What to Wear If You Have a Tummy? A Dress Guide for Apple-Shaped Women
After we published Best Wedding Guest Dresses That Hide Belly and Make You Shine, we started getting messages like:
“I love this, but I’m apple-shaped—can you do a guide just for us?”
So here we are.
Because while finding dresses that flatter the midsection can feel like a puzzle—especially when you're shopping for a garden wedding, a cocktail party, or just a romantic dinner date—it’s a lot easier (and way more fun) once you know what works for your apple-shaped figure. No squeezing, no settling. Just pieces that fit, flow, and let you feel like yourself again.
Outline:
- What It Means to Be Apple-Shaped
- Dresses That Gently Work With (Not Against) Your Midsection
- Our Top Picks for Apple-Shaped Beauties
- Confidence Is Your Best Accessory
What It Means to Be Apple-Shaped
An apple-shaped body usually means carrying weight around the tummy, without a clearly defined waistline. But it often comes with a beautiful neckline, great legs, and strong shoulders—features we want to highlight through the right flattering dresses for apple shape.
Dresses That Gently Work With (Not Against) Your Midsection
If you're shopping for a wedding guest outfit for apple shapes, or just something flattering enough to skip the shapewear for your next dinner out—these styles are for you. They celebrate your silhouette and bring comfort and confidence back into getting dressed.
Empire Waist Dresses for Apple-Shaped Bodies
An all-time favorite—especially for plus-size apple-shaped bodies or anyone looking for a dress that skims the tummy without adding bulk. The raised waist draws the eye upward and creates a soft, flowy line.
Great for: garden weddings, casual-chic date nights, spring events.
Wrap Dresses for Apple-Shaped Women
Wraps are magical. Adjustable, universally flattering, and ideal for defining the bust and giving the midsection some breathing room.
Great for: office parties, brunch with friends, travel days when comfort is non-negotiable.
Best A-Line Dresses to Hide Belly Fat
Soft at the waist, structured through the skirt—this silhouette is a gift for women with bigger tummies. Whether in a floaty midi or a formal maxi, it adds shape without clinging.
Great for: rehearsal dinners, semi-formal evenings, family celebrations.
Our Top Picks for Apple-Shaped Beauties
We’ve tried, tested, and fallen in love with these dresses—and we picked them with you in mind. Whether you're heading to a wedding, a fancy dinner, or just want something that flatters without fuss, these are the styles we recommend again and again.
Empire Waist Midi & Maxi Dress
Empire Waist Dress with Short Flutter Sleeves
There’s something quietly powerful about a dress that doesn’t try too hard—and this one gets it just right. The empire waist lifts and elongates, the flutter sleeves soften the shoulders, and the way the fabric moves… it's like exhaling. If you’ve ever stood in front of the mirror, tugging at fabric over your tummy, this dress feels like a sigh of relief.
Where it feels right: garden weddings, spring family photos, or when you want to feel dressed up without feeling “done up.”
Sleeveless V-Neck Plain Chiffon Maxi Dress
This one’s for the women who want to feel held but never restricted. The wide waistband gives gentle shape where you want it, while the flowing skirt keeps things effortless below the waist. The deep v-neck balances a fuller bust, and the whole silhouette feels clean and quietly confident. No need to think twice—just zip it up and go.
Where it feels right: standing beside your best friend as a bridesmaid, or just being the best-dressed guest at the party.
Flowy Chiffon Round Neckline Midi Dress
This dress feels like the kind of thing you wear when you want to look like yourself—but a little more graceful. The soft round neckline keeps things sweet, while the high-waist seam and fluttery skirt do that beautiful trick of gliding past the tummy without drawing attention to it. It doesn’t scream for compliments, but it earns every one.
Where it feels right: brunches, engagement parties, or anywhere you're not trying to impress—but still totally do.
Ruffles Sleeve Pleated Midi Chiffon Dress
There’s movement in this dress. Light, layered, kind to your shape. The pleats fall from the bust and know exactly where to stop, creating a soft structure without clinging. The wrap neckline opens things up, and the flutter sleeve keeps the whole look approachable, never stiff. You’ll feel put together, but still like you.
Where it feels right: a late summer wedding, a nice dinner you’ve been looking forward to, or a date where you want to feel quietly stunning.
