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shapewear

anne

Veteran

On my recent shopping trip I tried on a variety of shapewear to see how it would help my mummy tummy (which looks fine when I am holding it in but kind of banana shaped when I am not)
I tried some by Nancy Ganz and by Triumph.
I was quite disaapointed. After all the work to put them on I didn't think they did any better than the cami I had been wearing (which has a bit of lycra).
If I didn't hold my tummy in - the shapewear didn't either.

Anyone had better experiences?

Dressing

23 replies

Latest reply was from anne

Tanya

Veteran

I have some Spanx and I like them. I don't know if they are available in Australia though.

anne

Veteran

Thanks Tanya - but oh drat - I just looked it up and Spanz is stocked in Australia, but in a department shop I walked right through and didn't look at!
And now I am back at home in a regional town. Anyway it wasn't urgent, jsut trying the idea out.
What type of shapewear do you wear? the Cami type. the knicker type etc?
(I decided if I did go for it I would wear either of these 2, but not the ones like shorts or skirts, as I am sure they would show under skirts)

Tanya

Veteran

I have two types:

This classic ones in nude ( they do not show under skirts, and I have some very formfitting ones):

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/28.....rchresults

and these I have in both black and nude for pants:

http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/28.....rchresults

anne

Veteran

Thanks. They are quite reasonably priced too. Do they hold your tummy in even if you relax it ? Not that it is very easy to compare - since I have had 3 kids and have a 4 inches bgger waist than yours - but presumably you have have a reason to wear shapewear. Do you wear it often?

Tanya

Veteran

Anne, no I do not wear it often at all, just for special occasions if I wear something very clingy; and I wear it mostly for smooth lines under tight garments, in the hip/thigh area mainly. So I haven't really noticed how good they are for the tummy, sorry . But I guess you could try out and see. Does that department store offer the possibility to order online and return if you don't like them?

anne

Veteran

Thanks Tanya.

I don't think that David Jones ( which is the dep store) does do online ordering, but I'll be back in the city for a visit in March anyway. Hopefully by then I will have lost that last 2 pesky pounds too which have been hanging around for several months

What about other mothers here? How do you rate Spanx (or other products)

taylor

Veteran

I had a customer who actually dropped a dress size with spanx....It was amazing, flattend her tummy right out. She went from a 10 to an 8

Nicole

Veteran

Anne, I've seen your photos and I honestly don't see how you could use any such type of garment. And Tanya, same goes for you!!

I am somewhat opposed to shape altering garments. They ARE tempting--I will admit it. But shouldn't we be celebrating our bodies? Shouldn't we be adoring our baby bellies because those bellies have been stretched out to accomodate life?

I admit-- I do own a one piece "thing" that I have worn under form fitting dresses on special occasions (like weddings)--but why? Why should I be embarassed of the ridge from my c-secton scar? That scar brought an incredible human being into this world! Maybe that last birthday brought about a new frame of mind. Someone remind me of this when the next family wedding rolls around....

taylor

Veteran

Well, I applaude your idea of celebrating our "baby bodies" But this is the very reason I wear a one piece bathing suit...to cover up my streach marks from my own 2 beautiful babies...I just don't think I need to share that with others...Beautiful babies yes....beautiful tummy..well not mine:)

Nicole

Veteran

I see a big difference between wearing a one piece bathing suit and wearing a girdle. It's great to want to look your best, but it's important to not compare your body to unattainable standards and feel compelled to alter the natural shape of your body to meet those standards.

taylor

Veteran

They don't really make girdles anymore, shapewear is just to smooth out the pantylines and really just give a pretty, more streamline and smooth look to the overall outfit...I really don't think women are looking to change their shape...just improve the natural shape they have...If it makes them more confident and feel better about themselves why not...afterall isn't that what fashion is all about...feeling good about how you look in clothes.

Laura

(website)

Veteran

I have tried various pieces of shapewear and most of them give me indigestion!

Sorry ...

The sad reality is that losing five pounds is the best shapewear of all.

Now, if only I could shed that holiday over-indulgence weight!

Ellen

I think that shapewear like spanx can be helpful if it makes it possible to fit a garment which works in every area except the tummy. This has been the case for me.

That being said, I am never comfortable in the stuff. Also, I find it kind of pulls things oddly, to the point that I look like a stuffed sausage. Somehow, many type of shapewear just don't 'shape' well.

I did find a good 'torso tube' one to wear under a long black satin dress 5 months postpartum and it helped immensely with smoothing and helped me get into the dress (which fit everywhere but the tummy). Now I've lost it (the shapewear, not the tummy!) and can't find it... grrr!

Anonymous

The Spanx shorts gave me uni-butt when I wore it with dress pants which was very embarassing. My tummy was flat though. My experience has been that they aren't comfortable for everyday wear. I like the Spanx tank tops, but I don't really need them snce I am many years postpartem. I know others who do need them but say they roll up on their waist.

shiny

Veteran

I did not like the Spanx at all. I even thought they made me look worse, not better.

I attributed that to...

