The best shapewear pieces of all time - hardworking heroes that smooth, lift and sculpt

The best shapewear pieces are an upgrade on your regular underwear. Instead of just sitting pretty, they work hard beneath clothing to smooth and streamline your shape. 

Done well, shapewear has the power to transform a mediocre outfit into a great one - much like the best bras. It'll hone and lift your figure quicker than you can say, “Spanx” – no sweaty HIIT classes required. Unfortunately, shapewear is not without its pitfalls. Niggling hardware, restrictive panelling and rigid fabrics can make for a wholly uncomfortable experience – so much so, we wouldn’t blame you if you’d turned your back on the smoothing stuff long ago.

Luckily for us, the latest additions to the market, and the pieces that have stood the test of time, are the perfect mix of fashion and functionality. They’ll not only flatter your figure but are comfortable to wear, too.

How to choose the best shapewear 

The best shapewear styles are self-explanatory in that they’re designed to slim the area they’re covering. For example:

• Shaping shorts will streamline your thighs
• High-waisted shorts and briefs will sculpt your tum
• An all-in-one body or slinky slip will cover all your niggling body bugbears in one fell swoop 

Once you've identified the right style, it’s time to consider the fit. This is nice and easy to navigate, as most brands grade their shapewear from lightest through to firmest.

Lighter pieces tend to be crafted from super-stretchy Lycra and feel like a gentle hug. At the more extreme end of the shapewear spectrum, you can expect sturdier fabrics and plenty of contouring panels. The body-sculpting reward will be more noticeable the firmer you go, but remember, this will impact the comfort level, too.

The fit of your shapewear should be firm enough for you to feel the benefits, but if you find yourself aching to take it off after just five minutes, then it’s not right for you. As for sizing down? That’s a real no-no. It’s a common misconception that the smaller your shapewear, the slimmer you’ll look, but it can actually make you look larger by creating strange bulges around the seams.

Fabric is important too. By its very nature, shapewear is extremely form-fitting. Combine that with thick, heavy fabrics and you've potentially got yourself a recipe for disaster on warmer days. To avoid a sticky, sweaty situation, look for breathable, lightweight fabrics that’ll keep you cool whatever the forecast. 

The best shapewear you can buy now

The Spanx Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low Back Mid Thigh Bodysuit is a full-length body with a built-in bra and thigh-honing shorts – this is serious shapewear, but thanks to the lightweight, super-stretchy material, it offers full flexibility of movement.

An investment buy that will quickly earn its keep in your wardrobe, the Spanx Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low Back Mid Thigh Bodysuit boasts tummy-toning hold, thigh-sculpting shorts and a built-in bra. Not to mention multiway straps that can be worn in an impressive five different ways, as well as the option to go backless.

Spanx categorises this bodysuit as a mid-range ‘level 2’ in terms of hold, which can be likened to the feel of a ‘firm hug’. What’s more, because it relies on the soft, stretchy fabric to sculpt your shape, there are no niggling contour panels to contend with, making it comfortable enough for all-day wear.

See our full Spanx Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low Back Mid Thigh Bodysuit review

The beauty of the Wolford Tulle Forming Body comes from its simplicity. Crafted from a semi-sheer tulle and edged with a luxe velvet trim, it’s free from strap adjusters or fastenings. 

Perfect for anyone who finds the sizing tricky to master when it comes to bodysuits with built-in bras, the scoop neckline makes room for you to wear your own bra beneath. The straps are wide enough to hide your bra straps, too, for a nice, neat finish. 

Designed to provide light hold, this body won’t make your figure look dramatically different, but it will compress your shape and smooth out any lumps and bumps. Wear yours beneath silky evening dresses or high-waisted jeans for a guaranteed confidence boost. 

See our full Wolford Tulle Forming Body review

One of the worst side effects of wearing a dress in warmer weather is the dreaded thigh chafe. Enter the M&S Anti-chafing Thigh Slimmer, designed to solve that very problem. 

