6 best shapewear styles that actually work - the before and after pics prove it!

With invites arriving for the summer season, it's time to think about special occasion outfits, and if you're considering silky fabrics that cling to your curves, you may want to opt for specially designed underwear that will give you a smooth line and streamline your silhouette. I've tried and tested the best shapewear that's engineered to sculpt your body without feeling restrictive and uncomfortable, providing a little extra support to boost your confidence.

Whatever your body type, the best shapewear will smooth your figure in a way that regular underwear can't, making it a game-changer for how your clothes look. Much like the best minimiser bras, shapewear has an unfair reputation for being rigid and painful. However, lingerie designers now focus on innovative new materials and cleverly constructed design details that work together to combine comfort with control. Shapewear in a modern wardrobe is all about celebrating and enhancing your shape, not minimising it.

Here are the six best shapewear pieces that are actually worth wearing, so you can shop with complete confidence.

The quick list: our top 6

Best shapewear: Tried and Tested

Selecting shapewear can be a very personal decision, as only you know what feels comfortable on your body. However, I have been a fashion stylist for over 20 years, and I'm also a trained bra fitter, and over time I have become an expert on dressing women of all ages, shapes and sizes and know what a difference great shapewear can make, both to the appearance of your clothes and the confidence it gives the women who wear it.

I would describe myself as a curvy size 12/14, and I wear a 32FF bra. I'm most conscious of my tummy area, and I appreciate the power of a genuinely good pair of tummy control knickers beneath a silk slip dress. The right shapewear pieces can transform how clothes hang and move. Using the knowledge I have gained from dressing hundreds of women, I tried all different types of shapewear from brands across the price spectrum to see how each performed when worn and what it would be best for. Whether you want shapewear that focuses on your stomach, thighs, bust, or just want a designed-to-be-invisible garment that can be worn with anything, there is something for you in this guide.

Best All-Over Control

This bias-cut, cream dress is very unforgiving, and when I wore it with my regular underwear, I could see all manner of lumps and bumps, and I felt very exposed. The seamless all-in-one bodysuit instantly provided a smooth and wrinkle-free foundation to the dress and was a great base layer.

The fabric is very stretchy, so it looks tiny when you take it out of the box, but with a little wriggling, it was quickly in place. Once, it felt like an invisible secret layer! Buttery soft, the matte fabric had firmer sections designed to lift your bottom and gathers at the bust to accommodate your boobs. Much like the most comfortable bras, it didn't provide a huge amount of bust support, but it could easily be worn over a seam-free bra if you felt the need. I was able to wear it all day without feeling any discomfort - you forget that you have it on. There's a handy opening at the gusset to make it easy when you need to go to the loo!

Verdict - A comfortable, all-over smoothing option at an affordable price.

• Back to the top ⤴

Best shaping shorts

Perfect for wearing under these cream satin trousers, the Heist shorts were invisible and created a smooth line compared with my regular knickers. It's hard to describe the power of these shorts - they firmly hold you in using strong, even compression, and I felt slimmer around the tummy area and more svelte when I was wearing them. I also think they gave my bum a little lift too!

There was no danger of them rolling down; the waist has a thin strip of bonding to ensure they won't slip, and the legs were hem-free to create an invisible finish. My tummy felt sucked in, without feeling constricted or pinched. Over time, I did feel slight discomfort around the waistband, but compared to other shorts with this level of compression, they were overall very comfortable.

Verdict - Super smoothing shorts that will slim your hips and thighs while lifting your bottom

• Back to the top ⤴

Best Seamless Body

Shapermint is a comfort-first, size-inclusive shapewear brand that recently launched in the UK, and it's one you need to know. This simple bodysuit claims to "combine loungewear comfort with targeted support", and I can confirm that it does exactly that - it's very comfortable to wear. This is entry-level shapewear. Having said that, I was seriously impressed with the excellent tummy-flattening compression and bust support that it provided. It's a good option if you are looking for extra support under the most stylish dresses to hide a tummy.

The straps are thin and adjustable, ideal for wearing under skimpy dresses, and it's available in a variety of colours so you can let it show under backless dresses too. It has a snap closure for easy access.

Verdict - If comfort is your priority, this bodysuit will deliver. Ideal for wearing every day for a smoother waist and flatter tummy.

• Back to the top ⤴

Best Wired Bodyshaper

Pour Moi is a lingerie retailer that regularly rates highly in our bra reviews. I rely on their Definitions Multiway strapless bra as a solution to tricky necklines. So when researching the best shapewear, I knew I would find a selection of styles to tackle different 'problems'. This tummy control bodyshaper has full-cup construction and is underwired, providing the ultimate support for women with larger busts. If, like me, you carry weight around your midriff and tummy, you will appreciate the smoothing central panel that firmly compresses the area. Adjustable straps and hook-and-eye fastening ensure it's a comfortable fit.

The silky, shiny fabric and lace details make this bodysuit a great choice for special occasions, unlike some of the other pieces tested, which are designed to appear invisible. The black version of this bodysuit would look great under a blazer as a glam alternative to a top.

Verdict - I felt contoured over the tummy area and fully supported at the bust when wearing this bodysuit. It's ideal under dresses made from slightly thicker fabrics.