1) I'm only 5'0" - Spanx comes in only a handful of sizes so the XS that fits Tanya who's 8" taller than me is going to fit her a lot differently;

and

2) I'm not overweight at all... but I have the "mother's apron" - loose skin from childbirth 14 and 16 years ago. According to my doctor, no amount of weight loss will improve this; only surgery will. Which, I'm not about to have! I will only go so far for the sake of fashion and beauty... sorry!

I have tried numerous brands of shapewear (many still stashed away in storage somewhere - I probably should get rid of them) and haven't been happy with any of them. I also don't like that feeling of constriction. I get more self-concious, not less (which should be the point). I don't mind control-top pantyhose and a cami though - a little spandex is okay. Too much is too much, and tends simply to move lumps from one area ... to another.

Meanwhile, I've learned instead to choose carefully to camoflauge.

The sweater dress? It's not really that clingy... but, I have found that it looks a LOT better if I wear a simple VS negligee - basically a full slip - underneath. This acts to disguise lumps and bumps and give a smoother line. I have a very pretty one too... and I can even sleep in it so it does double duty.

anne

Veteran

Thanks everyone!
A few points of clarification
I think losing weight would help my waist measurement, and I am keen to lose it, but I don't think that is the issue. My Mum who was extremely skinny ( probably 20 pounds less than me and only an inch less in height) at my age still had this problem after 3 kids.

I don't have abdominal separation or even loose skin a la Shiny

It is the difference between holding my tummy in http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....c08141.jpg
and not http://i297.photobucket.com/al.....c08140.jpg

I wouldn't want shapewear for everyday. But on some occasions I could relax knowing that if I did forget to hold it in the shapewear would be doing it for me

Meantime I second what Shiny said about control top pantyhose and a cami - seem just as good

shiny

Veteran

Anne, if you don't have abdominal separation or loose skin, then don't give up hope! I agree losing weight may not solve this (you're already normal weight, IMO) BUT your kids are fairly young, aren't they? It may simply be that your body hasn't gotten back into shape yet. It can take a long time.

I'd highly recommend doing some yoga. One, it is very relaxing for a busy mom; two, it can be done at home with minimal investment and can be done with young children running around (they may want to join you!); and three, it is great all-over exercise for posture and also for improving your core muscles. Despite loose skin, it makes a noticable difference for me - when I keep up with it!

shana

Veteran

Anne, well I hear you about the post-baby body! We're both a year out from our deliveries, right?

I have tried some different shapewear. Spanx works great for smoothing under tight fitting clothing but can give you the stuffed sausage feeling/look. Control-wise, it really is not much better than control top panty-hose although they do have a version that comes up right up to your bust. Apparently, they have also fixed the uni-butt problem with a new version that is supposed to lift and separate. I have read great reviews about the Donna Karan shapewear but have not personally tried it. Apparently there is also something called - don't laugh - "Lipo in a box" that people swear by!! The worst part of all of this shapewear is that it just seems to push the bulges to some other part of your body so I don't really see the point. Lately, I have had some luck with just a cami with some lycra in it - too much lycra and my boobs get squished.

If you really want something to hold you in that tight, you will have to go for one of those old-fashioned corset type of things (with boning). I wore one under my wedding dress (recommended by the bridal store) and boy did that thing hold everything in! It was however, not that comfortable (how did people in the 18th century wear these contraptions) and you could probably swing it for wearing a dress for a few hours.

I agree with Shiny about the benefits of good posture and some yoga/pilates for core strength & training. Ultimately, this will make the most difference.

anne

Veteran

Hi Shana - yes - my baby has just had her first birthday - and she has started walking. Has yours yet?
I had a feeling that corsets might be the only real answer Shana - but I don't think I'd go there unless I was asked to be a bridesmaid, or was going to a ball (not a great possibility of either, at my age)

Nicole - I appreciate your point - just not sure I am there yet!

Shiny - yes I am not overweight (BMI is 21 point something) I'd like to be slimmer but I don't think this is a weight thing eg my Mum ( see above) One of my very good friends is extremely skinny, also a mother of three and I sometimes notice the same thing on her.
I am not really confortable with the idea of doing yoga, but I have done Pilates, and could do again. In fact I could probably do that at home with a DVD too.

Thanks for all your input everyone. Angie do you have anything to add? I know you have mentioned the yummy mummy cami tops, which look interesting, but aren't available to my in Australia.

anne

Veteran

Bumping this for Angie.

BTW Angie have you and Greg been keeping up with South Africa's success at Cricket against Australia in the Test series? I am (despite being Australia) completely uninterested in cricket, but my husband spent a good bit of our recent holiday in front of the TV watching it

shana

Veteran

Anne, yes my baby started walking the day before his first birthday. Now at a month later, he is really an expert walker (with the cute little toddle, of course)!

Becky

Veteran

Anne, I'll second the recommendation for Pilates...I have a DVD that I used to do twice or three times a week at home, and it really helped tone my abs. I need to get back on the wagon...

anne

Veteran

Thanks Becky, I'll look up a DVD.
Interestingly since I started this thread, I have been swimming everyday for about 1/2 hour while my daugther does her vacataion swimming class. My tummy has got flatter just in 3 days of doing it, I'm sure.