Shapewear for Beginners 2024 Ultimate Guide
Posted by ZHANG CARL
No matter what size you are, investing in good shapewear is a great way to look your best and feel confident at important events. Shapewear smooths out any bumps or bulges under your clothing, leaving you with a sleek, streamlined look.
Venturing into the world of shapewear may feel intimidating, but our simple shapewear for beginners 2024 ultimate guide will help you select the perfect shapewear for your body.
1. What Is Shapewear?
Shapewear is an undergarment that makes you look slim beneath your clothes. Shapewear can come in many different forms, including:
- High-waisted panties
- Bodysuits
- Bike shorts
- Fitted slips
- Sculpting bras
- Shaping tights
- Camisoles
- Tank tops
- Corsets
- Leggings
You have plenty of options to choose from when selecting your shapewear! The correct choice for you comes down to your body type, the outfit you plan on wearing, and what feels the most comfortable.
Shapewear is made of tight, thick, and stretchy fabric that smooths out the skin and hides any bumps or bulges that may show under your clothes.
It is usually made of spandex and nylon. So what does shapewear do? It uses compression to move or press fat into strategic places on your body to achieve a slimmer look.
2. Where to Buy Shapewear?
Most large retailers sell shapewear. You can pick up body shapers, waist cinchers, Spanx, and more at the following popular stores:
- Buukkk
- Walmart
- Kohls
- Target
- JCPenney
- Macy’s
With these, you can find some classic and common shapewear brands such as Spanx, Hanes, and Maidenform.
Shapewear has had a trendy resurgence in 2024. The following brands have taken the shapewear world by storm lately and are certainly worth checking out.
SKIMS
When you hear the word “shapewear,” Kim Kardashian’s SKIMS is probably the first brand that comes to mind. SKIMS is praised in the media for providing inclusive options for all body types and is known for its simple designs and neutral color palette.
SKIMS also sells more than just shapewear. They also offer loungewear, including pajamas, robes, hoodies, and leggings.
Bestsellers include their racerback bralette, cotton boy short slimming panties, sculpting bodysuit, and core control thong. Check out all their bestsellers here.
Yitty
Yitty may be a new brand, but its fun patterns and colors have created a buzz online. Like SKIMS, Yitty is an extremely body-positive brand and embraces all shapes and sizes as ambassadors, models, and audiences.
Yitty is a branch off of legging and athleisure tycoon Fabletics. Much like Fabletics' business model, Yitty offers a VIP subscription service that offers special discount offers for members.
Also similar to Fabletics, Yitty offers a customized quiz for users to narrow down their options and find pieces that will be a perfect fit for their needs and vision for shapewear.
Nearly Naked is Yitty’s best selling line, with options such as:
- A high waist thong
- A thong bodysuit
- A high waist brief
- A midi bra
Savage X Fenty
Rihanna’s lingerie brand Savage X Fenty has been beloved for many years now, and their shapewear is no exception. Like the other trending brands mentioned, Savage X Fenty built their brand around inclusivity and feeling good in your skin.
Savage X Fenty’s brand is unique because the shapewear pieces are designed to be worn as both lingerie and shapewear. That makes each piece of Savage X Fenty’s shapewear beautifully detailed and alluring.
Savage X Fenty falls between Yitty and SKIMS for pricing. Like Yitty, they offer a VIP member service that provides discounts and deals for members. Shapewear is significantly more expensive if you are not a Savage X Fenty member.
Savage X Fenty’s best selling shapewear pieces include:
Honeylove
Honeylove has created quite a buzz with their shapewear. This revolutionary shapewear offers the following benefits:
- Posture support
- Targeted compression
- BoostBands
- Sturdy waistline
- Flexible boning
- Zoned compression
The BoostBands are patented by Honeylove to shape and lift the bottom, and all their shapewear is comfortable and breathable. Their bestselling pieces include:
- The SuperPower Short
- The LiftWear Cami
- The CrossOver Bra
- The EverReady Pant
- The Boldness Tank
- The Boldness Bodysuit
3. Does Shapewear Actually Work?
When worn correctly, shapewear works to create the illusion of a sleek, flawless silhouette. Figuring out how and when to wear the various versions of shapewear can be tricky, but we’ve broken it down into an easy guide:
Everyday Shapewear
If you are looking to smooth out your shape daily, you should pick out light-control shapewear. Lightweight shapewear is comfortable enough to wear every day but still makes your shape look more polished and smooth. Examples of everyday shapewear include:
- High-waisted underwear
- A fitted bodysuit
- A smoothing camisole
These options are enough to smooth your tummy and snatch your waist without causing discomfort. They can be easily worn under jeans, T-shirts, and other casual options.
Event Shapewear
Event shapewear offers more support than light control but still allows you to breathe freely. Its sculpting factors will show off your curves in the right places, making it perfect for date night, important work meetings, and nights out with friends. Some good options for medium shapewear include:
- A forming dress
- High-rise shaping shorts
- Shaping tights
These go great with skirt suits, casual dresses, and slacks.
Special Occasion Shapewear
Special occasion shapewear is the piece you reserve for big events like weddings. These will not be as comfortable to wear, but they will give you the most slimming effect. When shopping for special occasion shapewear, some good choices include:
- Corsets
- Full bodysuit with shorts
4. What Is the Best Shapewear?
Deciding which is the best shapewear requires research as there is no one-size-fits-all that will work best for everyone. After all, Skims might be perfect for you, whereas Savage X Fenty could be more suitable for your friend.
5. Can I Wear Shapewear While Pregnant?
Absolutely! There is no established medical reason why you cannot wear shapewear. However, it is wise to avoid wearing waist trainers or a corset.
