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Shapewear is really having a moment right now. If you haven't heard of it, a body shaper is a type of clothing worn under your dress, shirt, skirt, leggings, or trousers to improve fit and streamline the appearance of your figure. Waist trainers, bodysuits and control pants enhance the natural curve of your body and help to firm your silhouette.
There are so many different types of shapewear for women to choose from, ranging from full-body high-control undergarments, to ones designed to target more specific areas such as the waist, buttocks and legs. To help you decide which one will suit your body the best, we've ranked our top 10 favourites on ASOS, John Lewis, Amazon and eBay. Read on to find out more!
Melissa Melles is a Wardrobe Concierge based in Manchester, helping both women and men find their style and have confidence in what they wear by organising their wardrobes. With 10 years industry experience, Melissa's clients trust her expert opinion when it comes to style advice. Her experience spans from TV, music and editorial styling, to working in Paris showrooms, to personal shopping in luxury department stores and more.
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
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Table of Contents
Melissa Melles is a Wardrobe Concierge based in Manchester, helping both women and men find their style and have confidence in what they wear by organising their wardrobes.
With 10 years of industry experience, Melissa's clients trust her expert opinion when it comes to style advice. Her experience spans from TV, music and editorial styling, to working in Paris showrooms, to personal shopping in luxury department stores and more.
Find out more about Melissa via her Instagram or head over to her website where you can see all the expert consultation services she offers - from simply organising your wardrobe space to sourcing those hard to find 'New Season' pieces!
For the nights where you want to easily slip into your favourite dress, without having to worry about it folding in all the wrong places when you sit down, you might want to choose shapewear that covers your whole body. Full-body suits offer coverage across the torso, with concentrated areas of high elasticity around the hips, stomach, thighs, and buttocks.
People often prefer the reliability of a full-body shapewear piece and their seamless appearance. This is because the seams are usually somewhere discreet, like under the bust and just below the thigh, instead of places like the buttocks where it would show up through your clothing.
While they do create a flawless silhouette, you should also be aware that full-body shapewear can cost quite a bit more. This is usually due to the fact more fabric is required in the construction of the garment.
For the perfect bra to compliment your curves, try our Best Bras for Larger Busts!
Full body coverage is the best for giving you smooth lines all over, don't be fooled by a half coverage, because although it may flatten your torso, it will push the rest up and you'll be left with an unflattering bulge higher up your body. Full body coverage is probably more comfortable too as you'll have fewer lines and creases.
If you're not keen on the idea of wrapping up your entire body in one of these garments, you could always opt for something a little more specific. In addition to full-body shapewear, you can also find shapewear that grips your torso and waist.
Torso shapewear is tight elastic that wraps around your abdomen to cinch in the waist and create a more streamlined silhouette. This type of garment can be worn under fitted shirts or a tight dress for a taught abdomen, which can help clothes sit closer to the body without bunching around your middle.
If you prefer the look of an extra 'pinch' at the waist, choose one with tighter elastic around the middle. Just remember that without the support of having the elastic fitted across the rest of your body, you may notice that the material can roll and shift if you're sitting down for long periods of time.
Torso coverage is great for accentuating your waistline which is really flattering for some style dresses. It can also make jeans and fitted trousers fit better by giving you that sleek middle. They can ride down though so probably best to wear this style under dresses or at events where you'll be standing for a while.
We can't forget about the legs and buttocks shapers - the keys to all flawless mirror selfies! If you're wearing fitted trousers or a sheer dress and you'd like to reduce the appearance of cellulite, choose shapewear pieces that firm your thighs and also help to target saddlebags.
Not only does shapewear for the buttocks keep everything in place while you walk, but it also lifts up the glutes for a 'perkier' look. If you're feeling a little self-conscious about a figure-hugging dress, you could even get some shapewear with padding in the buttocks for added 'oomph'.
Just be careful that the seams don't show through your clothes, as this can ruin the smooth finish. If you'd prefer a seamless fit, opt for a thong style shapewear to limit the appearance of any unwanted seams.
If you're looking for the perfect edition to your underwear drawer, try our Best Thongs!
When shopping for shapewear for the buttocks and legs, opt for a leg length that is going to be about to your knees, if you go any shorter you might see the lines through your trousers or skirt and this will not look neat. Shapewear can smooth your skin but also perk up your butt and your leg muscles.
