Date Night Casual!

Hey everyone! I’m here with an outfit I wore to a date night with my husband. This jacket is one of the few items I’ve bought this fall (yay for me!). I really loved the mustard color and the cut works well for me and my short waist. I did also buy this new scarf. The colors were so beautiful and eye-catching and the pattern of women’s faces fit my !Girl Power! tirade I’ve been on lately!

date night casual outfit for apple shapes

I haven’t worn these jeans much because it’s been warm but also because they have the flare bottoms and those are a little more needy than other silhouettes. By needy, I mean they need to be worn with a bit of heel and yet should still almost touch the ground, so really a slight heel in this case. They also require a belt to hold them up. If you’re an apple shape, you know exactly what I mean. To get jeans wide enough in the waist to fit they will often slide down your slimmer hips unless you have a belt. However, then you’re in danger of having the dreaded tummy dent in your midsection from the belt having to be tight enough to hold the pants up. Ugh! It’s such a catch-22. I opted to not wear the belt with this outfit and spent the evening yanking my pants up. We need to figure out a better way to wear jeans! [updated! check out the video in the comments section from Thea]

date night casual outfit for apple shapes

While looking at these pictures I would change the outfit in two ways.

I’d tuck in my t-shirt. I was going for casual and wanted to be more covered up but I think because it is longer than the jacket it looks a bit sloppy. Instead of tucking it in I could have worn a t-shirt that ended at the same spot as the jacket and it would have been fine. I would also wear my magic belt. I do have two belts. One is a very slim one that I use to keep my pants from slipping down but it is not for public view because it’s really skinny and would look terrible. So, I’d wear my elastic magic belt you’ve seen transform many outfits. I’ve worn it before with these jeans here. I just didn’t feel like having my stomach be a focal point for this outfit since we were going out to dinner after we took these photos, but it would have looked better.

date night casual outfit for apple shapes

I know I’ve mentioned it before in the comments discussions, not sure if I’ve written about it, but I buy jackets even though I know I could never zip them up. The only jackets that I insist zip or button up are the ones used to keep me warm in the winter. If it’s just a jacket used more for style than necessity and would be worn open anyhow, then I make sure it fits me in the shoulders and arms and in the length and forget about getting it to close over my bust and stomach.

date night casual outfit for apple shapes

And this fun t-shirt celebrates The Marche du Nain Rouge. It is a march that celebrates all that is good in the city of Detroit by driving out Nain, who is a harbinger of doom. Detroit is our major city here in Michigan and has been a city in decline for over 50 years. It used to be called the Paris of the midwest with it’s french history and beautiful architecture. During the great recession the city finally hit rock-bottom and has started to transform itself into a cool city full of artists, designers and young people. My next photo shoot will be in Detroit where I can show you some of the transformations. Until then, have a great fall weekend!

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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18 Comments

  1. Love how your shoes are peeking out and coordinate perfectly!

    The jeans conundrum — I hear you! My solution is to never wear jeans, which isn’t a real solution, esp on casual Fridays when everyone in my office is wearing them.

  2. Ooh, you’re so autumnal today! It has just not quite reached “autumnal wardrobe levels: here yet, though this weekend might change that as it is not supposed to go much above 50 for the next few days, yay!

    LOVE the mustard jacket and know what you mean about not needing jackets to close. My WARM coats don’t usually even close. Eh. We do what we gotta do, amIright?

    Would also love to see some shoots in Detroit.

  3. I love the color combinations with this look Julia!!
    I often leave my shirt longer than my jacket for a more casual look—I know you said you’d tuck it in to change it. But I like it this way too….I might like it tucked in too, but I’d never look at this and think, ugh–she should tuck it in! 🙂
    And did you have fun on date night?
    jodie
    http://www.jtouchofstyle.com

    1. Thanks Jodie! Maybe the untucked look isn’t so bad. It didn’t seem bad when I had it on but when I looked at the photos I started thinking it didn’t look as good as I thought. Yes, we did have a fun date night. We went out with another couple and had an excellent meal and lots of laughs.

  4. SOLUTION!! To the jeans waist conundrum…I small sewing project, which can be done by hand, but I do on my machine and it takes 5 minutes…sew a 6 inch length of elastic into the casing of the jeans waistband…I use a machine, but you could do by hand using a needle, thread, 2 safety pins and a very sharp small scissor or seam ripper.

    Here’s a simple tutorial from Youtube…https://youtu.be/UmKY7QflFg8

    The video shows her doing the entire waistband. I only do a 12″ portion using a 6 inch piece of elastic…it’s sufficient for my needs – aka – avoiding of the gap and or a belt…

    I am a similar apple shape, 5’3″, petite torso with long legs…alterations really do help make your clothing fit better when you’re not an “off the rack” size! And you CAN do them yourself with you tube videos!

