Precursors of current Shapewear Pieces, such as corsetry and waist-cinching, date back to the 16th century. We assume that because they function, they have endured over time. We’ve come a long way since lace-ups and whalebones, even if the majority of women still equate shapewear with uncomfortable things like pinching, squeezing, sweating, and other things.
“Shapewear is not just meant to squeeze you so you look smaller (although some very high compression pieces can make you look one to two sizes smaller),” according to Jene Luciani Sena, author of The Bra Book and bra specialist. Additionally, it helps you look as smooth as possible beneath all of your clothes. It is unable to alter the contours of your body.
“It’s basically a tool to emphasise your best assets and just make your overall look a little ‘cleaner,'” the speaker concludes. We want to be content with what we have and make the most of it! not alter or limit it.
Here are some of our top picks for Shapewear Pieces across categories for individuals looking for something that can achieve any or all of the aforementioned.
Maidenform Ultra-Firm Control Waist Cincher
With Maidenform’s modern take on the classic corset, we can achieve a curvaceous hourglass figure underneath our clothing with its ultra-firm stomach control and waist-cinching design. Additionally, because of the centre hook-and-eye fastening, this waist cincher is pleasant and simple to put on, in contrast to certain shapewear garments that offer a free workout while getting ready.
The waist cincher is kept in place by flexible boning, though some people may still find it uncomfortable. The fabric blend of nylon and spandex is cool, cosy, and moisture-wicking. And the smooth, jacquard microfiber fabric has a feminine, flowery pattern for a last feather in its cap.
Honeylove Cami Bodysuit
Honeylove, a relative newbie to the Shapewear Pieces scene, is gaining a sizable fan base. The brand promises to provide shapewear that combines comfort, efficacy, and style, and it appears that they have succeeded in doing so with their Cami Bodysuit, which provides “bust-to-booty” smoothing that stays in place along with sculpting compression.
With its wedgie-free bottom, adjustable straps that can transition from crisscross to racerback as needed, and lift without the need for underwires, this bodysuit has it all. Although it appears like a lot of people love this bodysuit, you should be aware that it’s not entirely seamless, so keep that in mind when wearing that silk dress.
Commando Classic Control Short
These raw-cut European microfibre shorts smooth out without revealing any bulges or panty lines. They have a “butter-like” texture. Since they are shorts, there is a lot of smoothing and coverage from the waist to the thighs. They also have a pleasant weight for all-day wear—not too thin nor too heavy—despite having light to moderate compression. In summary, they are so light and seamless that you won’t even realise you’re wearing them.
Shapermint Essentials All Day Every Day Scoop Neck Compression Cami
Shapermint’s Essentials All Day Every Day Scoop Neck Cami is a hit since it’s ideal for layering, adding coverage and smoothing your curves beneath your favourite sweater. You may wear it with or without a bra because of its 360-degree belly control, which successfully gets rid of love handles and muffin tops. It also provides enough of support.
Not only is this cami lightweight and breathable enough for all-day comfort, but it also stays put when you sit. Although it is made to fit various body shapes, it is difficult to put on and take off, and there are even instructions on how to do so. A hint: You can handle it.
Spanx Fit-to-You Superlight Smoothing Mid-Thigh Short
Shapewear Pieces is useful for occasions other than weddings and high school reunions, when it should be worn under dresses. Everyday Shorts by Spanx are a comfortable option that may help you contour and smooth your skin every day of the week.
These shorts include a 400% stretch fabric that keeps them incredibly light, anti-chafing, and shape-retaining. This is not the place for someone looking for strict control. However, individuals who choose to wear this foundation piece every day will find it to be airy, soft and devoid of visible panty line (VPL). Those who are devoted to Spanx will be pleased to learn that these shorts go well with the company’s best-selling Bra-llelujah bras, which come in five different colours.
Yummie Bustless Zoned Shaping Slip
Yummie’s Shapewear Pieces slip, which has tight control to sculpt, smooth, and shape, is an essential foundation item for dresses and skirts. It has zonal contouring that addresses problem areas and an open breast so you may wear your favourite bra. A good list of features is completed with adjustable straps, coverage from stomach to thigh, and silicone at the hem to stop rolling.
Furthermore, even if you may save this one to wear underneath your preferred wedding guest dress, it’s cosy enough for daily use. It should be noted that although this slip fulfils several requirements, it cannot be taken off easily because it must be placed on from the bottom up.