Shapewear squeezes your body - that's a well-known fact. What people don't know is that wearing shapewear doesn't have to be an uncomfortable experience. You can choose how strong you want the hold to be, to ensure the perfect balance of comfort and control.
High control is very restrictive, keeping everything firmly in place. For fitted dresses and anything skin tight, you'll appreciate just how confident high control shapewear can make you feel. Just bear in mind that you might struggle to wear it for long periods of time, especially if you're sitting down as the constant squeezing can get quite tiring.
If high control is too much for you, go for medium-to-high for extra breathing room without losing the tight hold on target areas. If you're just looking for a gentle hug around the parts that trouble you, choose a low-to-medium to ease you in.
There are lots of different types of shapewear with many different controls, sometimes shapewear can be worn not just to give 'shape' but also to provide a layer underneath sheer clothing. It's nice sometimes to wear a light support full body under a dress which you'd normally be conscious of because it's slightly see-through.
The material of your new shapewear is likely to be a combination of a non-stretchy material like polyester and some form of elastic. To help you understand what's best, let's get into the details.
Polyester is a common fibre used in fashion as it's a versatile and affordable base for clothing production. The downside is that it's known to pill after multiple washes, so you might want to choose nylon or polyamide instead for a more durable finish.
The elastic in your shapewear will likely either be elastane, spandex, or viscose. They all do exactly the same thing - stretch. The only thing you'll need to pay attention to is the percentage, as the higher the amount elastic, the more shape control there will be.
You have to look at the fabric contents when buying shapewear, the more stretch/elastane the better for comfort. Spandex is another key one used in a lot of shapewear. There are so many different brands now all using different fabrics, just try a few out and see which feels most comfortable for you.
Depending on what you're wearing on the day, it's impossible to choose a colour that will go with everything - unless you choose a nude shade or black, of course. This discrete duo will stay hidden under any garment.
In particular, we'd recommend choosing black if you happen to wear a lot of dark clothes. It's bound to be less visible and will add to the intensity of the colour in areas where the material might be thinner.
On the other hand, nude tones are the best option for discrete wear under lighter shades like white and pastels. Plenty of shapewear is available in more than one shade, so if you find a style you like, you could buy it in multiple colours.
For the perfect workout clothes, try our Best Sports Bras for Running!
Choosing the right nude is a lot easier now than it used to be, a lot more brands are offering a wide range of nudes suiting every skin tone. A top tip - when wearing white don't opt for white! Always opt for nude, although you might think white won't show under white, it does, nude is the best disguise under anything.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Spanx Women's Higher Power Short Thigh Slimmer | £27.28 Mid | 80% Elasticity and Full Coverage for Torso and Legs | ||
2 | Bafully Bum Enhancing High Waist Knickers In Black | £16.99 Low Mid | Waist Cincher With Padding to Enhance Your Glutes | ||
3 | Gotoly Waist Cincher | £13.99 Low Mid | Basic Shapewear to Tuck in the Tummy and Cinch the Waist | ||
4 | Maidenform Comfort Endlessly Smooth Firm Control Slip | £35.29 High Mid | Shapewear Dress for a Seamless Look | ||
5 | Spanx Womens Everyday Shaping Thong | £17.59 Low Mid | Comfortable Shaping Thong for Smoother Abs | ||
6 | Wacoal Fit and Lift High Waist Control Long Leg Shorts | £66.85 High | Practical Shapewear Suit for Daily Wear | ||
7 | Spanx Higher Power Pants | £33.00 High Mid | Narrow Shaper for Wear With Fitted Shirts | ||
8 | Spanx Women's On Core Trouser | £49.50 High Mid | A Figure-Sculpting Full-Body Suit | ||
9 | Joyshaper High Waisted Tummy Control Bodyshaper | £15.99 Low Mid | Minimise the Appearance of Dimples and Cellulite | ||
10 | DODOING Padded Butt Lifter Pants for Women | £8.99 Low | Adjustable Control With Removable Pads for Jeans and Mini Skirts |
With an impressive 80% elasticity, you'll be amazed at just how well this item can hold and sculpt a beautiful figure! With an especially tight grip around the thighs, your legs will appear firm and smooth, without the worry of chafing.
