Does ploughing through all of the different styles of tummy control drive you crazy? Why are there so many products to achieve the same thing?! We’re sorry, there’s nothing we can do about the number of products out there. They’re there for a very good reason and that’s that us women are different shapes and sizes. We carry weight in different areas which changes as we age, and we all tend to have insecurities about different bits of our body. Which don’t necessarily correspond to the bits that would benefit from a bit more shaping. Hey, we never said we’re logical did we?!
What we can do is go through all of the various styles of tummy control and help to define which shapes and occasions they work best for. At least then you can narrow down the products to try.
Classic control briefs
These are great for anyone who wants to focus compression on their tummy and hips. They have a wide waistband and panelling to lift your bum and smooth your tummy. This option is great for everyday wear, but can be tricky if you need a silhouette for a clingy dress as compression ends at your mid-waist.
Good for – if you want to slim or smooth your lower midriff or enhance your bum. A nice daily wear choice.
High waisted control briefs
These briefs are more streamlined than the standard variety as they start smoothing under your bust. So if you carry weight around your middle, a lower waist band can create too much of a dip at the waist. Make sure you size correctly to keep the high band snug against your skin and prevent it from rolling down.
Good for – apple shapes, as these compress the whole waist area giving you a sleek look. Choose the size based on your waist measurement.
Shaping shorts
These come in different waist lengths, but the most all encompassing garments start compression under your bust and extends down your thighs. This particular choice has straps which secure the under-bust band over your shoulders. So these shaping shorts will stay put all day long. If you want to achieve an overall compression, these are ideal. However they’re less convenient for daily wear.
Good for – when you want to slim multiple areas or go down a dress size. Also if you have a special event or you’re wearing a clingy fabric.
Girdle
With a function a little like shaping shorts, a girdle will give you support all around your waist, hips, bum and thighs. They tend to offer high compression so will give you a more dramatically slimmed image. With panelling and breathable fabrics, a girdle need not be uncomfortable, so look for them if you need a long event slimming tool.
Good for – bodies who carry weight on the hips as the firm compression will moderate and smooth the line between your waist and hips.
Corset
These very structured pieces of shapewear will lift your bust as well as shape your waist and hips. Compression ends at the hips, so don’t expect any bum lift from this piece of shapewear. Most corsets look great as outerwear as well as foundation wear, so if you want a dramatic look for a night out a corset is a real go-to.
Good for – head turning! A corset is more about creating an hourglass shape than slimming down your natural shape.
Shaping slip
This is another piece of tummy control which is anchored from your shoulders so is super secure. It shapes your whole torso; bust waist, tummy and hips so you get a great overall silhouette. The best thing? It looks really cute with your clothes off, so it’s a fantastic piece for date night!
Good for – overall sizing down and shape refining while keeping a natural feel.
Bodysuit
This wardrobe staple works really well as a layering tool as it doesn’t matter if it’s visible, especially if your garment is black or a bold colour. It’s the most comprehensive and stable shaping option and we think everyone should have one! From complete slimming to just feeling a bit less wobbly, this one is ideal.
Good for – most people, most days. Look for a poppered gusset to make toilet visits a bit easier.
It’s tempting, of course, to get one of everything! But that’s not always realistic, so take the time to figure out which bits you really want to shape and then go from there. Browse the shop for inspo.
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 2)