Shapewear. Do you wear it? Am I missing out on the great "solution"? - YouLookFab Forum

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Shapewear. Do you wear it? Am I missing out on the great "solution"?

Anonymous

Magazines, plus Beyonce , all tout the wearing of shapewear undergarments as the great solution to all body and silhouette woes. If I have read it once, I've read it a hundred times, but I've never worn Spanx, or any other piece of shape wear, and am now wondering if I'm missing out on the trick that makes everyone look like they are perfectly smooth and toned. I've bought the Jockey slip shorts (useless, I think they were too big and did nothing other than add another layer = gross) and some Spanx control type hose over the years (just can't be comfortable in them ) but have never really worn any of these types of things with intent. Are they part of your undergarment collection? How and with what do you wear them? What brand is comfortable? What does Beyonce and Kim K know that I don't.......when I have 20 years on either of them?

Dressing

54 replies

Latest reply was from jenny1963

Elizabeth P

Veteran

I have one Spanx "thing" that I got to go with a particularly body con dress, and have worn it a grand total of once. Sure, it made that dress work well, but the reality is that because of needing to wear it, the dress sits unloved. I've since discovered the dress is fine with a loose cardi instead. So I guess I prefer cover wear than under wear

So no, not an earth shaking solution in my book. Wearing it wasn't bad, but didn't strike me as something I want to do unless I really need to.

catgirl

Veteran

Nope. I just avoid clothes that require it. And don't let KK be your guide!

Jenn

(website)

Veteran

I used to own some. It just made me feel sausage-y. I get much more mileage out of choosing woven fabrics that provide structure without the squeeze.

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Ditto what Una said.

I tried Spanx once for a special event and couldn't wait to get that torture device off when I got home. However, I will note that I really dislike anything tight on me for comfort reasons so others may not feel the same level of discomfort. I personally felt like a sausage in it.

I do however like to wear a cami with a wee bit of support under certain blouses or dresses to help smooth things out. But they don't suck anything in, if you know what I mean.

Maneera

(website)

Veteran

Hahaha! Yes....if you like a sleek silhouette and are not always the biggest fan of waist surrendering, shape wear will be your friend. I wear them with ALL pencil dresses....even if I feel I don't need them while dressing. They smoothen out all lumps and bumps and I don't have to worry my tummy will bulge out like an ugly addition post a great dinner. Also, my underwear rarely stays in the same place. After walking and sitting and bending for few hours, the band may shift and create an unsightly bulge when I'm wearing dresses. That's why shape wear is a part of my lingerie collection.

I have a jockey pure cotton shape wear for smoothening the waist. It's shaped like a pair of bikini panties with a soft cotton tummy control panel that goes all the way up my waist (ends few inches above the belly button) and gives no panty line. I like it most for warm days since shape wear with shorts feel like too many layers. But I do have spanx shape wear with shorts that I wear when the weather isn't too warm. I like them for more fitted dresses as it also prevents thigh chaffing.

I only wear them under dresses.The right size should not feel like it's cutting off blood circulation or like you can't breathe in it. I buy a size that just sculpts and 'holds' you in....not push everything in and suffocate the life out of you. I've worn shape wear for years and never been uncomfortable, and I get uncomfortable with anything tight easily.

I recommend you try different brands and designs till you find one that works for you. Some people do prefer a bodysuit under their dresses, but briefs and shorts with tummy control work well enough for me.

Susie

Veteran

It's not for me. I will wear a cami to help give a bit of smoothness or some "briefs" that have a slight bit of tummy control but that's about it. First, I don't really care for body con clothes as a style. Second, for it to do much good it has to be tight and constricting and I refuse to be that uncomfortable.

viva

Veteran

I have a pair of high-waist spanx shorts that I wore under my anniversary dress last summer, but I actually think I would have been better off with a thong: not as held in, but much more comfortable. I really hate those things.

rachylou

Veteran

No. That stuff gives me stomach aches. Also, I note on the dress front - the slips have these bulky hems that make for a funny ridge under your clothes.

