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Tips for buying shape wear anyone?

Anonymous

I think it's time to venture into the land of shape wear, and I have NO idea what I'm doing, what to look for, which brands to look at, how the d#$m things should fit, and if you indeed get what you pay for.

If I am going to wear any knit dresses at all this summer, I'm going to need something underneath to smooth over the extra I have accumulated on the very top of my hips, and on my stomach. Sorry to be gross.

I have a really nice Vince silky cotton blend knit black dress I want to be wearing - it's brand new and never got worn - and I do like to wear knit dresses in summer.

What works best for dresses? A body-suit type of thing? Spanx things that are cut-off at mid thigh? A 2-man bobsled outfit with a hood? (kidding).

Any of you who have successfully worn shape wear - share your thoughts, ideas, what works and what doesn't etc with me PLEASE! This things are not inexpensive and I don't want to make a costly mistake.

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47 replies

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Anonymous

I can't remember what they're called, but I like those thigh slimmers that resemble bicycle shorts. They are more comfortable, and they smooth me out without redistributing my weight and giving me a muffin top.

catgirl

Veteran

I can't take Spanx - which may be a result of my current medical issue and lack of room for internal organs already. I do wear the cheaper version from Target now and then. Don't injure yourself is my advice!

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Spanx are evil IMHO - they make me feel like a sausage and I find them very uncomfortable.

For spring and summer I wear a wee bicycle short with a higher waist from Naomi & Nicole that I buy from The Bay (on phone so can't link). They are comfy, have a cotton gusset, wash like a dream and are light and comfy.

Joy

Veteran

I like Spanx or Assets but only sized up. You don't want to be squeezed like a sausage, just smoothed out. I buy a medium or even a large when I wear size small undies, but I have flat hips and no waist. You may need to experiment, but I would advise sizing up at least a size from what the size chart tells you. I like the bike short style with a high waist to smooth over the midriff. If you get muffin top you are wearing the wrong size or wrong style.

kkards

Veteran

i like something that just holds my tummy and smooths it, not something that makes me feel like a stuff sausage. i wear this find almost everyday.
i really don't like spanx---I've tried a few different styles and always feel like the day can't end soon enough.

Yummie By Heather Thomson 'Stephanie' Two Way Shaping Tank

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Thin White Duchess

I have a couple pairs of the spanx that are like bicycle shorts. They can be very squeezy in the waist when sitting so I absolutely size up from the size chart on the package. The worst part though is that moment when either the waistband rolls down or a leg rolls up in one fell whoosh. Sizing up helps with waist rolling down and getting the longer length leg shorts helps with the leg rolling up.
The other thing I've had good luck with is skipping shareware but adding a slip in a slippy material under a dress. It seems to make the dress glide better over the lumpy curvy bits. There are shape wear slips, but I use a simple non-squeezy nylon one.

Kathleen

My advice is two-fold:

1. Bring the dress you think needs shape wear with when you do your shopping.

2. I like the least amount of compression that will give me a smooth line. I have a lightweight bike short one from Wacoal that is more comfortable than Spanx.

abc

Veteran

I size up. Sometimes way up.

I like biker shorts with light (if any) sucking power for summer.

For shape wear I like ones that start under the bra band and end in shorts a few inches above the knee. May be more than you're looking for but they give a nice smooth line.

I have had good luck finding shape wear at tjmaxx, rack, etc.

Echo

Veteran

The main issue is that not all straps, thigh lengths, etc. coordinate with every dress. The last time I went shopping for shapewear, I spoke with the women in the department and tried the dress on with them to be sure. A thigh shaper that stops midway or even just below the bust can leave a line or, worse, roll when you sit down. Another dress might not allow for tank straps like on the tank top shapers. So I'd advise you try on the things you want to wear with it. If you are wearing hosiery - less common in the summer - then a line across the middle doesn't matter as much. I also agree with sizing up if you are going for smoothing as opposed to military grade sucking in.

catgirl

Veteran

Camis rolling up or shorts rolling down is the bane of my existence... A full slip style would resolve this issue.

Anonymous

Hmmm. Lots of good tips here. Thanks , friends! Even Beyonce wears Spanx, oh, and Blake Lively too (see shocking pic at recent State Dinner) so this must work. I am a tad worried about the waistband creating a roll around my waist, so looking for the right-under-the-bra short sounds like a good idea.

Shannon - i'm going to check out this brand you've recommended. Not familiar with it! The last time I tried something like this, I bought the Jockey Slip short - for smoothness really, and because it seemed a little obscene to be wearing my usual underwear under a summer dress . They provided zero shaping though. But that was then, and this is now - grrr.

Muffin

Veteran

Good advice to bring the dresses with you and then you can determine exactly what pieces and how much shaping you want. I am pear shaped so I have the bicycle short styles- mostly Spanx. But for summer I will do a slip (Commando-expensive but tends to give more smoothing-& I've had it for years) or Skimmies by Jockey. Skimmies are not compression but can give just enough so they're comfortable for long periods at a time. I haven't ever tried the full bodysuit types- I think I'd probably look for a different outfit at that point. One other thing to be aware of is fabric choice- make sure the fabrics glide over one another, some cling and it's really annoying. Good luck!