Wacoal Red Carpet Strapless Shaping Bodysuit
Wacoal’s Red Carpet Shaping Bodysuit provides ample support for strapless outfits. This one-and-done bodysuit smoothly shapes the figure by combining the brand’s best-selling strapless bra with a body briefer.
You can easily put it on and take it off without shimmying thanks to the hook-and-eye back closure. Additionally, the adjustable hook-and-eye gusset allows you to use the restroom without having to undress.
Full coverage cups, medical-grade silicone across the neckline and back, a set of straps that allow you to wear it as a typical bra, and halter, crisscross, and one-shoulder designs are just a few of its fantastic features. This bodysuit’s noteworthy flaw is that it’s not seamless, thus lighter-weight dress materials may show through the panty lines.
Skims Seamless Sculpt Mid-Waist Thong
Want to control the appearance of panty lines? This flawless Skims mid-waist thong ought to work. Without the panty lines, this thong performs all the functions you might anticipate from Shapewear Pieces. A broad cotton gusset is incorporated into the design to provide more coverage, breathability, and strong targeted compression that sculpts and moulds your waist and stomach.
Although the underband contains inner silicone to help prevent rolling, it may still be a problem. It hits at the mid-waist. This seamless thong is available in nine colours and a wide range of sizes, from XXS to 4X, unlike many other Shapewear Pieces items on our list.
Honeylove SuperPower Brief
Honeylove has come up with a smart solution—a midweight brief that provides tailored compression—for those who require a little extra assistance. In all the right places, this brief sculpts and smoothes, just as you would expect from Shapewear Pieces. You won’t anticipate that the flexible boning in this brief prevents the garment from rolling down and gracefully avoids the obvious panty lines.
Naomi and Nicole Hi-Waist Thigh Slimmer
Muffin tops are effectively banished by Naomi and Nicole’s waist slimmer, which has coverage that goes from your high waist to your mid-thigh. The Back Magic flexible stays from this brand, which support and shape your back and waist, are also a characteristic of these shorts.
With tight compression that is neither constricting nor uncomfortable, this product is also ideal for those who are worried about stomach control. Additionally, these shorts include Naomi and Nicole’s Wonderful Edge—a proprietary silicone edge around the leg openings that doesn’t ride up or leave lines—finishing them, despite the fact that shorts are known for rolling and bulging.
Lane Bryant Open-Bust Thigh Shaper
The open-bust thigh shaper from Lane Bryant tops our list of the greatest plus-size Shapewear Pieces because it provides solid control from the chest to the mid-thigh. The straps on this open-bust version are adjustable, just like on other styles, so you may wear it with your preferred bra to personalise your appearance.
The translucent illusion mesh panel gives a sleek touch, and this shaper shapes without flattening. It is seamless. If this one is on your short list, keep in mind that sizes range from 14/16 to 34/36 and that it comes in only two colours: black and café. Although this shaper has a split gusset to allow for restroom breaks, its practicality and usefulness are debatable.
Spanx Thinstincts 2.0 High-Waisted Mid-Thigh Short
With the Invisible Shaping High-Waisted Mid-Thigh Short from Spanx, petite girls seeking stomach control will get it. These shorts, which combine lightweight covering with targeted core compression panels that wrap around your sides for 360-degree shaping and sculpting, are designed with the brand’s Printed Power shaping technology.
The no-slip silicone grip waistband keeps you from rolling, while the free-cut hems avoid digging and ungainly lines. By the way, Spanx aficionados may recognise this one from its earlier incarnation, Thinstincts 2.0.
Felina Seamless Shapewear Brief
Felina’s Fusion Seamless Shapewear Brief is an excellent option for individuals seeking a one-and-done shapewear piece that keeps things basic. With their cleverly woven waist panel that smoothes 360 degrees, these full-coverage briefs shape and smooth without the bulk and discomfort of elastic.
These are medium control briefs with a seamless finish that blends in with your outfit and an incredibly high waistband that tightens at the waist. Some people may have an upright waist, whereas others may have a rolling waist.
Sizes ranging from small to 3X, these briefs are offered in seven sophisticated colours for outstanding skin-tone matching, unlike many of the entries on our list that only provide a limited selection of colours
Commando Two-Faced Tech Full Slip
Briefs and shorts go well with everything, but shapewear slips look great with dresses and skirts. They work well for shaping and smoothing as well as adding an additional layer of covering.
Commando’s Two-Faced slip, so called because of its two-faced tech fabric, has a sleek microfiber structure that doesn’t add bulk, and it gives enough shape for a tight dress without riding up when you move.
