Body type / rule 03 of 05
Apple body type
Bust and hips are within 5% of each other and the waist measures at least 88% of the hips, so the middle reads straight rather than indented.
- Bust ↔ hips ≤ 5%
- Waist ≥ 88%
01 / Classification
How this pattern is classified
Bust within 5% of hips and waist at or above 88% of hips. This check runs before the hourglass test.
The condition
Bust ↔ hips ≤ 5% · Waist ≥ 88%
- Confirm balanced bust and hips
The two circumferences must stay within 5% of each other.
- Read waist to hips
The waist must measure at or above 88% of the hips.
- Check the earlier rules
Inverted triangle and Pear do not apply before this match.
- Remeasure near 88%
A small tape shift can move the result to Hourglass or Rectangle.
The rules run in order and the first match determines the result. This styling label describes a waist-to-hip proportion, not body fat, health risk, or a medical assessment.
Near a threshold. Near an 88% waist-to-hip ratio, the middle can read differently after a small measurement change. Remeasure at the natural waist.
See the full rule order02 / What to wear
Cuts that follow the proportion
Use the line, length, and fabric details as options rather than rules.
- 01
Longline shirt in a crisp cotton-poplin, worn open over a straight column, ending at the upper thigh.
- 02
Empire-line dress in a fluid viscose with the seam just under the bust and a straight skirt to mid-calf.
- 03
Straight-leg trousers in a mid-weight twill with a flat front and a waistband that sits at the natural waist.
- 04
Open-front long cardigan in a fine knit that creates two vertical lines down the torso.
- 05
V-neck tunic in a matte jersey, ending below the hip so the hem falls clear of the middle.
- 06
Wide-leg jumpsuit in a drapey fabric with a soft waist tie rather than a stiff belt.
- 07
A-line skirt in a structured cotton starting at the natural waist and ending just below the knee.
- 08
Sleeveless column dress in a ponte knit with a slight A-line from the high hip.
03 / What to avoid
Lines that work against it
These are optional considerations, not restrictions on what you can wear.
- 01
Stiff belts cinched tightly at the natural waist over a slim top: they create a horizontal break and emphasise the middle.
- 02
Cropped boxy jackets ending at the waist: that hem sits exactly at the widest part of the torso.
- 03
Tight bodycon dresses in thin jersey: they trace the middle without giving it structure.
- 04
Large horizontal pockets or peplums at the waist: both add volume where the silhouette is already straight.
- 05
High crew necks in chunky yarn: they close off the vertical line from the neck downward.
04 / Related patterns
Nearby patterns and measurement error
Near an 88% waist-to-hip ratio, the middle can read differently after a small measurement change. Remeasure at the natural waist.
05 / Measure it correctly
Use the same four tape lines.
Open measurement guide Common questions about the resultTest the rule
Find your own result.
Four circumference measurements, calculated locally in your browser.