Heist The Highlight Shorts: Our go-to for slimming shapewear that's comfy too

It might sound obvious, but the best shapewear pieces are the ones you actually want to wear. Which is exactly how I feel about Heist The Highlight Short.

I’ve put them through their paces with real-life testing to check they’re not only comfortable to wear, but live up to their reviews and reputation too. 

I have trialled a wide range of shapewear, from all-in-one bodies through to high-waisted briefs, to find the very best shapewear on the market. In each review, I’ll be filling you in on how they look, how they feel and, most importantly, whether they’re worth spending your hard-earned money on.

VIEW NOW: Heist The Highlight Short

First impressions

While it’s not true of all brands, it’s the phrase ‘Jack of all trades, master of none’ that propels me towards more specialist labels when shopping for shapewear. 

Heist’s The Highlight Short impressed me as soon as I opened the packaging. The brown shade I trialled for this review is a leap in the right direction towards full inclusivity of shades, while the fabric feels durable enough to silence any fears of a wardrobe malfunction. 

The key to the design is the brand’s signature HeroPanels, which smooth, lift and sculpt your shape – but more on those later. 

How comfortable are Heist The Highlight Shorts?

Designed to hold and hone your figure, you’d expect to have to work to get into your shapewear. 

No exception to the rule, and proof that nothing worth having ever came easy, the Heist The Highlight Short took a fair amount of wiggling and tugging to get into place.

Once they were on, the shorts were instantly comfortable. The panelling held my tum firmly (but not tightly) in place, extending round to the back to lift and boost my bum.

They passed the standing, sitting and dancing tests – and I wasn’t desperate to take them off by the end of the day, either. For this reason, we'd recommend them as some of the best shapewear for your wedding dress. The sticky silicone line across the top of the waistband is a handy touch, helping to keep them in place and put a stop to rolling. 

At 5ft 4in tall, I’m on the cusp of petite clothing and the Heist The Highlight Short finished just above my belly button, offering plenty of coverage. If you’re taller, expect it to sit slightly lower. 

Shape and appearance

Everything you’d want from shapewear, the Heist The Highlight Shorts might not be super sexy, but look just like sleek cycling shorts.

The legs boast seamless, raw-cut edges to not only put a stop to pesky thigh bulge, but prevent the dreaded VPL, too. The result is nice, smooth lines that are virtually undetectable under dresses, skirts and trousers.

Available in black, brown and beige, there’s not a huge amount of choice when it comes to colour, but should be enough to suit most people. 

Unique features

The patented HeroPanels are designed, according to the website, to offer ‘strong, even compression where you want it’, cleverly placed to smooth your stomach, sculpt your thighs and lift your bum. 

Despite being crafted from a slightly more rigid fabric than the rest of the shorts, the panels are still pretty soft, so there’s no uncomfortable digging in to contend with. 

They won’t cause you to overheat, either. Proving that Heist really has thought of everything, the HeroPanels are peppered with an impressive 20,000 teeny-tiny laser perforations to help the skin beneath breathe – a touch you might not fully appreciate during the winter months, but will feel like a godsend at summer weddings and events. 

Washing instructions

We like a brand with realistic expectations and not all of us have the time (or the inclination) to hand wash our shapewear. For that reason, the Heist The Highlight Short can be popped in the machine on a cold, gentle wash, no warmer than 30°C.

Owing to the nature of the fabric, they’re not suitable for tumble drying, so for best results leave to dry flat. 

Value for money

At £65, Heist The Highlight Short is pushing towards the higher end of the shapewear price range, but it does have the added benefit of tackling three areas in one fell swoop. 

You can’t put a price on comfort, either, and these are worth every penny for a dig-free fit. The fabric is great quality and lasts well. 

Sizing

One of the most impressive things about Heist is their inclusive sizing (they go up to a 22) making them our go-to for the best plus-size shapewear. 

Shapewear needs to be form-fitting in order to work, but I did struggle to wiggle my way into the size above my usual clothing size. 

With that in mind, I’d recommend sizing up for a comfy, restriction-free fit. If you’re towards the higher end of the sizing chart, you may find that these come up too small for you.