6. Which Material Shapewear Is Best?
Spandex or nylon are often the best shape-retaining materials as they are super stretchy while being elastic enough to cinch where you want.
7. What Size Shapewear Do I Need?
To determine this, you will want to use a tape around your body that measures your low, waist, hips, and hi-waist. Once you have an idea, choose shapewear that targets any area you want to focus on. For instance, if your stomach is greater than your hips, consider a waist slimmer.
8. What Is the Best Shapewear for Tummy Control?
Buukkk is a shapewear mainstay, and they are the best options for tummy control. Their products are routinely praised for smoothing out rolls while still being comfortable.
9. Do You Wear Underwear With Shapewear?
You do not need to wear underwear with shapewear. However, it may be prudent to do so to avoid infection or discomfort.
10. Does Shapewear Help You Lose Weight?
Wouldn’t it be nice if putting on a piece of clothing could help you lose weight? We would not need to log all those hours in the gym and count calories! Unfortunately, wearing shapewear does not make you lose weight. All shapewear does is compress your body to look temporarily thinner.
11. Does Shapewear Reduce Belly Fat?
Likewise, shapewear does not reduce belly fat. It is simply designed to displace and hide it.
12. Can Shapewear Reshape Your Body Permanently?
Another common misconception is that shapewear can permanently reshape your body. While waist trainers exist, there is a lot of debate about whether they have any long-term effects on your body. Standard shapewear does not change your body shape.
13. How to Wear Shapewear?
Best practice is to step into your shapewear and never treat it as a standard piece of clothing. That means taking your time rather than it rushing like you would a pair of jeans. Similarly, avoid wearing shapewear if you’ve come out of the shower or your skin is recently moisturized.
14. How to Choose Shapewear?
To select the proper shapewear, you will need to ask yourself the following questions:
What Areas of Your Body Are You Focused on Shaping?
If you are most concerned with your stomach area, you will probably want a corset, waist snatcher, or bodysuit to suck in your stomach and create an hourglass shape with your waist.
However, if you are looking to accentuate the breast area or create cleavage, look for a piece with push-up cups.
Should your biggest concern is your legs or backside, compression bike shorts can create the illusion of shapely thighs and a round backside. You could take it a step further and buy shapewear with padding in the backside to project a much curvier derriere.
While shapewear for arms is less common than in other areas such as legs and waistline, many brands offer shapewear for arms. These include form-fitting tops that you can wear under a long sleeve shirt to sculpt your arms beneath your clothes.
Do You Have a Specific Outfit in Mind for the Shapewear?
When choosing shapewear, consider what you plan on wearing. For instance, if you expect to don a dress, a bodysuit or shaping slip will be your best option for overall shaping.
If you wear a skirt, a bodysuit would also work (but if you do not want to commit to a full bodysuit), you could opt for a pair of shaping tights instead. High-waisted shorts are another great choice.
For a simple outfit of pants and a shirt, you have a couple of options. You could commit to the full-body suit, or simply put on a shaping tank top under your shirt. High-waisted panties would work as well if you plan on tucking your shirt into your pants.
As mentioned in the Savage X Fenty section, if you want shapewear that doubles as lingerie, corsets are a fantastic option. Other brands that make waist trainers that double as cute corsets include Spanx, Adore Me, and Orchard Corset.
What Is the Climate Where You Live?
As mentioned above, shapewear is typically made of nylon and spandex. While these materials are great at sucking in fat, they can often make the wearer hot, especially in hot climates.
If you live somewhere that is typically humid or attending an event in the summer, you may want shapewear made at least partially out of cotton for breathability and to keep you cool.
Lots of brands prevent sweating and overheating, such as:
15. How Do I Stop My Shapewear From Rolling Up My Thighs and Down My Stomach?
First and foremost, make sure to choose the right size for you. Likewise, look for shapewear that has a grip strip designed to keep it in place. If the problem persists, you may need shapewear that comes with straps, but that will mean you won’t be able to wear clothes that expose the shoulders.
16. Can Shapewear Cause Health Problems?
Shapewear does come with potential health risks, especially if they are super-tight. In particular, it could lead to nerve compression, varicose veins, acid reflux, bloating or gas, and even give you a UTI.
17. Can Shapewear Help With Back Pain?
Conversely, shapewear can potentially relieve back pain as they engage your body’s core and help with alignment. That can improve your posture and take the strain off your lower back. However, if you size down, you are unlikely to see such benefits.
18. Can You Sleep in Shapewear?
While it is okay to wear shapewear up to eight hours a day, you should avoid sleeping in your shapewear because it can cause serious health issues. These can include:
- Acid reflux
- Trouble breathing
- Lightheadedness/dizziness
- Rashes
Sleeping in shapewear can cause other less serious, but still pesky issues. You will likely wake up hot and sweaty if you sleep in shapewear due to the tightness and thickness of the material. It will also be much less comfortable to sleep in shapewear, which can prevent you from getting good sleep.
19. How Do You Pee in Shapewear?
If you’ve ever seen Kim Kardashian at a red carpet event, you might have wondered how she manages to pee in her shapewear. Well, some products (such as Spanx) have an “Easy Access Gusset.” Unfortunately, when that’s not the case, the process involves taking it off, which can be a time-consuming process.
20. How Long Should You Wear Shapewear?
A good rule of thumb is that you can wear it for a night out. In general, it’s best to avoid having shapewear on for longer than eight hours. It shouldn’t be dangerous but longer periods can lead to substantial discomfort or lead to skin irritation.
Conclusion
Now that we have covered what shapewear is, some of the hottest trends in shapewear for 2024, and answered some frequently asked questions about shapewear, you are ready to go shopping! Keep these tips in mind as you browse shapewear in-store or online to look snatched and confident in all your clothes with your new shaping wardrobe!
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