t s 4 - 6

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c a p s u l e wa r drobe ou t f i t s 7- 9

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A few more
ideas!

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happy styling!
Now go and create your own capsule!
If you like you can show your outfits in our private Facebook group
and get feedback from our wonderful community of women!

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Do you want to
discover your unique
style and learn how

If you like more help nding or

netuning your style in a fun and
structured way, you will love our
style course: 21 Steps to a More
Stylish You. Learn about creaHng
the most aRering silhoueRe and
other key style elements such as
hairstyle and makeup.

you can create the

most fabulous and
flattering outfits
every single time?

Our second course Accessorise Me

Condent & Beau:ful is the
ulHmate course on accessorising
and taking your outts to a new
level. Discover that you dont need a
lot of clothes to look amazing every
single day, using the power of
accessories!
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Happy

I hope you enjoyed this guide and

that you will put it to good use!

styling and

Id love to connect with you at the

site, our courses or one of the
social media channels below.

have FUN

Find me at 40PlusStyle.com,
40PlusStyleCourses.com,
Instagram, Facebook, TwiRer or
Pinterest!

with fashion!
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