Isabel

Veteran

Funny, I threw a lightweight girdle and a spanx out over the weekend. I wore the girdle once and it was miserable.

I realized it was more my mother's dream than mine. : )

Diana

Veteran

Sometimes I think that shapewear would get rid of that pesky little tummy pooch and love handles that show when I wear certain clingy items... but then I remember that even a too-tight belt around my waist has been known to give me a panic attack. So yeah... not worth it. I mostly just try to not buy clingy things these days.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I tried a spanx slip a couple of years ago, but I was miserable at the party I wore it to. Not because it was super tight, but because it kept creeping up and trying to turn itself into an inner tube at my waist.

I'd like to find something that didn't necessarily suck in, but created a straighter line on the outside of hip and thigh.

Diana

Veteran

Ummlila, I have a couple of bandeau "slips" that are actually cheapo juniors' tube dresses. (Basically like a jersey tube, no shaping whatsoever). I wear them mostly under things where I need the coverage (like my unlined lace wrap dress) but they also have the added benefit of smoothing a little bit.

Mine are Tulle brand, but they are several years old and I don't think they are available any more. You might be able to find something similar at F21 or something.

ETA: This one is too long but gives you an idea of what to look for.

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Author Linda

Veteran

I agree with Susie: maybe a smoothing cami or a tiny bit of tummy control in briefs. I wear those with sheerer tops that skim my curves or skirts for a better tummy line. I have a shaping slip that I might wear with a dress. But that's about it.

I wore shapewear a lot when younger (and trimmer) and hated it. It always gave me visible lines on the thigh where the shapewear ended. I was always conscious that I was wearing it and, now that I look back, I don't think it helped my confidence because I kept checking to make sure no one could see any bulging. Or trying to find privacy so I could pull it down because it had crept up.

All I know for certain is I'm much happier without it. I just buy clothes that fit well on the body I have and don't worry about anything but having a fun time.

viva

Veteran

Adding: I bought a lighter-weight spanx-like pair of briefs to wear under the anniversary dress (white capelet Tibi dress) this summer at my college reunion, and they were just as bad. Lighter weight and lighter hold but they promised to keep in the jiggly bits. However, because they didn't have the iron hold, they kept rolling down from the top and I had to keep running into the loo to pull them up. Total pain in the rear.

Again, should have just worn a thong.

JAileen

Veteran

I used to wear control top pantyhose when I worked, and loved it. I seldom wear dresses anymore. I have a Spanx thing that someone said I needed for an evening event, but I don't remember wearing it. Things like that make me too hot.

At the end of David Letterman show Tina Fey was on and for some reason removed her dress. She was wearing some weird Spanx things.

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kkards

Veteran

I wear this (see find) most days....it's more smoothwear than shapewear. I like it for both the modesty (for semi sheer and/or lighter weight tops, vnecks, buttondowns etc) and the fact that it just makes knits smoother. I do have similar tanks in true spanx, but I find myself wearing them less and less.

Yummie By Heather Thomson 'Stephanie' Two Way Shaping Tank

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Thistle

Veteran

Nope. I bought a pair cause of the hype (which hurts me to admit based on my feelings regarding gender equality).

They are horriblevtorture devices to get the look you want, or they do nothing. I wore it once, couldn't wait to get it off. I actually took it off in the bathroom midday because it was so awful.

I either opt for more fluid pieces or deal with it being "smooth".

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I tried to wear the shaping shorts before (as I wear my lumps on my lower body) but they were not comfortable and kept riding up and down (arghhh!)

I think unless I need go for a very bodycon look ( which I never do) I don't need any extra shaping if the size is right anhd fabric is not too thin and clingy.
These things are not comfortable to me and I don't think the most beautiful bodycon dress will make me feel sexy when I feel in it as in a "Spanish boot" for my body. I need to be comfortable to feel fab!

Greyscale

Veteran

I can't even make myself wear regular control top tights - and it's hard to find any without control top! I absolutely hate the feeling of anything squeezing my abdomen or lungs. But I have friends who wear actual corsets even for strenuous activity (as performers in various fake-historical things) so obviously your mileage may vary.

