What is shapewear?
Shapewear - also known as foundation garments or shaping underwear - is a kind of undergarment that not only provides coverage but also helps to smooth out your silhouette to provide a more flattering outline.
There are lots of different styles of shapewear available, from full bodies and all-in-ones to shaping bras and briefs, so there’s something for everyone. Some people use shapewear to feel more confident when dressing up for nights out and special occasions like weddings and parties, while others wear it more regularly for work and everyday use.
Can shapewear change your body shape?
The simple answer to this is no. Shapewear doesn’t permanently alter your physique in any way, but if you want something to help boost your confidence, shapewear can temporarily tweak your physical appearance.
To be clear on what we mean by this, shapewear can’t make you taller or thinner or anything like that. However, it can create a more svelte silhouette and allow your clothes to fit better - ideal for emboldening you to wear that special dress you’ve had your eye on!
Does shapewear work?
You could be forgiven for thinking that shapewear sounds too good to be true, but it’s a tried-and-tested type of underwear that has been gracing the shop shelves for many years now. Lots of women wear shapewear either occasionally or more regularly - it’s popular for a reason.
So how does shapewear actually work?
Well, shapewear is typically described as a compression garment, similar to sports bras. It works by gently supporting and compressing your curves into a smooth outline, avoiding lumps and bumps.
Although the term compression might call to mind garments like the old-fashioned whalebone corset, shapewear is a much more advanced, not to mention a comfortable, alternative. Shapewear isn’t designed to help you fit a size smaller, just to give you a confidence boost - so it shouldn’t feel restrictive.
It’s important to know that not all shapewear is made the same, and you can get different types of shapewear that provide varying levels of compression. This can range from light support to firmer contouring - and the right choice for you will depend on your personal requirements.
As well as the compression that helps shapewear to, well, shape you, it also has a range of features that are ideal for undergarments. Chief among these are seamless finishes and neutral colours - both of which help the garments to be undetectable beneath your clothing.
In fact, just wearing shapewear can help to avoid embarrassing wardrobe hitches like visible panty lines. Because shapewear tends to offer fuller coverage without seams, it blends into your skin much more easily to avoid these visible lines, making it the ideal type of undergarment for wearing with light colours or tight-fitting clothes - even if you don’t need shapewear for the compression.
Last but not least, shapewear is a great option to wear under that outfit that’s just a little too sheer - you know the one we mean! While traditional lingerie is stylish and comfortable to wear, sometimes you want something that preserves your modesty without being obvious to onlookers - and an item of shapewear that matches your skin tone is the perfect solution.
Once upon a time, shapewear was a source of discomfort, but advances in design and manufacturing mean that nowadays it’s a great option for many women to look and feel fantastic. Offering a well-earned confidence boost for many, shapewear empowers women to dress stylishly, whether you’re looking forward to a special occasion or just your everyday routine.