Shapewear has become a staple in many wardrobes, offering a quick solution to smooth out any bumps or bulges and enhance your silhouette. It has revolutionised how people perceive and enhance their figures. It’s more body-positive than before, and it aims to enhance your assets, support the curves, and smooth the shape. For those who are new to Shapewear, this is your guide. So, let’s delve into the wonder that it is.

What’s Shapewear?

Shapewear is an undergarment designed to be worn under your clothing, like bras and underwear. It provides a slimming effect and it makes your garments fit better, it smooths out lines and flaunts your natural shape and silhouette. And the good thing about them is that you can find high-quality plus size shapewear in Australia very easily.

When it comes to the fabric, it’s important to consider it because it influences the quality of the garment, the comfort, as well as the utility. The material should be smooth and not cause any discomfort to the person wearing it, especially if you wear it daily. Generally, all shapewear is made of nylon and spandex, and they’re ideal for places where the temperatures are cold, but when combined with cotton, it’s the right match because cotton absorbs body sweat. Shapewear made of these materials is strong and it shapes your body into a perfect figure. It holds your thighs, tummy, and buttocks perfectly, giving you the wanted figure.

Type of Shapewear

While older versions of shapewear were mostly corsets or other types of restrictive pieces, today there are all sorts of types made to suit different parts of the body, rather than squeezing your entire body. Let’s look at some of the types:

• Shapewear Panties – they help tuck the belly while lifting your bum. They provide support to make you feel tucked in and firm in all the right places, and they can be worn under any type of clothing.
• Shapewear shorts – the difference between these and panties is that the shorts go to your mid-thigh and create a smoother shape of your thighs. They are also high-waisted so your tummy is also taken care of. They are perfect for tight skirts, and tight dresses.
• Shapewear Bodysuit – this type of shapewear comes with a bra, creating a smooth look from your chest down to your thighs. It’s a great solution when wearing a dress. And depending on the bodysuit, you might not even have to wear a top, just a pair of jeans and a blazer for business casual attire.

How to Find Your Size?

With so many plus size shapewear in Australia, it’s not easy to pick the right design. From compression types, and colour choices to fabrics, even someone who wears shapewear regularly might have trouble finding the right size for them. It’s a myth that you can drop a size by squeezing yourself in a small shapewear, and luckily with the market expanding, more and more people are realising that that’s not true and that you need to properly get your correct measurements, your bust, waist and hip to select the right size. The right shapewear is not supposed to be limiting your movement and restricting your breathing so, before you buy, check out the brand’s measurements and cross-reference them with yours to ensure the best fit.

Should You Wear Underwear?

One of the roles of shapewear is to create a smooth and seam-free silhouette under the clothes. Sometimes wearing underwear underneath can cause the opposite effect and create a line from the seams of your underwear. Of course, this also depends on the type of plus size body shaper you choose, but you can treat shapewear as underwear. Some of the garments come with a gusset in their design and provide you with full support, but if some of them don’t include it, you should wear your underwear. Do you wear a bra with shapewear? Again, depending on the type, but if you feel more comfortable you can always put your bra on.

When Should You Wear Shapewear?

There’s no rule as to when you should and when you should not wear shapewear. Some women choose to wear it every day as it helps their confidence in their chosen clothing, while others save it for special occasions. It also largely depends on the type and the compression level, because not all shapewear is the same.

If you want to wear it daily, opt for a more lightweight control which is more about smoothing rather than compression. It smoothes out any lumps and bumps offering a streamlined finish. If you want to wear shapewear on rare occasions, for special events choose one with firm control, because it’s sturdy and it offers a lot of contouring. However, it isn’t as comfortable as the lightweight one, and it’s more restrictive, but you’ll still be able to breathe.

Wearing shapewear is all about enhancing your confidence and comfort. By choosing the right style and size, you can enjoy the benefits that come along with it any time you want. Whether you’re getting dressed up for a special occasion, or simply want to feel more confident in your everyday attire, it can be a valuable addition to your wardrobe.