As for the tummy control, there's a large section spread across the abdomen that will tuck in any unwanted rolls and shape your waist to perfectly fit your dress or top. This is easily the most comfortable, high-control shapewear product on our list so you'll definitely see a difference in shape, sans the pinch.
Here is a pair of pants that actually enhance both the shape and size of the glutes. Its high-rise design helps to cinch the waist, with a tight elastic to make your figure look even more curvaceous!
It's the type of shapewear that you could wear every day, with just enough strength to carve out your curves, but not feel restrictive. We recommend wearing this piece under your favourite pair of jeans to see the best results.
For full coverage tummy tucking, this piece of shapewear will hold your waist, hips, and abdomen to show off a streamline figure. It sits comfortably under the bra line and just above the pants to create a seamless look.
You can wear this piece under absolutely anything, and its daily flexibility score is off the charts! The strength of the fabric means it offers high-level control, without rolling up or shifting out of place.
This dress-style slip-on sits comfortably with a tight and even grip all around the torso, buttocks, and legs. We particularly like the added support from the underwired, moulded foam bra that's sewn into place to add to the seamless look of the shapewear.
Smoothing over the hips, it creates a flawless foundation for any outfit, whatever the occasion. With 26% elastane, you'll see a beautiful impact on the curvature of your figure.
Here is another essential for the underwear drawer. This hip-hugger thong creates a natural look, while tucking away the lower belly and 'muffin top' for a smooth, hourglass shape. The best part of this piece is the tiny amount of coverage across the buttocks so that the seams won't dig into the skin, or show through your clothes.
If you're looking for something to give you an extra boost of confidence when you wear tight clothes, this is a subtle yet strong way to keep your outfit on point!
This one-piece shapewear covers both the legs and torso with a strong elastic band to support the lower abdomen. It's extremely high waisted and runs down to the middle of the thigh, so it's perfect for clothes that end just above the knee or lower.
This shapewear product is designed to discreetly lift and hold the lower half of the body, while tucking in the tummy for an overall firmer appearance. It's a flexible design that you can comfortably sit and stand in at work, whilst running errands, or wear at events like dinner parties and weddings.
Designed to suck in the whole torso, front and back, this piece of shapewear has a classic shape that's ideal for wear under fitted shirts. With spandex making up a whopping 49 % of the composition, it offers very high control, flattening the rolls across your stomach, hips, and back. And you can choose from either nude or black.
As the pants end halfway down the buttocks, we recommend wearing this one with jeans or a loosely-fitted skirt to avoid any obvious squeezing at the seams.
This full-body piece is ideal for wearing beneath a snug jumpsuit. Made with from a reliable 20 % elastane and nylon blend, it will provide a firm squeeze with just the right level of intensity for long nights out. There are also panels of thick elastic stretching across the abdomen and thighs, to sculpt your body into an hourglass shape.
That said, this is easily the most expensive undergarment on our list at £66 (bra not included). However, we think that with such high quality structuring, it's definitely worth the spend.
This shapewear set reaches from the middle of the thigh all the way to the upper waist, covering the torso and legs in a low-to-medium control elastic. This style offers a sleek, smooth finish, making it perfect to wear under a silk slip-on dress.
The low percentage of elastane means that you won't see a drastic change, but this may be preferable if you're new to shapewear. The pressure is applied evenly throughout the garment, so you can wear it for a long period of time without feeling any discomfort.
This product is an affordable solution to a poorly fitted mini-skirt. Made with two padded cushions on the rear, this piece of shapewear is aimed at the women who want to add a little more shape to a pair of jeans or a skirt. With an elegant lace accent around the thigh, these shorts will lift and sculpt your behind.
The seam around the padding is quite bulky, so you couldn't wear this under a thin item of clothing without it showing through a little. Luckily, the pads are removable so if you're just looking for a low-to-medium squeeze, they're still a great option.
Written and researched by Annie Speight
No. 1: Spanx|Women's Higher Power Short Thigh Slimmer
No. 2: Bafully|Bum Enhancing High Waist Knickers In Black
No. 3: Gotoly|Waist Cincher
No. 4: Maidenform Comfort|Endlessly Smooth Firm Control Slip
No. 5: Spanx|Womens Everyday Shaping Thong
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
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