What Does Shapewear Do?

Shapewear is an undergarment designed to smooth and contour the body. Made of stretchy, compressive materials, shapewear holds everything in place and creates a sculpted silhouette, with some styles offering high-waisted tummy control to cover the midsection. Shapewear comes in various styles, including bodysuits, high-waisted briefs, and thigh shapers, and is meant to be worn under clothing. Whether you're looking to cinch your waistline, lift your butt, or smooth out other undergarments, shapewear can help you achieve your desired look. With its versatile styles and comfortable fit, shapewear has become a popular choice for targeted compression and comfort.

Different types of shapewear can target different parts of the body. Consider what type of compression you’re looking for while shopping along with how you plan to style the shapewear under clothes.

Shop Shapewear by Compression

Shop shapewear based on the type of compression and smoothing look you’re after.

• Waist & Tummy: Contour your waist and support your core with a slimming bodysuit, available in a variety of adjustable strap and strapless options. Beyond a traditional brief-cut bodysuit, you can shop shapewear bodysuits with shorts, skirts, and full-length pants.
• Legs & Thighs: Wearing a pair of shapewear shorts under a dress or skirt can be a comfortable way to smooth lines and prevent chafing. You can even try high-waisted leggings to contour from your waist to ankles.
• Bust: Similar to a Sports Bra, a compression Bra can provide maximum lift with seamless Bra lines. Shapewear Bras typically come in nude colors, black, or white. A high-compression Bra is often more comfortable for full breasts.
• Butt: To lift your butt, go for a full-coverage shaping Panty, biker shorts, or Leggings. This type of specialty shapewear offers a butt-lifting effect.

Shop Shapewear by Outfit

Choosing shapewear can be a cinch when you know the outfit you plan to style it for. Whether you’re styling for an everyday outfit or for a formal event, there’s shapewear that can be discretely fashioned under any look.

• Shapewear for Tops: Shapewear can be worn under tops for a refined silhouette. Seamless camisoles and body suits can pair easily under tops and blouses. Shapewear body suits can also double as its own outfitting moment that’s effortlessly paired with jeans and heels. For tighter tees, shapewear bras are a solid go-to and can help smooth out any lines while also provide comfortable support.
• Shapewear for Bottoms: Whether you’re styling trousers, or another fitted pant, there’s a type of shapewear for it. When wearing jeans or other tighter bottoms, shaping panties can offer smoothing finishes without visible panty lines. Discover shapewear panties in thong and brief styles so you get the coverage you need.
• Shapewear for Dresses: From a mini cocktail dress to a formal bridal gown, shapewear can elevate the fit of any dress. Shop by neutral colors for a discrete finish under any fabric and consider the length of your dress. Shapewear slips can be a comfortable fit under a flowy wedding guest dress. For a fitted dress, you can opt for medium-to-high compression with shapewear bodysuit or shorts.

What Size Shapewear Should I Buy?

You already know the importance of measuring the right Bra size , but you can also double check your waist, hip, thigh, and inseam measurements before investing in shapewear. Make sure to use a soft tape measure and follow our tips on how to measure . Most shapewear is offered in XXS-XXL sizes. We recommend trying on shapewear in store since different compression levels may affect the fit and feel. It’s common to size up or down for better comfort.

Do You Wear Underwear With Shapewear?

Since shapewear is meant to hug curves and compress, you do not need to wear underwear underneath shapewear, in most cases. Ultimately, the choice comes down to your comfort level. During a period or while wearing thin shapewear, you may feel more confident wearing panties underneath, and that’s okay.