  5. The color combinations are fantastic! I love the mustard yellow jacket! I am way overdue on a shopping spree for myself… I love jeans on others, hate them on me – I’m always struggling with getting the right fit.

  6. That’s an interesting point to read about, the catch-22 of a belt for apple shapes. Being a pear shape myself, I use belts in a different way. I really like your outfit, and I actually like how the tee is longer than the jacket, to help bring visual interest to the top half, to help visually balance out the colorful scarf.

    Would trouser jeans with those built-in elastic bits at the waist be of any help for the belt issue? I have a pair with gored elastic in just a few strategic spots along the waist (so it’s not all-over elastic), and they’re the BEST. I often find myself wearing them when I feel my bloatiest.

    1. Hi Jen. Yes, it’s an apple’s dilemma because lots of times elastic waists even slide down because often we’re slimmer in our hips. The problem is that the item of clothing depends on an indented waist rather than our outdented waists. But, thanks for the suggestion because it may help someone out there since we’re all built so differently.

  7. I don’t know if this would appeal to you or your readers, but I have read that maternity pants can be the best option for apple-shaped women. You get the slim leg, hip and butt, with room for a rounded abdomen. I haven’t tried this b/c I don’t want to endure the dressing room horror — but I’d love to hear if anyone has and if they met w/ success.

    My solution to the pants dilemma, which probably would not work for many (most?) women, is Victoria’s Secret Most-Loved Yoga Pants, which have a fold-over waist. I wear the waist unfolded — it comes almost to my bra. I love the feeling — soft, yet a little contained. They don’t slide down b/c of the very wide waistband. I have a new black pair I reserve for casual Fridays (with tunics or long sweaters) and an older, somewhat faded black pair for the weekend.

    Another bonus — these pants come in short, medium, and tall lengths, and they’re relatively inexpensive. While they’re not jeans, which I truly miss, at least they’re an option.

    1. Thanks for the yoga pants tip Bette. I haven’t tried the maternity pants thing because it makes me mad that that is what we have to do to find jeans. I might have to check this out and report back. You are such an article idea-generator! I appreciate it!

  8. I am so glad I found your blog! I too am an apple shape, but I have always called it the “dilly bar” shape. Large on top with skinny legs. My sister is built just like me too. Fortunately, my three daughters are more hour class girls. I am a resent empty nester with my youngest a senior at Washington State University. My “older girls” are at the beginning of their 40s. I was a career teacher and entrepreneur and then 28 years ago I began home educating my two oldest daughters. When I first started home educating I said I would do it if I didn’t have to wear the home school mom’s uniform: jeans, t-shirt, heavy down jacket, Birkenstocks and hair slicked back in a pony tail. About 10 years later I was out and about with the girls and passed a mirror and caught a glance of me — “OMG! I was wearing the uniform!” I have been on a quest for a new style, that recognizes my age, my apple ample shape, and fit me and my new lifestyle ever since. I am a seamstress so I tried a few times to make myself some new clothes only to give up in frustration. Just too many alterations to patterns were required. Then I just got too busy and preferring to sew for my “perfect hour-glass figure” daughter’s new college wardrobe and costumes for her performances. Then my body began revolting, I have had four back surgeries so mobility became a problem. and I became a plus sized Apple! About a year ago I decided to try again and took some fitting classes. They all said measure when wearing a well fitting Bra! Another problem, fitting my size and shape in commercial bras was exhausting as you probably know. So I took a class on-line from “Craftsy.com” on making your own bras that fit! I’ve got that down now and making and wearing pretty sexy bras (which formally out of my reach) is so much fun! And easier than you would think! Now I am ready to remake my wardrobe and I am so glad I found your page. Seeing someone shaped like me really helps! Today I have read almost your entire page’s posts! I plan to keep reading. I have one question. In one of your posts you are wearing a navy stripped shift with cute sleeve, Is that cotton knit? I have a very similar fabric and I thought I could never wear horizontal strips. I’d love to make a dress very similar to yours.
    I plan to keep reading.
    Thank you for a great Blog read!

    1. I am so glad you found our tribe here Beverly! I love that you’re making your own bras — that is a brilliant fix! The striped dress is a heavier cotton knit with some stretch. I find if the hem is heavier (maybe even bigger than necessary) it keeps the fabric from being billowy. Keep reading b/c I think you’ll find some great info from my trial and error. I look forward to more conversations like this in the future so feel free to comment at will!

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