HIGH LEGS BEST 

Our experts say: It’s the lemon-on-a-matchstick look: thin legs with fat around the tummy. So the bottom can appear shapeless.

A lot of apple shapes want to define their waists. They have fuller busts and bottoms but need their tummies pinching in.

A high-leg brief provides the perfect balance, defining the waist while lengthening the leg.

A lot of apple shapes want to define their waists. They have fuller busts and bottoms but need their tummies pinching in. A high-leg brief provides the perfect balance, defining the waist while lengthening the leg 

FULL BRIEF

This is another great style for the apple-shaped woman. They pull in every lump and bump and also help to define the waist — anything cut above the navel is ideal.

These also give a smooth outline beneath clothes.

BRAZILIAN 

Here’s a perfect example of how the wrong pants can change your shape.

This model has a beautiful figure, but here her bottom has no definition and the pants are doing nothing for her thicker waist.

Here’s a perfect example of how the wrong pants can change your shape. This model has a beautiful figure, but here her bottom has no definition and the pants are doing nothing for her thicker waist

THONG 

Not a good style at all — these knickers sit just under the tummy, which isn’t an area to accentuate in the apple shape.

From the back, her hips look wider and her bottom looks flatter, creating no defining shape.

CHOOSE SHORTS 

Our experts say: From the age of 30 we lose muscle. Due to this and skin laxity, the bottom may become flat and saggy.

Falling levels of female hormones during the menopause also allow fat to gather around the waist. So a lot of over-50s want something that’ll give a lift while being comfortable.

Shorts push up the bottom, giving fullness and shape, while the low waistline balances the hips and shoulders.

Falling levels of female hormones during the menopause also allow fat to gather around the waist. So a lot of over-50s want something that’ll give a lift while being comfortable. Shorts push up the bottom, giving fullness and shape, while the low waistline balances the hips and shoulders

FULL BRIEF 

Some might consider this style a top choice as it covers everything, but it’s not flattering — especially when your tummy doesn’t need holding in.

The depth shortens our model’s torso and legs, and her bottom becomes a black square.

Some might consider this style a top choice as it covers everything, but it’s not flattering — especially when your tummy doesn’t need holding in. The depth shortens our model’s torso and legs, and her bottom becomes a black square

BRAZILIAN 

Despite this model having an incredible figure, this style clashes with her skin’s natural laxity.

Her bottom is given no definition and the style cuts into her legs. They’re also too tight at the top — detracting from her small waist.

Despite this model having an incredible figure, this style clashes with her skin’s natural laxity. Her bottom is given no definition and the style cuts into her legs. They’re also too tight at the top — detracting from her small waist

HIGH LEG 

These shorten her beautifully long legs.

There is also too much loose skin on show at the back, and the knickers aren’t creating any curve or definition of the buttocks.

This underwear really ruins her lovely shape.

These shorten her beautifully long legs. There is also too much loose skin on show at the back, and the knickers aren’t creating any curve or definition of the buttocks. This underwear really ruins her lovely shape

TRY THE BIKINI

Our experts say: Petite figures are often straight, androgynous and less feminine, with a smaller pelvis.

Many petite women have shorter legs and a less defined waist. So when it comes to knickers you’re looking for something with minimal material — a lower waistband and higher cut at the legs — and a simple style, like the bikini. Here, the body looks perfectly in proportion. 

Many petite women have shorter legs and a less defined waist. So when it comes to knickers you’re looking for something with minimal material — a lower waistband and higher cut at the legs — and a simple style, like the bikini. Here, the body looks perfectly in proportion

FULL BRIEF 

This style is far too much for such a tiny frame and completely swamps this model’s small bottom.

The knickers do nothing for her shape: her legs are made to look shorter, her torso is slashed in half and her bottom actually looks bigger.