Lucy

Veteran

I like knit dresses too, and I mainly wear a shapewear slip dress under them. No bunching around the middle that way. Some come with built in bras, others do not. As with others I def size up! I just want a bit of smoothing out, not to be Oscar worthy. I don't find them at all uncomfortable if sized up.

Anonymous

I size up, too. Some of my dresses are lined, which is really nice

Anonymous

Rolling is the worst thing ever. Since I have quite a hourglassish body (I know, you'd never guess - lol) camis feel free to ride up and roll up and slips twist around, bike shorts roll up my thighs and the whole process makes me want to cry. Which I'm about to do now , now that I'm talking about this.

I'm wondering if the full-slip style is not a bad idea too . The dresses I wear are just sleeveless or cap sleeve knit easy throw-on dresses - so straps showing are of no concern.

Anne-Marie

I, like some others, find that under the bra shorts roll down and camis roll up, and I need the coverage and figure boost of a padded bra. So I like the slip styles that you can wear with your own bras. The one I have incorporates high-cut undies underneath for another layer of smoothing. I don't size up, though, and wear the things to whittle an inch or two from my waist and hips. Which they do quite effectively!

Anonymous

But you can't try these things on in a store, can you??

Aida

Veteran

I like full slips in slippery materials, no compression or anything fancy, coupled with a cami if more coverage is needed. That'll usually make the whole thing skim over any bumps. But then I don't really wear body-con nor even fitted things all that often, so perhaps it might not work as well with a more fitted knit dress? Tights ruin dress lines for me more than anything!

Aquamarine

Veteran

I'm having hot flashes just reading this thread.

Muffin

Veteran

I've been able to at Nordstrom with my own undergarments on underneath, much like trying a swimsuit. After reading responses I'm going to try one of the slip dress types but those I worry about riding up.
Just checked the Spanx shorts I like a lot- it's the Hide & Sleek line (I did not size up).

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

By the way, the bike shorts I recommended have a small bead of silicone at the top of the waist and the bottom of each leg - this keeps anything from rolling down and creeping up. Nothing moves. I'm on my 3rd pair of these over the last few years - that's how much I like these.

Anne-Marie

Lisap, you can try them on, yes. I've always been able to -- over my undergarments of course.

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I bought a Spanx slip once to wear under a dress to a semi formal event. It was a disaster -- rolled its way up my legs toward my waist like a pinchy inner tube.

Gaylene

Veteran

It would have to be a pretty important event, full of photographers, for me to wear Spanx in the summer. I've tossed all of mine, usually after a single wearing, because I hate the tugging and adjusting--to say nothing of the feeling of being held hostage by my clothes. Looking hot and uncomfortable isn't my best look, so I'll stick to clothing which fits without serious spandex intervention.

On a funnier note, my worst dressing room experience was getting tangled up in a Spanx bodysuit with siliconed edges. That garment refused to budge as I twisted and turned trying to get it off me. The more I struggled, the hotter and sweatier I became, which, obviously, didn't help matters. If I had had a pair of scissors, I'd have cut the dang thing into bits, handed over $200, and fled the store.

JAileen

Veteran

My summer has regular 100 degree temps. There's no way I would wear Spanx on a regular basis. Maybe for a wedding, but only if I were a member of the wedding party. I think wearing Spanx on a regular basis is counter to the spirit of a summer dress. I mean, why bother?

rabbit

Veteran

I have two pairs of Spanx, and never wear them, they are so evil. I got them to be a maid of honor and almost passed out during the ceremony. I wear the bicycle short type of shapewear that are Maidenform flexees. They are lightweight, not uncomfortable, not noticeably hot, and they work under wrap dresses and summer cotton or knit dresses with thin material that stretches.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I can't stand Spanx. I had a pair that I wore a couple of times. I second Muffin's endorsement of Commando slips. They are not shapewear, but I always wear a full one when I wear a dress. They are so comfy. The edges are laser cut, so they add no lines under a dress, and they have a little chain sewn into the side seam to keep the slip from riding up. You may not need any more smoothing than what they provide. I get them at Nordstrom, and you would be able to try it on there.

The first Find below is the one I have (I have both nude and black), and the second Find is one that is actually shapewear, which I haven't tried.

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Two-Faced Tech Control Slip

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Anonymous

Aida - I am considerably heavier than you, and unfortunately, even unfitted knits now show things that are there regardless of fit. I never wear body con dresses either, or even fitted ones for that matter, but a basic loose fit t shirt type dress made of decently drapey fabric will sit on a tummy or a high hip and highlight every extra ounce of fat on those parts.

I suppose maybe I just have to eliminate these things from my wardrobe now, and many of you are dead right and have a good point: why bother? who wants to wear them (shape wear) anyways? and if the doesn't doesn't look good enough without underarmour (ha) then one shouldn't be wearing it. Guess I was hoping to still be able to wear those kinds of dresses.

Gaylene - that happened to me once with a swim suit. I though I was going to have to wear it out of the store under my clothes. Sigh.

Anonymous

Sharan - thank you ! These seem sensible . I'll try to source some out - like this idea and have my fingers crossed that they will smooth out enough of me !

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