Apple Body Shape
Waist-dominant · FFIT: Oval
The waist measures at or beyond the bust and hip, so the fullest part of the outline is the middle. Shape comes from the vertical line rather than from the waist.
How this class is defined → The waist measures equal to or greater than either the bust or the hip, making it the dominant measurement.
Check it against your own measurements
The calculator opens with a measurement set that drafts to apple. Replace the figures with your own to see whether you land in the same class.
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How to dress the proportion
- Line
Work vertically: open cardigans and long jackets worn open, centre-front plackets, columns of a single color. Two vertical edges do the work a waist seam cannot.
- Neckline
Open and lower necklines — V, cowl, scoop — lengthen the whole torso.
- Fit
Skim, do not cling or tent. Fabric that follows the body loosely reads smaller than either a tight fit or a true shift.
- Bottom
Keep the lower half simple and well-fitted; it is usually the narrowest part of the outline and worth showing.
Tailor's noteLook for empire seams and princess seams rather than a waist dart — they give shape above and below the fullest point instead of at it. In a jacket, have the hem lengthened slightly past the widest point if the pattern allows.
Common questions
Is apple the same as oval?
Yes. "Apple" is the common name; "Oval" is the FFIT for Apparel term. Both describe a waist that measures at or beyond the bust and hip.
What seams work best for an apple shape?
Empire and princess seams, because they shape the garment above and below the fullest point rather than at it. A single waist dart pulls in exactly where there is least room.
Should an apple shape wear fitted or loose clothes?
Neither extreme. Clothing that skims reads smaller than tight clothing, which shows strain, or tent-shaped clothing, which adds width everywhere.