I’ve had a love hate relationship with shapewear for as long as I can remember. I always recall buying my first all in one Shapewear body from a department store. I was assured it was “perfect” for me, instead it was probably 2-3 sizes too small. The cups looked ridiculous on me, the straps dug in, I had new rolls I didn’t know existed but trying to get it off was probably the biggest hurdle of all. Shapewear is there to make our lives easier, and clothes sit smoother, it shouldn’t be so difficult.
There’s a number of misconceptions in the control wear side of the fashion industry, and unfortunately still to this day you see poor advice being shared online, or people being falsely persuaded to purchase something in some stores that just isn’t right for them- Sadly I hear it all the time from Style Me Curvy followers online too.
This post is to explain plain and simply what styles work for different body types and don’t work, and other style solutions you may not have thought of too!
All In One Body With Built In Bra
This is a very body specific style. Mostly you find them in two size options, by cup sizes or by dress size, rarely do you see a combination of both. And this is where a variety of body types or sizes just can’t wear them. So if you are reading this today and ever felt completely deflated when shopping for this kind of style, please don’t worry, you are most certainly not alone.
Nude Lace Body: Charnos at Pour Moi up to 42FF cup here / Black Lace Body : Panache up to a 38 J cup here
When it comes to shopping by cup size - lets take a 38DD for example. It will fit across the bust nicely ( depending on the brand of course!) and ideal if you have a small waist, an hourglass body type, a pencil or straight body type or diamond shape ( your bust is the biggest part of you). If this sounds like you, I would highly recommended brands like Pour Moi, Bravissimo, Panache, Simply Be
If like me, you hold your weight around your middle, you have a long torso and / or wide hips this style just won’t give you the shape, the comfort or the overall fit you want. Instead, look to the next option below.
The Wear Your Own Bra Style
The kind that will work for every body shape or size. I can’t think of any cons with this other than it’s not ideal for strapless dresses or tops!
Nude shapewear M&S sizes 8-24 here / Nude shapewear with shorts here : sizes XS- 3XL here
The flexibility this kind of style gives you is wonderful. They tend to be long torso friendly ( especially the M&S ones) and you can get them in various colours and cuts. I you are new to shape wear or you don’t know what to pick - this specific style would be on the top of my list as a starting point and wardrobe classic too that will always come in useful.
The High waited strapless :
Left : Spanx sizes XS - 3 XL here Right : Honey love sizes XS - 3XL ( lots of shades available) here
Ideal for pear shapes, straight body types or anyone with a smaller waist. This specific style can by quite temperamental which is why if you are an apple shape or in general hold your weight around the middle you will find as soon as you sit down it will start to roll down your body, or in general you’ll feel the need to keep tugging it up.
The anti static slip:
This is a really under rated item. In the modelling world you would have what’s called your model “ kit bag” - in it will include strapless bras, different no VPL underwear, stick on bras, shapewear and the anti static slip - It was very new to me at the start but on shoot abroad, especially in the Catalogue model world, the slips help prevent clothing from clinging too much to your body. Ideal to wear under silk or satin style clothes. Ultimately, it gives a new option whereby you don’t necessarily need to use shapewear. This will give you the desired look you are hoping to achieved.
Mini slip: M&S sizes 8 - 22 in various length options here / skirt slip: Next sizes 8- 22 here
They come in different styles and lengths, the short slip dress, the midi length and a skirt style (ideal if your dress is bardot or and off the shoulder style).
The Top & Shapewear Hybrid
These styles are a game changer in recent years. You will come across similar styles as these become more and more popular - but like everything else in the shapewear world some offer “ support” and with others you might feel almost no difference at all.
The below two brands are something that always gets raving reviews. Skims being a very well know style with the below being favourites across many and lots of Style Me Curvy friends.
Lilac bodysuit and long sleeve bodysuit : both Skims sizes XXS - 4XL here
ELR style in sizes XS - 5XL here
Second is a brand I came across last year ran by fashion blogger Emily Lucy Rajch - what I really liked about her collection, is the versatility from round neck styles, high neck, long sleeve, but most importantly giving glamourous body options with inbuilt shapewear in them. Ideal for holidays, nights out and events and so easy to mix and match in your wardrobe. The majority of her pieces come in various colours too up to size 5XL as well as options of extenders if you’re quite tall or you have a long torso.
Firm control underwear:
Quite an underestimated option - this kind of style can be great if you want more day to day lower tummy control but without that fully body suit feeling. Its also worth considering if you have a wedding abroad coming up and you want support but without overheating either!
Left : M&S sizes 8 -24 here / Right : Magisculpt at Simply Be here
My personal favourite is almost anything from the firm underwear options from M&S - this comes in a variety of cuts, textures and colours.
The second would be Magicsculpt that comes in sizes 12-28. They have a variety of styles, colours compression options.
Shapewear in Tights:
Left: Spanx up to size 22/ 24 here / Right : Falke sizes 8- 22 here
It really depends what your looking for but the one I get the best feedback on is the Spanx tights - they are labelled as “A, B, C, D, E” which can be confusing but it gives size offerings for tall girls and would fit up to size 24.
Secondly I personally would recommended a brand called Falke. I modelled for them many moons ago and I remember being really taken back by the level of detail and science that went into their product, and their studies on compression and the female body. So since then I became a a falke customer too!
For more budget friendly firm control tights - Next own range is really good, M&S, Heist and Snag tights.
Lou xx