The answer to this question is an emphatic yes! Shapewear can definitely give you a flat tummy. It’s also a fantastic way to boost your cleavage, hide back fat, shape your hips and minimise your thighs.
What is shapewear?
Shapewear is specially constructed underwear, designed to smooth and sculpt your silhouette. It stretches to fit and moulds your body shape, holding you in, in all the right places. Far from a recent innovation, shapewear has actually been used since the times of ancient Minoans. During this era, leather and metal belts were used by men and women to achieve a smaller waist.
Levels of control
Shapewear uses bespoke breathable, stretchy fabrics to cinch in your figure. There are different levels on control, depending on how much contouring you want to achieve. These include:
- Light control. This level provides the lightest amount of control. Perfect for subtle smoothing of your physique, it’s ideal for everyday wear.
- Medium control. This shapewear provides a higher level of control, via increased compression. You can expect this shapewear to feel more ‘structured’.
- Firm control. If you’re looking to dramatically slim down your physique, then you should choose firm control shapewear. These pieces deliver transformative results. However, they can be uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time, so are best saved for special events.
Types of shapewear that can flatten your tummy
Once you’ve established the level of control you need, it’s time to select your shapewear. There’s a mind-boggling array of shapewear on the market, so it’s important to choose the right pieces that will target your tummy area. Here are some of the best types of shapewear that we recommend, to trim inches from your waistline:
High waisted control briefs
Perfect for wearing under all types of clothing, control briefs really are the most versatile option on the market today. Go for high waisted control briefs to deliver smoothing results, from your rib cage down to your abdomen.
High waisted shaping shorts
Just like control briefs, high waisted shaping shorts provide amazing tummy contouring. These are the perfect option if you’re also looking for thigh slimming, or to prevent thigh chaffing.
Girdles
When we mention girdle, most are taken back to the times of 50’s starlets. However, girdles today are designed to cinch in your tummy like nothing else. You can wear them over your favourite underwear, or as underwear. So for many women, these are the perfect solution.
Bodysuits
This perennial one-piece beauty has been a firm favourite since its inception in the 1950’s. Worn as underwear, shapewear and even as outerwear, bodysuits provide smoothing from the bustline to the hips. They’re particularly comfortable under trousers and skirts, as there’s no issues with waistbands.
Corsets
We couldn’t write about waist shaping without mentioning the eponymous corset. This extreme shapewear has seen a resurgence in popularity in recent years. However, it’s moved on from the asphyxiating whalebone corsets of Victorian times. The modern corset blends luxurious fabrics with elasticated panelling and boning to deliver amazing waist shaping.
Waist training for longer term results?
While shapewear can provide fantastic results, unfortunately the results will only be temporary. However, in recent years we’ve seen a new type of foundation garment appear. Namely, the waist trainer. Beloved by many an A-lister, some women swear by the long-term waist reductions that waist trainers can achieve.
A waist trainer is essentially a wide, elasticated band that can be worn for up to 8 hours a day. Designed to be worn during exercise, the idea is that sweating and thermogenesis literally melts away the fat cells. While the science behind the theory is up for debate, many women claim to have achieved amazing results. Some report trimming up to 6 inches from their waistline. However, as a word of caution, these results are not permanent. Indeed, waist trainers can be dangerous to your health. They can impair respiration and internal organ function, as well as weaken back muscles. So definitely proceed with caution if you’re considering waist training.
Here at Elle Courbee, we advocate using shapewear as a temporary solution, and for long term results incorporating healthy eating and exercise into your daily regime. If you’re looking for help cinching in your waist, then our experts at Elle Courbee can help you find the perfect shapewear. Check out our plus size collection today. We have a fantastic selection of control briefs, shaping shorts, girdles, bodysuits and corsets for you to choose from, so start browsing today!
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