Wrap Style Dress with V-Neckline
Wrap-Style Spaghetti Strap Maxi Satin Dress
There’s a reason this dress keeps ending up in carts—it’s that “didn’t try too hard but still stole the spotlight” kind of piece. The soft satin wrap hugs high on the waist (not the tummy), while the A-line flow keeps everything fluid and easy. The spaghetti straps give it a delicate feel, but the real magic is in how it glides over the body without pressing or pulling.
Where it feels right: summer evening weddings, rooftop dinners, or that moment when you want to feel quietly elegant—without a single shapewear strap in sight.
Blue Floral Print Satin Maxi Dress
Bold without being loud, this dress walks the line between playful and polished. The floral print adds a distraction in the best way—it breaks up the silhouette, draws the eye down, and makes everything feel light and alive. The wrap-style tie cinches exactly where you want definition (higher than the tummy), while the leg slit keeps things breezy, never bulky.
Where it feels right: destination weddings, sunset garden parties, or when you're the guest who knows how to dress just right.
Satin V-Neck Spaghetti Straps Midi Dress
This dress is that rare mix of sleek and soft. The V-neck gives just enough shape up top, while the wrap-style waist gently gathers without squeezing. What makes it magic for apple-shaped bodies is how the satin drapes—fluid enough to skim over the tummy, but structured enough to hold its shape. You’ll feel like you’re wearing something elegant, not effortful.
Where it feels right: a cocktail wedding, a first date that’s worth dressing up for, or that one night out when you want to feel effortlessly sexy—but still like yourself.
Sage Brush Ruffled Wrap High-Low Maxi Dress
Soft, fluttery, and full of movement—this wrap dress feels like air. It gives your midsection the room it deserves, while still creating that “shaped” look we often crave in formalwear. The sage color brings a calm elegance, and the ruffled hem adds that little swish with every step. Not a loud dress, but the kind people will remember you in.
Where it feels right: baby showers, museum date nights, early fall weddings, or honestly… just because.
A-Line Dress with Draping
Flowy Pleated A-Line Chiffon Tie-Waist Dress
This dress feels like a gentle breeze on a warm day—light, airy, and unexpectedly flattering. The pleated bodice shapes the upper body just enough, while the flowy skirt does that beautiful thing where it moves with you, not against you. The soft waistband sits higher than the natural waist, which means it skips over the tummy and lands where your confidence lives.
Where it feels right: bridesmaid duty on a spring morning, outdoor vow renewals, or just that one dress you grab when you want to feel quietly elegant.
Ruffles Sleeve A-Line Chiffon Waist Applique Maxi Formal Dress
This one’s made for your standout moments. The ruffle sleeves soften the shoulders, while the V-neck and empire waist draw the eyes upward and away from the midsection. The floral applique adds just the right amount of detail without overpowering the silhouette. It’s graceful without being stuffy, flattering without the need to hold your breath.
Where it feels right: black-tie weddings, evening galas, or that family event where you finally want to stop worrying about your dress—and start being present.
Asymmetrical Hem Strappy Chiffon A-Line Backless Dress
Flirty, flowy, and surprisingly forgiving—this dress does more than just look pretty. The asymmetrical hem adds movement and keeps the eye traveling, which is a subtle but powerful way to de-emphasize the tummy. The ruched bodice shapes your top half gently, while the adjustable straps let you find your most comfortable fit.
Where it feels right: summer parties, beach weddings, rooftop dinners where the dress code says “chic” but your body says “comfortable, please.”
Short Sleeves A-Line Midi Dress with Pockets
Let’s be honest—once a dress has pockets and flatters the waist, it’s hard not to fall in love. This one’s structured but not stiff, with a subtle A-line shape that flows from the waist down without clinging. The lace flutter sleeves add a touch of softness around the arms, while the midi length keeps things timeless.
Where it feels right: rehearsal brunches, tea parties, baby showers, or even just that special Sunday you actually dress for yourself.
Confidence Is Your Best Accessory
Dressing an apple-shaped body isn’t about hiding anything—it’s about softening where you want softness, shaping where it feels right, and letting fabric move with you, not around you.
You don’t need a smaller waist to wear something beautiful.
You don’t need a flat tummy to show up and shine.
You just need a dress that feels like you—one that lets you exhale the moment you zip it up. Because you always were.