This is also why I have a high-waist jeans fail this week - I sized up so much to avoid the squish that the jeans really aren't flattering at all. Oh well!

Anonymous

DESPISE it. The shorts grab me in sensitive places and I've tried a number of slip things but always had the same problem with rolling up that UmmLila describes. Plus they don't really make stuff disappear, just move it around so whatever I was trying to flatten or tame usually ends up splodging out in a different place.

I am however a fan of old fashioned full-length slips and use them all the time.

Robin

I did try on some Spanx shorts type things (not sure if there are diferent Spanx garments) and ultimately decided I didn't like them enough to buy and wear them.

I enjoyed the smooth feeling from under-bust to thigh, but didn't love it more than I love my body.

Waring them would make some shopping easier, I'm sure, but I just don't want to.

Anonymous

I would try them out!
I tried them on in the changeroom. I forget what for. They smoothed out the bum really nicely (kind of flattened it) but the abdomen didn't smooth out enough for me. It sort of pushed the fat on the sides forward (so it gave me hips! Yay!) but there was no flattening. But you know, how these work probably depends on your body shape.
I didn't feel constricted.
I could see them moving around though.
...for the Canadian winter, they might be a good base layer
, if nothing else

Rambling Ann

(website)

Veteran

I have the sausage casing type torture device, bought for an event, that makes me cringe to think about putting it on, worse than a wet swimsuit. But a Nordstrom SA talked me into buying a couple Yummie Tummie shorts that I like to wear under skirts and dresses. They aren't hot either, which is great since I mostly wear dresses in the summer. And they rescued a pair of overalls that had some weird thigh chafing issue.

Anonymous

Lisa and UmmLila, I have 2 very pretty 'dress liners' from Europe that are sort of a combo of regular slips and very light shape wear. They create a gorgeous line with no constructing but do have built-in bras that no longer fit me (size 34DD to 36D). PM me if you are interested and I'm happy to send details/pix and mail to you for free. I only wore them once or twice before my size changed.

Elizabeth P

Veteran

One thing to add... while I looked great in my dress with the Spanx contraption, as soon as I put panty hose on, THEY gave me a big indentation line around my middle (why do panyhose companies think you have an 18" waist?). So half the purpose (pantylines) was defeated.

Anonymous

I own one piece of shape wear. I must have bought it to wear under some garment some time ago. I don't wear it often, but I noticed I haven't purged it either.

SW Ann

Veteran

Like most of you, my experience with the Spanx was NOT GOOD. However, I went old school and tried some of my more form fitting dresses with silk slips and they smoothed out the "bumps" without any constriction. This may not work for everyone, but it works well for me. The trick is finding slips that are NOT shapewear, just simple old style slips. Yes it adds a layer, but I don't mind, since the dresses I wear them with a lightweight.
Probably the TMI front, but I really do need to smooth things, as I lost a huge amount of weight 30 years ago, and did not have any kind of surgery, so I have more lumpy-ness and bumpy-ness than many. However, the slip just makes the dresses kind of glide over it all.
I got my slips at a Hanes outlet, I think. Good luck!

Marilyn

Veteran

No torture devices for me. Comfort first! I wear Elita boy shorts under dresses and skirts that require a smooth finish or that cause regular undies to shift around. They are smooth, no VPL, and they are comfy.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Well, Beyoncé and KK have jobs that require them to look awesome (in a very vampy way) all the time, whereas us normal folks don't... I think shape wear works best for some body shapes and sizes and not so great for others.

Lisa, I suspect you didn't have the right size of the jockey slip shorts - theyre the only shape wear-like things I wear anymore and I like them underneath knit dresses and skirts that are a bit clingy, to avoid really bad VPL. But they aren't the most breathable things - they have a new wicking version which I haven't tried yet. So I only wear them for the odd special occasion, not all day long.

I also own the Spanx brand tights and wear them in the winter - they're opaque and long lasting. I don't think they're any more snug than other tights, though. I got rid of most of my more girdle-y shape wear a few years ago. I'm overweight - all the really tight stuff does is push my fat somewhere else on my body, not so attractive...

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