This style is far too much for such a tiny frame and completely swamps this model’s small bottom. The knickers do nothing for her shape: her legs are made to look shorter, her torso is slashed in half and her bottom actually looks bigger

BRAZILIAN 

Her legs look longer, but the volume of material covers too much flesh — a petite bottom needs a lower rise.

Considering how slim this model is, it’s really surprising how wearing the wrong pair of pants can make her look a little bit podgy. 

Her legs look longer, but the volume of material covers too much flesh — a petite bottom needs a lower rise. Considering how slim this model is, it’s really surprising how wearing the wrong pair of pants can make her look a little bit podgy

SHORTS 

Although the higher cut once again gives the legs length, her bottom ends up looking flat and squashed in at the sides.

The shorts also look a little tight on the lower bottom, cutting into the buttocks and creating a rather unflattering bulge.

GO BRAZILIAN

Our experts say: This body type is likely to have that ideal hip-to-waist ratio and a full, heart-shaped bottom with hip and pelvic bones aligned.

Ladies with this figure can carry off almost any style of clothing as there’s inherent balance in the curve at the waist and hips. The Brazilian style pants accentuate our model’s excellent figure, sitting beautifully on the hips.

The high-cut legs give a great shape to the bottom and make her legs look longer.

Ladies with this figure can carry off almost any style of clothing as there’s inherent balance in the curve at the waist and hips. The Brazilian style pants accentuate our model’s excellent figure, sitting beautifully on the hips. The high-cut legs give a great shape to the bottom and make her legs look longer

FULL BRIEF 

There is far too much material here.

The model’s fantastic figure isn’t remotely enhanced by these briefs; instead, her curves are all covered up.

From the back, the bottom looks flat and shapeless.

There is far too much material here. The model’s fantastic figure isn’t remotely enhanced by these briefs; instead, her curves are all covered up. From the back, the bottom looks flat and shapeless

HIGH LEG 

Her legs look fabulously long in these, but from the back her bottom looks boring and shapeless.

The knickers almost give the impression of her having saddlebags, which she certainly doesn’t have.

Her legs look fabulously long in these, but from the back her bottom looks boring and shapeless. The knickers almost give the impression of her having saddlebags, which she certainly doesn’t have

SHORTS 

A double-buttock is created by the elastic digging unflatteringly into her full bottom — she needs a larger size.

Although they look nice, she doesn’t need the coverage and they do nothing for her shape.

A double-buttock is created by the elastic digging unflatteringly into her full bottom — she needs a larger size. Although they look nice, she doesn’t need the coverage and they do nothing for her shape

DON A THONG

Our experts say: This is a classic English shape — a narrow waist with fat at the hips and a wider bottom.

The pelvis and hip bones are also wide. As the position of the gluteal muscles partly determines fat distribution, there may also be saddlebags (fat on the sides of the upper leg). Women usually aim to distract from heaviness at the thighs.

The thong looks great and her legs appear longer because of the high cut.

The pelvis and hip bones are also wide. As the position of the gluteal muscles partly determines fat distribution, there may also be saddlebags (fat on the sides of the upper leg). Women usually aim to distract from heaviness at the thighs. The thong looks great and her legs appear longer because of the high cut

HIGH LEG 

This style works almost as well. From the side, these knickers lengthen her legs and from the back give her the perfect shape.

The waist looks slender, and the diagonal line of the pants slims her bottom.

This style works almost as well. From the side, these knickers lengthen her legs and from the back give her the perfect shape. The waist looks slender, and the diagonal line of the pants slims her bottom

BRAZILIAN 

The lace looks as if it is trapped rather than sitting neatly on top of the bottom — the underwear looks too small and uncomfortable.

The higher cut also means too much buttock is on show.

The lace looks as if it is trapped rather than sitting neatly on top of the bottom — the underwear looks too small and uncomfortable. The higher cut also means too much buttock is on show

SHORTS 

Here, you can see the knickers are digging into the model’s thighs, which emphasises the heavier lower half of a pear shape.

There’s too much cheek on view at the back, making her look wider than she really is.