One of the fantastic things about shapewear is that it gives your body structure and shape. You look and feel more secure as there aren’t so many bits ‘moving around’! So what if suddenly it’s your shapewear that starts moving? One minute you’re feeling fabulous, but you can quickly go from Tower of Poise to Tower of Pisa! The struggle of roll down is real. It’s not just roll down though – shapewear might just as likely roll up, or displace itself in some other way. Basically budging in any direction is bad news. We choose shapewear to enjoy the look and feel of a smooth and streamlined silhouette. So what steps can you take to make sure it stays that way?
Select the right garment
It’s absolutely worth your while to have a selection of shapewear styles from which to choose. This way, you can pair the correct foundation garment with your outfit. Think straps or strapless, dress or separates, skirt or trouser, floaty or structured. Each of these style features has different requirements from a piece of shapewear. With control briefs, camis and shaping slips to select then, you’ll have something to sit well under any style.
Buy the right size
We can’t emphasise this enough! Badly fitting shapewear is really worse than not bothering at all. Your silhouette ends up bumpy and you won’t feel any more confident for it. Most importantly, though, sizing correctly will stop your shapewear from rolling down. It’ll also avoid lumps and bumps and make for a comfortable fit. So be honest with yourself and resist the temptation to size down thinking it’ll be more effective. Sizing down actually tends to have the opposite effect and is more inclined to roll, create bumps, and just be generally uncomfortable.
Deploy the anchor
Your own body is actually a wonderful tool to prevent your shapewear from budging. Choose your shapewear to utilise the natural anchors that your body provides. Connect high rise control briefs to your bra, for example. This uses your shoulders as a foundation for your shapewear and keeps the breaks on as far as rolling down goes. For ultimate security, go for a control slip or body suit. The more stable the anchor of your foundation layer, the less chance there is of it moving.
Know all the tricks
From the catwalk to the girls night out, women have always used hacks to keep their look in place. Make sure you’re clued up!
Folding
Use a fold to secure your shapewear against rolling down. Folding over the leg, waist or bust line will ward against any rolling of the shapewear. However, it is also likely to create a bump in your silhouette so not a technique for clingy outfits.
Layering
Your bra can make a great layering anchor over high rise control briefs. Simply tuck the top line of your tummy control underneath the band of your bra to stop briefs rolling down. If you are wearing tights, put them on under your shapewear. The fabric composition of shapewear can encourage tights to slip, so this will prevent movement.
Taping
Employ the classic trick of sticking with dresser’s tape. Dressing tape is an invaluable piece of kit to have on hand for those occasions that you may want additional security. It’s especially handy for more risqué outfits that carry a risk of flashing your shapewear!
Drying
Make sure your skin is dry and allow moisturiser to be fully absorbed into your skin. Any dampness to your skin actually makes your shapewear more likely to roll down. This is because, as you dry, the fabric moves, making it more likely to displace.
There really is no substitute for good quality, well sized shapewear to achieve the most secure control. Our aim is for roll down not to be an issue in the first place. After all, prevention really is better than cure!
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.
