Apple body shape celebrities are a great source of outfit ideas because their stylists solve the same puzzle you face every morning: how to balance a fuller middle with fitted, comfortable clothes. Stars often described this way lean on V-necklines, structured layers, empire and wrap lines, and straight trousers that show off the legs.
This post focuses on the style lessons from those public looks and turns each one into an outfit formula you can copy. If you are still working out your shape, start with what is my body shape, and for the complete wardrobe breakdown see our full apple body shape styling guide.
Quick answer
- Stars often described as apple-shaped rely on open necklines, long vertical lines and structured layers rather than tight waists.
- Empire, wrap and A-line dresses appear again and again on their red carpets.
- Straight, bootcut and wide-leg trousers balance a fuller middle and keep the outfit long.
- Monochrome color and open jackets are the easiest red-carpet tricks to copy for everyday life.
- Celebrity body shapes are media descriptions, not confirmed facts; use them as inspiration only.
Body shapes are a styling tool, not a label. The public figures below are listed because fashion media often describe them as apple-shaped; their shapes are not confirmed, and different outlets sometimes disagree. Everything here is about clothes, silhouettes and fabrics, never about anyone’s body.
What Is an Apple Body Shape?
An apple body shape usually means the bust and middle are the widest part of the frame, the waist is less defined, and the hips, legs and arms are often narrower in comparison. It is a common, natural shape at every size and age, and it simply tells you where to place structure, volume and visual lines.
Apple-shaped women often find that shirts pull across the middle or jeans gap at the back waist. The fix is not to cover up; it is to choose cuts that skim the middle and highlight the neckline, arms and legs.
How to tell if you’re an apple shape
Grab a soft tape measure and a mirror. Measure your bust, natural waist and fullest hip, then compare. These cues point toward an apple shape:
| Cue | What you may notice |
|---|---|
| Waist vs. bust | Waist measurement is close to, or larger than, the bust |
| Waist vs. hips | Waist is close to, or larger than, the hips |
| Legs and arms | Often look longer or narrower than the torso |
| Fit pattern | Tops pull at the middle; pants gap at the back waist |
If your bust, waist and hips are all fairly similar, you may be closer to a rectangle (see our rectangle body shape celebrities roundup), and if your hips are clearly the widest point, compare notes with the triangle body shape guide.
Apple Body Shape Celebrities
Fashion writers most often name the stars below when they discuss the apple shape. Each entry focuses on a style lesson from their public red-carpet or street looks, not on their bodies, and every attribution is how the media has described them.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is often described as apple-shaped in style roundups, and her public wardrobe leans on wrap dresses, belted coat dresses and softly tailored jackets. The lesson: a long, unbroken vertical line, like a column of one color under an open jacket, draws the eye up and down instead of across.
Jennifer Hudson
Stylists frequently cite Jennifer Hudson as an apple-shape example. Her red-carpet looks often use structured gowns with sculpted bodices and sleek, monochrome suiting. Take away the idea of structure: firm fabrics such as crepe, scuba and heavy satin hold their own shape and skim the middle.
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Catherine Zeta-Jones appears on many apple-shape celebrity lists. Her signature is old-Hollywood glamour: deep V or sweetheart necklines, draped jersey and floor-length gowns. Copy the neckline first, because a V or scoop opens up the upper body and creates the focal point every apple-shape outfit needs.
Elizabeth Hurley
Elizabeth Hurley is often described as an apple shape by style writers. Her public looks favor wrap-front dresses, V-necks and bold single colors. The lesson is how well a wrap works: the diagonal line crosses the middle on an angle, which defines without squeezing.
Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore is frequently named in apple-shape guides, and her style is playful and boho, with empire-line dresses and floaty prints. The trick to borrow is the empire seam: shaping that sits just under the bust lets fabric flow freely over the middle.
Queen Latifah
Some guides list Queen Latifah as an apple shape, while others call her a rectangle, which shows how loose these labels are. Either way, her tailored suits, long-line jackets and rich jewel tones are a masterclass in elongating with structure and color.
Mindy Kaling
Mindy Kaling is often cited in apple-shape roundups. She is known for bright colors, bold prints and fit-and-flare or A-line silhouettes. The lesson: prints and color are welcome; place them where you want attention and let the skirt shape do the balancing.
Adele
Adele appears on several apple-shape celebrity lists, and her red-carpet style favors romantic gowns with sleeves, sparkle and a defined line under the bust. Take away the sleeve: a long or three-quarter sleeve adds polish and keeps a dramatic dress feeling comfortable.
How Celebrities Style an Apple Shape
Across all these looks, the same three tricks repeat: an open neckline to lift the eye, structured or draped fabric that skims rather than clings, and long lines through the legs. Red-carpet versions use gowns and suits; everyday versions translate the same ideas into jeans, knits and blazers.
Red carpet looks
On the red carpet, stylists usually build the outfit around one focal point at the neckline, then let the gown fall in a clean line. Recurring details include V or sweetheart necklines, empire seams or draping under the bust, sleeves in satin or crepe, single-color column gowns, and statement earrings instead of a statement belt.
Everyday looks
Off duty, the same ideas become simple formulas: a longline open cardigan over a matching top and pants, a tunic over straight jeans, or a wrap blouse loosely tucked at the front.
Stylist’s tip
Copy the red-carpet column trick in daily life: wear a top and pants in the same color, then add an open third layer in a contrasting shade. It reads polished in seconds and works for every apple-shaped body.
