Do you remember when that video went viral of the woman who tried shapewear for the first time and it rolled to the middle of her stomach? It rolled up so tight that she couldn’t pull the top or the bottom into position and had to cut it off. That instance scared a lot of women off from shapewear.
*Word of caution, the video does contain explicit language. If you don’t want to watch, we’ve added a description below.*
We don’t blame the woman in the video. No, we don’t think she was an idiot or just doing it for attention. First of all, she ordered it from China and unless we know Manarin, we can’t read the label when she holds it up to the camera. She tells us it’s quite small, but she’s been told “the smaller the better” to get the look she wants. She pulls the spandex over one leg and the garment is the size of her thigh. When she gets it over her hips the fabric tears. When she finally gets it over her midsection the spandex rolls in on itself right in the middle of her waist and she has to call her kids to help her cut it off.
We don’t want this to be the only thing women think about when trying on shapewear – but it’s a lesson that we need to understand what went wrong here.
For women who are new to control lingerie, we have a few tips for how to buy and wear these lovely pieces of shapewear.
Smaller Isn’t Better
Shapewear comes in a range of sizes for a reason – women are all shapes and sizes. Wearing a size that is too small for you will result in discomfort, bulging, and could potentially cause physical issues. You don’t want to compress your internal organs and nerves, this will cause tingling, numbness, and poor circulation. The idea is to even out certain areas, not cause compression and difficulty breathing.
Size charts are there for a reason. Use them! Use a measuring tape to find what size is best for you. Measure the widest part of your hips and bust. Measure the most narrow part of your waist. Where do these measurements fit? With products made of nylon and spandex you will notice there is a bit of a stretch so size charts will give about a 2-inch range for each size. It’s important that you order the correct size for your measurements.
Different Shapewear for Different Needs
There are so many different styles of shapewear; it’s hard to decide what you should wear under your clothes. Also, we’re so sick of comparing women to fruits like apples and pears. Some of us don’t even know what fruit we’re supposed to be. So instead, we’re just going to describe different body types and you can decide which one most sounds like you. We’ll throw in the fruit/shape/object they assign to us as well.
- Narrow shoulders, rounded waist, narrow hips – commonly called “apple shaped”
- Hips and shoulders are similar in width, narrow waist – also known as “hourglass”
- Narrow shoulders, narrow waist, broader hips – this type of fruit is a “pear”
- Shoulders, waist, and hips are very similar in width – now we’re shapes: “rectangle”
- Broader shoulders, narrow waist, narrow hips – another shape: “inverted triangle”
This, of course, is a broad list and it doesn’t cover all the beautiful shapes and sizes of women’s bodies. But it does give us an idea of what the beauty industry likes to call our “problem areas.” Knowing what part of our body we want to give a sleeker, more svelte look under your outfit.
How To Wear Shapewear
With the exception of tanks and slips, foundational garments are worn just like underwear. You put them on one leg at a time. If you find you are struggling, pulling, and damaging the garment while you are putting it on, it’s not the right size and you need to start over.
Spandex undergarments should fit like a compression sock – tight enough to notice it’s still there and keeping everything in, but still comfortable. You want to be able to eat, drink, sit, and breathe normally.
But what outfits should you wear your body-contouring underwear with? The answer is: anything you want! But we do have a few suggestions for the different types of clothes that work well with which garments.
- Bodysuit – For dresses with straps/sleeves or your basic t-shirt and shorts combo, a body suit gives the slender look from top to bottom without seam lines peeking through the fabric. Some bodysuits offer built in support in the bust while others are cut just below the breast so you can wear your own bra and have a little extra boost.
- High-waisted brief – Great for underneath high-waisted skirts, pants, or bodycon dresses. It gives support to your hindquarters, your back, and your tummy. You can wear your own panty underneath or wear the garment as your underwear if it has a built-in gusset.
- Tanks and Slips – A perfect base layer under your cute tops is a shapewear tank or slip. You can get one in nude, black, or white to color block v-necks and add a touch of modesty while still getting that cinched-in support. You can wear them under pretty much any two piece-or dress. But be aware that if you wear a two-piece with midriff, the cami will show through so it’s better with longer tops or tucked into your bottoms.
- Bike shorts – Not just any old bike shorts will do. A shapewear set of bike shorts will help form and lift your but and smooth out your thighs. It’s great for that pair of jeans that are just a little too tight around the legs. Plus it gives some vavavoom to your rear.
Shapewear Not Permanent Body Shaping
Body shaping and shapewear are not the easy fix to changing your body. Some women are happy with their natural curves or straight lines, but other women aren’t as confident in their bodies. That’s okay, but shapewear and waist-trainers are not permanent solutions.
Women have been using shapewear for hundreds of years (remember Scarlett from Gone With the Wind with the 16-inch waist?). Women’s fashion has notoriously told us to be small, and women have suffered because of the impossible beauty standard. Items like corsets from the 17-and 1800 have continued to revive themselves time and time again with the promise of teeny-tiny waists and curvaceous, child-bearing hips.
Women used to wear these items of torture on the daily. Now-a-days we know a little better. Shapewear is safe to use for special occasions and for a few hours at a time, but no one should live in body morphing attire 24/7. Science found that corsets caused severe health issues for women back in the day.
Luckly, shapewear has come a long way and is now much safer to use. However, you still need to give your body a break and understand that it’s not going to transform your body when you take off the clothing.
It’s An Investment
You could spend hundreds of dollars on lingerie that is cute on the rack but unflattering on your body and doesn’t add any support or control. Stop giving your money to companies that produce their product with unethical resources and using questionable labor practices. And, honestly, those brands aren’t keeping women at the forefront of their mind.
Since you’re planning on spending the money anyway, put your buck where it counts. You can still find women-focused, ethically sourced and manufactured garments online without paying through the nose.
Paying attention to the company’s return policy and how they handle returned items tells you a lot about the ethical and sustainable measures they take to provide you with a worthy product. A company that is confident in their product will have an exchange or return policy that makes you feel comfortable with your purchase.
You’re making an investment into a piece of clothing that is going to make you feel beautiful and last for many occasions to come. This isn’t like buying $2 underwear out of the bargain bin because you forgot to pack undies for a trip. This is an essential piece of foundation wear for many women when it comes to special events where you want to look your best in person and in pictures.
The Last Words
Looking good while feeling comfortable aren’t always two ideas that go together. But with quality shapewear under the right outfit, you will dazzle everyone around you. It’s not a competition to see who looks the skinniest or most curvy. It’s about highlighting your body at its best when wearing clothes you may otherwise find unflattering on your figure.
Once you decide on an outfit that you love, try on different styles of shapewear to see how each piece fits and looks under your clothes. You’ll be amazed at what you can do with a little mix and match.