Expect light to moderate compression with this slip; it covers from the bust to the middle of the thigh. Just have in mind that, in comparison to briefs and shorts that might achieve the same goal, it is somewhat expensive.
The Bottom Line
We believe that our love/hate connection with Shapewear Pieces began with tummy control. Therefore, Maidenform’s Ultra-Firm Control Waist Cincher is our best choice if you want to get rid of the latter. With its adjustable hook-and-eye closure and flexible boning, this waist tightener is a great way to cut love handles short. The jacquard fabric is attractive enough to show off, and the nylon-spandex construction is cool and comfy enough for all-day wear.
The Cami Bodysuit from Honeylove is perhaps what those seeking for more extensive coverage are looking for. It provides smoothness that is cosy and non-moving, pinching, or wedgeing.
Tips for Choosing the Right Shapewear
Size
Although some women like to order a size smaller in shapewear, Felina’s chief product officer, Angelica Melendez, advises against it since “doing so may cause rolling of the waistband and digging in the leg openings.” Melendez contends that you should match your shapewear size to your clothes size instead.
“Some Shapewear Pieces styles, especially in seamless constructions, run and look small to a first-time consumer,” she notes, providing further fit advice. Thus, read reviews to see whether the brand and style are true to size. She concludes by saying, “Instead of sizing down, look for a style in a higher compression level if it is not powerful enough.”
Compression
One of the most common misconceptions regarding shapewear, according to Melendez, is that it is constrictive, but she begs to differ. According to her, “the majority of contemporary shapewear is cosy and designed to move with you throughout the day.” Furthermore, mentioning Shapewear comes in a variety of compression levels. For more noticeable effects, Melendez adds we have options ranging from items for regular wear to ones for shaping and sculpting. Although the latter is more “occasion wear,” they usually have the most profound effects.
“There are three levels: light, medium, and firm,” observes Luciani Sena. Firm control is what you want if you want to look one or two sizes smaller, medium control offers some shaping and smoothing, and light is only for smoothing.
Materials
According to Luciani Sena, most—if not all—shapewear is made of microfibre. It wicks well and stretches a lot. Some microfiber is more nylon (softness) and less lycra/spandex, or vice versa, in shapewear pieces. Luciani Sena states that “a higher spandex content is what gives you that firmer compression” while discussing factors that affect control.
“For all-day wear, more flexible and comfortable versions of traditional materials like wire and bones are being updated,” notes Melendez, “and Shapewear Pieces has always been a category that leverages the latest innovations in construction.” Although these objects seem conventional, shaping, lifting, and sculpting them requires a great deal of creativity.
Target Area
According to Melendez, “even though shapewear can change someone’s life, you need to know what solutions you are seeking.” “You must be aware of your body type and the parts of your body that you wish to accentuate or sculpt.”
She cites the following example: “A high-waist style is great for someone who carries their weight in their middle or has a more athletic build.” If your waist-to-hip ratio is high or you have an hourglass figure, an at-waist style is preferable. Wear a midthigh short that covers more of the thigh than a boy short or brief would if you’re wanting to smooth your thighs.
Questions and Answers
Should you wear shapewear every day?
While she notes that Shapewear Pieces is usually reserved for when “your outfit requires more polish and refinement, and sculpting is typically reserved for special occasions and events, including red carpet entrances,” Melendez says it’s really a matter of personal preference. Similarly, Luciani Sena adds that “you can absolutely wear it every day if you’re comfortable doing so.”
Is it better to size up or down in shapewear?
“There’s a rumor you should always size down for a tighter [shapewear] fit,” says Luciani Sena. “But it’s not about the size—it’s about the compression level. No matter how small you go, a light compression shaper isn’t going to give you that tight feeling. It’s all about the fabric and what it’s designed to do. You should shop for shapewear based on your normal size.”
What can you wear shapewear under?
While most people reserve their shapewear for formal events or whenever they have the opportunity to break out their favorite little black dress, Melendez says shapewear can be worn under anything. Noting that most people reach for shapewear when they wear something fitted or body-hugging, Melendez says shapewear can also “provide smoothing and hold to loose, drapey garments.”
Why Trust Southern Living
This article was written by Sharon Brandwein, Certified Sleep Science Coach and freelance commerce writer. Over the last five years, Sharon has written product reviews and roundups for a variety of online publishers. To curate this list of the best shapewear, Sharon sorted through contenders based on the features and benefits of each, ultimately narrowing the list down to the top picks you see here. For expert input, Sharon spoke to Bra expert and author of The Bra Book, Jene Luciani Sena, and Angelica Melendez, chief product officer at Felina.