• Back to the top ⤴

Best Control Knickers

What these knickers lack in glamour, they make up for in function and comfort. The seamless technology and bonded seams give a clean and smooth no-VPL finish. The high waist / low leg design provides ample bottom coverage, with areas of stronger support over the hips. Made with 44% elastane, these knickers are super stretchy, which makes them very comfortable and flexible.

These knickers will be a secret asset to your lingerie drawer; add the matching bra to complete the set.

Verdict - If you are looking for a pair of comfy knickers with tummy-smoothing benefits that disappear under clingy trousers, you can call off the search!

• Back to the top ⤴

Best Firm Control Slip

This lace trim slip is perfect for slipping under special occasion dresses or body-con skirts. The lightly padded, underwired cups provide all the benefits of my favourite T-shirt bra, with the addition of a smoothing slip to streamline under the bustline down to mid-thigh. The double-layer central panel gives the illusion of a slimmer silhouette while compressing the tummy for a sleeker look. This slip wasn't as comfortable to wear as the M&S all-in-one, but it definitely gave more bust support.

The removable straps are an added bonus, ideal for strapless, halter or one-shoulder dresses. I chose to wear this slip with a g-string to retain the smooth line under a satin dress, but you could wear any style for your own comfort.

Verdict - If you're looking for underwear that will support and enhance your bust while providing a streamlined finish under clingy fabrics, this slip is the perfect solution.

• Back to the top ⤴

One that just missed the list

How to choose the best shapewear

Deciding on the best shapewear styles will depend on the outfit you intend to wear and the areas of your body that you would like smooth and supported. You may decide to go for an all-in-one that provides full coverage or opt for control knickers that support a more targeted area. For example:

• Shaping shorts will streamline your hips and thighs, offering a smoother no-VPL finish under clingy trousers and skirts.
• Control body will sculpt and flatter your tummy while supporting your bust and creating an hourglass shape
• Control knickers will flatten your tummy and smooth over your bottom.
• An all-in-one body or slip will offer a clean line, flattering a tummy, sculpting your thighs, waist and bottom in the process.

Once you've worked out what item of shapewear you want, you can consider the level of control you desire. For clingier items, you may want firmer control, whereas for floatier or softer pieces, or for everyday use, you may choose to go with a lighter control just to give you a little added smoothness.

Lightest control: light control pieces tend to feel more like a gentle hug. Made of super stretchy Lycra, they'll gently smooth out tummies and thighs and offer gentle contouring of bums.

Firmest control: at the other end of the spectrum, firm or heavy control shapewear is made of weightier fabrics and often contains contouring panels. These offer the most uplift and shaping, but you're likely to notice you're wearing them, and they may feel less comfortable.

Tips for finding the right shapewear

• Get the right fit: Don't be tempted to size down in shapewear to get better results - that doesn't work! If your shapewear is too tight, it won’t make you look any slimmer or give you more control; it will just make you feel uncomfortable. Equally, if it's too loose, you will get wrinkling and less compression.
• Be realistic: We’ve all been there - that feeling of wanting to squeeze into a party dress we absolutely love, but it’s just too small. Shapewear isn’t the answer. Shapewear might be magic when it comes to giving you control and smoothing over lumps and bumps under silky fabrics, but it won’t help you drop a dress size.
• Consider what you’ll wear it with: There are different shapewear solutions for most items in your wardrobe, so consider where you want a little help. Is it to go under a pair of floaty trousers, or under a fitted shift dress?
• Try on at home before a special occasion: Don't leave it until the big day to try on your shapewear; it’s vital that you wear it beforehand around the home, so you feel as comfortable as possible. Wear with your underwear for at least 20 minutes to decide if it's the right solution, and if it isn't, return it.
  

FAQs

What fabric should you look for when buying shapewear?

Fabric is very important when buying shapewear. The best shapewear contours your shape and offers smoothing and lifting properties, moulding to your silhouette in the same way as the best leggings. Sometimes shapewear can be quite heavy, which, on warmer days, can be a recipe for disaster.

When shopping for the best shapewear, always look for breathable fabrics. The textile industry now has innovative and high-tech fabrics that offer both breathability and shaping, so you don't have to be uncomfortably hot in shapewear.

Shapewear is made from stretch fabric, but the designers know what size works for what shape. The temptation to size down in shapewear is a myth. Buy your regular size, as anything too small will dig in and actually have the opposite effect, cancelling out the very reason you bought shapewear in the first place.

Does shapewear work?

Depending on the kind you buy, shapewear will sculpt different areas of your body, which means that it is important to purchase the right piece of shapewear in the first place.

Shapewear isn't designed to change your size; it offers the ability to smooth out lumps and bumps, and particularly under more bodycon outfits, it creates a streamlined silhouette and can make your clothes hang better, and you feel more confident.

What is shapewear good for?

Offering a smooth finish under your clothes, think of shapewear as putting down good foundations. You wouldn't build a house without laying the groundwork. When constructing an outfit, you have to think about what's going underneath as much as the final piece of jewellery or shoes.

Shapewear is good for creating a smooth and polished finish. It will often help more tailored or bodycon pieces sit flatter on the body and can help give you that final lift and sculpt that helps you feel confident.

Shapewear is now available at all different price points, so how much you need to spend on the best shapewear is up to you. Specialist lingerie and shapewear brands will cost more, but often they have a lot of research and fit expertise at their disposal.