Crafted from a super-stretchy elastane blend, it won’t significantly alter your appearance, but will smooth and hone your thighs for a really flattering silhouette. Thanks to the lack of side seams, VPL isn’t a problem either, meaning these shorts will sit undetected beneath even form-fitting outfits.

Marks & Spencer’s patented Cool Comfort technology is the cherry on top, using lightweight fabrics and unique cooling technology to let skin breathe. 

If you’re new to shapewear and you want to smooth and flatten your stomach then the Pour Moi Definitions High Waist Shaping Brief is the perfect place to start.

The fit is firm, but certainly not restrictive, giving you a glimpse into what shapewear can do for your figure. The lightweight fabric, teamed with the fact that the contouring panels are only on the front of the briefs, makes for a comfortable fit you can enjoy all day long. In fact, because of how comfy they are we rate these briefs as one of the best plus size shapewear pieces you can buy. 

Complete with a super-high waist, tuck yours into your bra to mimic the effects of an all-in-one bodysuit. 

See our full Pour Moi Definitions High Waist Shaping Brief review 

If you’ve found yourself frustrated in the past by the lack of inclusive nude shades available, allow us to introduce you to Heist. Understanding that one-size-fits-all beige does in fact not fit all, their Highlight Shaping Shorts come in two different nudes – a leap in the right direction. 

The real magic of Heist’s The Highlight Short comes in the form of their patented HeroPanels, cleverly positioned to smooth your stomach, sculpt your thighs and lift your bum. Designed to offer firm compression where needed, they’re not restrictive, nor will they cause you to overheat. In fact, they’ve been peppered with an impressive 20,000 laser perforations to let the skin beneath breathe – a thoughtful touch that really comes into its own in warmer weather.

See our full Heist The Highlight Short review

Shapewear is normally concerned with minimising your frame, rather than enhancing it, but these clever shorts manage to do both. Compression panelling across the stomach smooths away lumps and bumps, while removable padding at the back creates a bigger, perkier posterior. A better bum without having to do a single squat? Consider us sold.

A surprising, but not unhelpful bonus? If you’d previously found sitting down for long periods of time a painful experience, the added padding will instantly alleviate the problem. 

If you did want to take the padding out, ruched detailing and cleverly placed seams will still help boost your behind, just with slightly less impact. Silicone edging along the legs keeps these shorts perfectly in place, preventing them from riding up when you’re out and about.

Featuring a built-in bra, soft silky fabric and peek-a-boo mesh panelling, the Triumph True Shape Sensation Bodysuit makes shapewear sexy. 

If you’re looking for something to smooth and shape your frame, which you won’t be itching to take off by 9pm, this is the bodysuit for you. Creating nice, clean lines beneath clothes, it’s easily camouflaged under even the slinkiest, most form-fitting of dresses. 

Swerving the niggling problem of a digging back band, it’s far more comfortable than wearing a body with a separate bra. The only downside is that as the sizing works by bra, as opposed to dress size, it won’t work for all body shapes. 

See our full Triumph True Shape Sensation Bodysuit review

Shapewear for people who hate the restrictive feel of traditional shapewear, this soft slip has just enough hold to hone your shape without any tell-tale rolling.

Finishing just above the knee, this versatile piece can be layered under mini, midi or maxi dresses. The top half isn’t padded or underwired, so while those with smaller boobs could get away without wearing a bra, it doesn’t offer support for bigger busts. The good news, though, is that the lightweight fabric is stretchy enough to accommodate adding a strapless bra beneath.

Raw-cut edges and minimal seams silence any worries of VPL. 

The Maidenform Waistnipper is an iconic part of the brand’s shapewear family. Soft and smooth with an easy hook-and-eye front, it doesn’t feel too restrictive, as waist trainers often can. We promise you’ll last all day in this surprisingly comfy piece of shapewear, rather than feeling like you’ve been poured into a corset. 

This piece is perfect for creating natural curves, nipping in the waist that little bit more, with panels up the front and back to keep the shape. Its main plus is minimising hip bulge, for a smoother silhouette. 

We suggest starting at the bottom with the hook and eyes when putting on the waistnipper. You can opt for your own bra to complete the look.