Celebrity-Inspired Outfit Formulas
Each formula below takes one lesson from the looks above and turns it into an outfit you can build from pieces you probably already own. Mix and match them across the week for work, weekends and evenings out.
| Inspired by | Outfit formula | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Long vertical lines | Monochrome knit and trousers + open longline blazer | Office, travel |
| Sculpted structure | Ponte sheath with seaming + pointed flats | Meetings, dinners |
| Glamour necklines | V-neck wrap dress + statement earrings | Weddings, parties |
| Empire line | Empire-waist midi + denim jacket + sandals | Weekends, brunch |
| Tailored suits | Jewel-tone pantsuit + silk shell | Events, presentations |
| Color and print | Printed A-line skirt + solid V-neck tee | Casual Fridays |
Best Tops for Apple Shapes
The best tops for apple shapes open the neckline and skim the middle: V-necks, wrap tops, tunics, softly draped blouses, and shirts worn open over a camisole. These echo the necklines seen on red carpets and keep the focus near the face.
Look for mid-hip hems, side slits and fabrics with some heft, like modal jersey or crepe.
Best Dresses for Apple Shapes
Empire, A-line, wrap and shift dresses are the most reliable options, because each one places shape above or across the middle rather than squeezing it. Empire seams flow from under the bust, wraps create a diagonal, A-lines skim, and structured shifts show off the legs.
For a deeper look at shapes and names, browse our guide to types of dresses.
Best Bottoms and Layers
Straight-leg, bootcut and wide-leg trousers balance a fuller middle and show off the legs, while open blazers and long cardigans add the vertical lines stars use on the carpet. Mid-rise waistbands with a flat front are usually the most comfortable choice.
For denim, compare fits in our types of jeans guide; straight, bootcut and soft wide-leg styles are the easiest starting points. For tailoring, see the types of pants breakdown and look for flat-front trousers with a little stretch. Layer with a longline blazer worn open, a duster cardigan or a trench left unbelted.
What Apple Shapes May Want to Avoid
Nothing is off limits, but some pieces make dressing harder: clingy fabrics across the middle, boxy cropped tops that end at the widest point, wide belts cinched at the natural waist, and stiff high-rise waistbands. These rarely appear in the celebrity looks above for a reason.
Do
- Choose V-necks, wraps and open collars to lift the eye
- Pick fabrics with body and drape, like crepe, ponte and heavy jersey
- Use open jackets and long cardigans for vertical lines
- Try a thin belt just under the bust or slung low on the hips
Don’t
- Rely on thin, clingy knits across the middle
- Wear boxy cropped tops that end at the widest point
- Cinch a wide belt tightly at the natural waist
- Pile heavy details, pockets or ruffles at the middle
Apple Body Shape Over 50
Over 50, apple-shaped women can borrow the most polished red-carpet tricks: longer layers, quality structured fabrics, V-necks and great-fitting jeans or trousers. The focus shifts toward comfort and fabric quality, with pieces that move easily and hold their shape all day.
Try a longline knit blazer over a fine-gauge V-neck and straight trousers, or a matte jersey wrap dress with a block heel. A long scarf adds the same vertical line seen in many celebrity looks.
Plus-Size Apple Styling
Plus-size apple shapes can use every lesson here, with extra attention to structure and fit at the shoulders. A blazer that fits the shoulders perfectly and is worn open does more than any other piece, and empire or wrap dresses in sturdy jersey work beautifully at every size.
Pair flat-front stretch trousers with a slit tunic, and place bold color or print on top near the face with a solid bottom half.
Frequently asked questions
What is an apple body shape?
An apple body shape usually means the bust and middle are the widest part of the frame, with a less defined waist and often narrower hips, arms and legs. It is a common, natural shape at every size. It simply guides where to add structure, open necklines and long vertical lines in your outfits.
Which celebrities have an apple body shape?
Fashion media often describe Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Elizabeth Hurley, Drew Barrymore, Mindy Kaling and Adele as apple-shaped. These are media descriptions based on public appearances, not confirmed facts, and lists often disagree. Use them for style ideas like V-necklines, wrap dresses and tailored layers.
What should an apple shape wear?
Apple shapes usually look and feel great in V-necks, wrap tops, empire-waist and wrap dresses, A-line skirts, open blazers and straight or bootcut jeans. Fabrics with body and drape, such as crepe and ponte, skim the middle. Monochrome outfits with an open layer create the long line seen on red carpets.
What should apple shapes avoid?
Apple shapes may want to skip thin, clingy fabrics across the middle, boxy cropped tops that end at the widest point, and wide belts cinched at the natural waist. Heavy details at the middle, like big pockets or ruffles, can also feel bulky. These are guidelines, not rules, so wear what makes you comfortable.
Is an apple body shape attractive?
Yes. Every body shape is attractive, and the apple shape is common at every size and age. Style guidance exists to make getting dressed easier, not to change your body. Focus on fit, fabrics you love and colors that make you feel confident, and the outfit will look great on you.
How do I dress an apple shape over 50?
Over 50, choose longer layers like longline blazers and dusters, quality structured fabrics, V-neck knits and well-fitted straight or wide-leg trousers. Wrap dresses in matte jersey and block heels add polish and comfort. A long scarf or a single-color outfit with an open jacket keeps the look elegant and easy.
