… Welcome back! We continue with our journey through the alphabet, discovering all the sideways looks at what we choose to put on under our clothes! (If you missed it, head here for part 1).
N – Nude
Shapewear in nude shades gives you the ultimate in versatility. You can wear it under light cottons in summer without it showing through. The only thing with it is that it doesn’t feel very sexy. So it’s best to own a range of colours for your underwear!
O – Open bust
It might look curious, but we love open busted shapewear! Bodysuits and slips alike, these pieces give great waist, bum and thigh control and are super secure as they are anchored to your shoulders. The best bit is that you can wear different bras depending on your mood and outfit.
P – Pear shape
A body shape with slim shoulders and bust and fuller hips. If you want to create more balance in your line, shaping shorts are ideal for you as they smooth from your tummy right down your thighs.
Q – Quality
As with anything in life you get what you pay for. Buy low quality garments and they will soon lose stretch, quickly ending up in landfill and you’ll spend more in the long run. We’ve chosen our shapewear brands based on quality so you can buy in confidence.
R – Rectangle shape
A body shape with straight lines from shoulders to hips. To retain your shoulder / hip proportions and create more of a waist, a bodysuit is ideal.
S – Slim/thick
Less a body shape and more a body trend. It means to have a narrow waist with rounded, toned hips, bum and chest. It’s not really achievable without some kind of artificial shaping, whether that’s through shaping shorts or surgery.
T – Triangle
A body shape with broad shoulders and smaller hips. A control tank top or camisole works well to support your upper body and bust, leaving you more choice over your knickers.
U – Up (or down!)
Rolling up or down is a nightmare for shapewear users, and something we all seek to prevent! It’s more often than not a sign of incorrect sizing, specifically too small. If you hover between two sizes, go for the larger size and base your decision on measurements rather than standard dress sizes.
V – Visible (or not!)
Key things about visibility to bear in mind: if you’re wearing shaping shorts with a short dress, make sure the hemline isn’t too high, and go for seamless shapewear under clingy outfits and fabrics.
W – Waist training
A practice which is intended to, over time, slim your waist and alter your proportions so that they remain so even without underwear on. A waist trainer is used to compress your waist for at least 8 hours a day and specifically during workouts. There’s not any scientific evidence that it can change your natural proportions long term. We’re all better off just trying to live healthily!
X – XXXL
One of the sizes that our control shapewear and lingerie come in! We supply different brands which have different outlines for their sizes, so using brand size guides is really important to get it right. One day sizing for women will be straightforward, but until then we’re doing our best to help our customers make informed decisions.
Y – You
When you’re buying shapewear and lingerie alike, you’re the priority. Ask yourself; how does it make you feel? Comfortable, well fitting underwear, whether it’s shaping or not, helps you to feel your best. We can feel more sexy, powerful, confident, and natural through our underwear decisions.
Z – Zips
A revolution in shapewear! The zip up corset not only turns underwear into outerwear, but it has made this garment more comfortable, practical and accessible. And there’s an added sexiness to a well placed zip. It’s a much underrated thing!
So there we have it! Not a letter missed and, we hope, all the nuances covered. Shout anything we’ve missed in the comments. We’ll leave you with this thought – only wear it if it makes you feel good. Good can manifest in loads of different ways so sometimes it’s a case of learning those things about yourself. You’re definitely worth it.
Becky is a content manager who writes informed industry based articles for businesses and consumers. She’s written for Elle Courbee on women’s issues and fashion for a number of years.
The ultimate real world A-Z of underwear (part 1)