Casual Dressing for an Apple Shape

Hey everyone! I know this seems counter-intuitive, but I find casual dressing to be one of the hardest occasions to dress for. I think part of it is I don’t put much thought into an outfit until it’s 30 minutes before we have to leave. Part of it is I don’t invest a lot in casual clothing. Work clothing is important so I invest in that. If I have a special occasion I will buy for that. But, going to a kids soccer game? or a picnic? or the grocery store? Not so much.

casual wear for apple shape

Sweater from JJill here and on sale! Capris from JJill here. Shoes from Nordstrom here.

This outfit is something I would wear to a casual event where it would be weird to wear a jacket or something over the sweater. The fabric of this sweater is the key to working well. This sweater’s fabric hangs well without clinging.  Yes, I have lumps and bumps but this sweater glides over them and the weight of the fabric pulls it down without it billowing out like a tent below my bust. It’s also cut to have the side vents not really on the side, but towards the front. So, this optical illusion makes my front look less wide. Also important is the size of the v-neck. My last post was talking about alternatives to wearing a third piece (here) and about the need to break up the beautiful canvas that is your bust and tummy. This v-neck is wide enough and long enough to break up that canvas. You really want a distinction between where your chin ends and where your bust begins so a wide neckline is very flattering and this one doesn’t go too low so no peep shows for wandering eyes!

casual wear for apple shape

When you’re dressing casual it usually means less jewelry, perhaps no purse on your arm and less structure. So, without the crutch of a third piece, purse or jewelry you really need to make sure the few ingredients you are wearing are high quality, and by this I mean a good bra. The one I’m wearing here is brand new. The elastic is strong and the cups are not stretched out. It fits me well so I can look my best. If you have a big bust and haven’t gone to a specialty store to be professionally fitted, you really need to get this done before you spend any more money on clothing. This bra cost me $70 and it will last me a year while wearing it every other day. It is always the most important piece of my wardrobe. I will talk more about this in a future blog post.

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Let this image be a lesson to you….when doing a family photograph, no matter how short you are, insist on standing up!

These capris are another socially acceptable way of wearing pajamas in public! They are so soft and thin enough for summer but thick enough to not see the texture of my legs underneath! The waistline of the capris is very important here as you can see.  The waistband sits above the fullest part of my midsection so it’s not on the frontline, but more in a trench! It gives some support without cutting in and creating a horizontal line.

casual wear for apple shape

And even though it’s casual you can still wear a great pair of earrings and a bracelet. You usually don’t want to look too done up and I think one more piece of jewelry would have been too much. Right now, I’m way into hoops because they have a bit of an edgy look. When I was in my twenties I didn’t wear them because I thought they looked a bit slutty, but now pushing 50, I think they look sassy. I think it’s from Rizzo wearing them in the movie Grease. Rizzo was the “bad” girl while Sandy (the “good” girl) wore the pearl earrings. Sandy didn’t wear hoops until she turned “bad” in her black leather at the end of the movie (for a man. bad idea). Well, Sandy was boring and Rizzo was fun so bring on the hoop earrings! I love being 48!

Linking up with Not Dead Yet Style today!

I do not have any affiliation with any of the brands or stores nor do I receive any compensation. I’m just sharing what I’ve learned.

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7 Comments

  1. Cute outfit! (I think I have the same crops in black.) I almost always stick with the long over lean proportions for my outfits. It’s flattering, and I feel stylish and comfortable. I’m a school librarian, so my work outfits are only a little dressier than my casual ones. I generally wear skinny jeans and a longer top. Since my hips and legs are so thin, skinny jeans fit like straight legs so they look stylish but not too tight. The best brand I’ve found is Wit and Wisdom from Nordstrom. They have a roomy waist but are narrow though the hips and legs – perfect for me. The denim is on the lighter side, and they have a good amount of stretch.
    Keep up the great work! I look forward to reading your posts and seeing what you’re wearing.

    1. Thanks for the tip on the jeans! I haven’t tried that brand yet but I’m on the look out for another pair of jeans, so next time I’m at Nordstrom I’ll give them a try on! And, as always, thanks for following and commenting!

  2. Great post. And what I’m taking from your blog is that I need to force myself to go shopping. There ARE options out there, after all. I think I’ve been making excuses because I have found the venture so frustrating in the past.

    Thanks for the encouragement.

    1. Yes! and be prepared to take 30 things in the changing room and come out with 3. Then take that home and look at it with what you already have and take back 2 of the 3. But, with that one item you will be one foxy lady!

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