Let’s start with a massive myth buster! There’s NO such thing as a one size fits all. Your friend may swear by a specific pair of shaping shorts and tell you that they are the most comfortable thing in the world. However, this does not mean that they’re best for you. At Elle Courbee, we know that true confidence comes from ultimate comfort. So choosing the most comfortable shapewear for your figure must be based on you as an individual. We’re all different shapes and sizes, so when it comes to making the right choice, be guided by your body.
Work with your shape
Don’t work against your natural shape. Instead, smooth your lines and boast your best bits and you’ll find a comfortable way to benefit from shapewear! So what are the basic principles here?
Apple
Achieve a smooth and balanced line with a high rise control brief or shaping slip. This focusses compression around your torso, simultaneously cinching in your waist and lifting your bum.
Pear
Shaping shorts provide gentle compression through the hips and thighs. Team them with an uplift bra to balance your top and bottom halves.
Triangle
Shaping shorts are also great for lifting and highlighting your hips and bum. Keep them high waisted to prevent any interruption to your line.
Rectangle
Anchored shapewear is important for this shape. So avoid any movement by choosing a garment that is anchored from the shoulders, like a shaping cami or bodysuit.
Hourglass
While corset styled shapewear is great to show off this shape, you may prefer to choose more basic control briefs to support your curves.
Get the right size
The size of your shapewear matters so much in how comfortable it is. So how do you make sure you’re making the right selection? Different garments use different sizing principles, so it’s important to be well informed about your own size.
Measuring
The tape should sit flat on your body while you measure. Always round up to the nearest whole inch. To find the correct waist point to measure, bend slightly to one side and mark the crease or indentation. For your hips, position the tape around the fullest part of your torso below your waist and above your thighs. You should refresh your bra measurements at least every six months. To help you, we have detailed bra sizing topics on the blog!
Dress sizes
Never choose shapewear a dress size smaller in the hope that the compression will make you that dress size. It’ll feel uncomfortable and look bumpy. Remember that the point of shapewear is to provide the compression you need to smooth your line, not cut off circulation!
Different sizes
If you have a tendency to hover between dress sizes, defer to your waist measurement. For example, a pair of control briefs may be available in 14-16 or 18-20. If you tend to hover between a standard dress size of 16 and 18, measure your waist and check the brand size guide.
Keep it in place
Shapewear that has rolled down, up or shifted in any other way is simply uncomfortable. This is why we go on so much about sizing correctly, as this is really the best thing you can do to keep it in place. However, there are other tricks to remember.
Anchoring
Your body has natural anchors that can help to secure your shapewear. So for ultimate security, go for a shaping cami or body suit as both of these styles hang from your shoulders.
Tape
Remember the classic dressers trick of sticking garments in place with fashion tape. Dressing tape is a versatile piece of kit to have on hand for those occasions that you may want additional security to keep your shapewear comfortable.
Skin
After a shower make sure your skin is dry. Any excess moisture can alter where the fabric sits against your skin. As you dry, the fabric moves which makes it more likely to roll down.
At Elle Courbee, we want you to look great and feel comfortable. So we have selected a great range of quality garments in fabulous fabrics for you to find the most comfortable shapewear for your figure!
Becky is an author and copywriter who has been writing about women’s issues and underwear for several years. She also writes blogs which cover a range of topics for local businesses.
