Just my humble opinion of course...Try one piece of shapewear before you rule out all those items.

I haven't worn my Spanx since 2008. I can't even fathom putting any of that kind of thing on my body in the summer.

Lisa, those knits sit on my tummy and hips too, that's kinda their thing The silky slips help make jersey knits glide over, because they sit on the slip instead of on me. I was all set to toss my jersey knit dresses before trying a slip and it does make a difference. Not all of them can be saved, but if the knit is decent a slip will do the job. I don't know if it'll be as much as you're going for but it would certainly be lighter/cooler than actual shapewear. I will say that I like my slips to be more substantial in fabrication though. A flimsy little thing won't do enough.

I would do a vigorous up-down-up-down squatting session in the changeroom.
It's possible the shapewear will make you feel fab, and increase your outfit options, so I'm with ABC: Try it and see!

I own two pieces of shapewear - but mostly default to one.

I have a body suit with a built in bra which I rarely wear.

I have a pair of bike shorts where the waist goes up to the bra line. I would wear these once every couple of months. Great smoothing with knit body con dresses. I find it comfortable enough - it is Nancy Ganz brand which I think is British.

I also wear bodysuits and silky cami's and a slip on other occasions. My hip is my main area of concern.

The big trouble with lingerie shape wear is that it doesn't work well enough in fit, or breathe adequately in hot weather. Just when you want a bit of coverage beneath a summer dress, it gets sweaty and twists around, up and is generally a mess to untangle or smooth down.

If I'm wearing a denim, chambray or dark dress, I pull on a pair of Nike Pro bike shorts (wicking, with a non-roll waistband although lurid colors) or one of Stella McCartney's bike shorts made for tennis (more femme colors than Nike, including a decent peach nude). For an expensive option, try Free People Victorian bike shorts, they're lacy-femme and ultra comfortable, but hard to find. With all of these options, I'm decently covered for sitting down, no thigh rub or roll-ups, and the waistband is flat and doesn't show. The Nike Pro shorts aren't sexy by any standards (yet they work really well) but the Stella and Free People bike shorts are fun, flirty and very comfortable.

I think someone could come up with a wicking, smooth bike short in cute colors and solve a huge summer problem!

Janet - I know what you mean. I bought an actual Spanx branded bike-shortish thing many years ago for some occasion or another, and swore I'd never do it again. I'm not looking for Kim Kardashian -strength lose-two-sizes underwear , but rather something I can now make part of my wardrobe that will make clothes hang better on me. I won't wear it either if it's super uncomfortable. I just need something to take the edges off, per se.

Thanks all for your thoughts - all good, all useful, and all sensible, funny and real. I need to stop talking about this - it's triggering my diving down into a pit of self-loathing and I should have known better than to start this. That said, I'm off tomorrow to Hudson Bay to check out Commando and Naomi & Nicole !

SandyG - excellent solution . Thank you. And Sally - Nancy Ganz is sold here too - another good idea, thanks. I'm glad to hear that there are others here wearing shape wear !

Another vote for sizing up! The only piece I've sized down for is a slimming cami by Soma. Love this piece! It's longer than most camis, and stays put. This piece is not really shape wear, but more of a general "smoother," and very breathable.

I also love Jockey slipshorts. Again these aren't more about smoothing by adding another layer, rather than compression. I sometimes size down in these, too.

I have two full slips from the Gap that are really good for skimming, as Aida said. They aren't right and don't shape me but they do push any clingy dress fabric a bit away from my lumpy bits. Like you, I don't do bodycon so it's really just to keep a smooth fabric line.

There are different fabrications for spanx (and I have tried many brands - they are worth the $). I found jockey to roll too much and are way too thick for comfort. The spanx thinstincts are not like what most are describing here and if you have the appropriate size they can smooth without constricting. I have an older version of the full slip that I wear with most dresses.
It's not letting me collect, but this one http://www.lordandtaylor.com/w.....lip---1818

If you get the bike shorts style of shapewear be sure to try the dresses on sitting down!!! Very important as dresses tend to ride up a bit on the leg when you sit and the shapewhere will peek out the bottom...even if it is skin toned it will show.

I agree in the bike shorts. Although I've never had an issue with spanx riding up, etc, they are terribly uncomfortable especially in the heat and will more than cancel out any comfort and ease you get from a tee shirt dress! Just using the washroom can be an ordeal. I also find Spanx can create new bumps in new places and I'm unwilling to go to a full body armour style I started wearing some "bike" shorts I had around
(just black exercise shorts by Danskin I believe) for comfort in Toronto muggy summers (my thighs rub), but quickly realized they also provide smoothing and definitely made some outfits easier to wear. Personally I suggest black, because if they do inadvertently show, they don't look like underwear.

I never thought about sizing up on these items....great idea, glad I read this thread! Like Aida, I have good luck with a full slip in many cases.

I was channel surfing the other day and watched the first episode of this season of "Girls" ( a show I do not like, by the way) and the Allison Williams character was getting married. She walked around for most of the show in a spanx-like item that went to just under her bra. I was surprised that a person that thin (and young!) would have on such an item. So there you go!

I would go with Aida and Una's suggestion and try a slip - if that doesn't work, I'm not sure I'd bother.

In my experience, the shaping garment needs to extend past the area I want to smooth to avoid ruts and rolling. The camisoles roll on me and leave ruts in my hips that are visible under the clothes, the bike shorts do the same to my thighs, which defeats the purpose. But, it's been a long while since I've jumped into my Spanx because for me, they are for special occasion wear and I have tried to avoid garments that would require them.

In the colder weather I just wear the Donna Karan control top hose that extend up to almost my bra. In summer, I really like Aida's idea about a slip, it makes the most sense to me and I might try it myself. For modesty reasons, I tried the Jockey Skimmies in the summer under skirts and dresses. I really like them and wear them with every skirt and dress in the summer. They are not shape wear and don't dig in anywhere. The material is stretchy but the fabric glide over them. I find them very comfortable.

Overall, I think my best results are when I just try to smooth things out a bit and not go down a size or two. And definitely try them on, it's just like trying swimwear.

You might find this post helpful:

http://youlookfab.com/2013/02/.....shapewear/

The shape wear you choose depends entirely on how much "smoothness" you want to achieve.

Don't buy shape wear too small either, as that will actually create muffin top and bulges (ironically). These styles are winners:

Thank you , all .