Fashion Terms — the Apparel Search fashion terminology directory
Shapewear is tight-fitting underwear or an undergarment intended to control and shape the figure — another name for it is a foundation garment. It is designed to temporarily alter the wearer's body shape to achieve a more fashionable figure, was typically utilized by women, and has become available for both genders. Garments are categorized by the level of control offered — light, medium or firm — from an ultra-light body-liner or bodysuit up through leotards, girdles (also called body shapers or contour garments) and corsets.
What is shapewear?
Tight-fitting underwear or under garment intended to control and shape the figure. This type of garment was typically utilized by women but has become available for both genders.
Another name for shapewear is a foundation garment. Shapewear is basically an undergarment designed to temporarily alter the wearer's body shape, to achieve a more fashionable figure.
As long as select and wear the proper garment, shapewear should be relatively comfortable. Although you can buy shapewear online, it is suggested that you go to a store to try on several brands and styles. If you're buying for a specific dress or outfit, bring it with you.
Too-tight shapewear may lead to health problems. Please keep in mind that comfort and health is more important in most cases than appearance.
If you're pregnant, it would be a good idea to check with your doctor about whether you can use special maternity shapewear or none at all.
Garments may be categorized according to level or shape control offered - for instance, light, medium or firm. The simplest foundation is a body-liner or bodysuit, which are an ultra-light-weight leotards, and offers a light touch of smoothing. These are available in a unitard style (shortened legs) or a camisole-leotard style. The leotard offers greater control from a body-liner, and is available in boy-leg and capri-leg lengths, with spaghetti straps, low cut necklines, and even scoop backs, to cater for the outer wear under which the garments will be worn. These softly smooth the figure and provide light support. Micro-fiber camisoles and boy-leg briefs or "hot pants" are also available. Girdles are often called "body shapers" or "contour garments".
Women have worn foundation garments such as corsets and brassieres historically. Often they have been essential to the fashion trends of the time. Better known today as “shapewear,” these garments include body briefs, bodysuits, bras, control panty hose, control panties, corsets, garter belts, and girdles.
Tights - you can choose options that slim the whole leg, or the thighs, rear, hips, and waist.
Panties
Mid-thigh Shaper
Shapewear has a long ancestry. Women have worn foundation garments such as corsets and brassieres historically, and those garments were often essential to the fashion trends of their time — the fashionable silhouette of an era was frequently built on the foundation worn under it. The modern category renamed the same idea: better known today as shapewear, the garments include body briefs, bodysuits, bras, control panty hose, control panties, corsets, garter belts and girdles, all serving the older foundation purpose with modern stretch fabrics.
Choosing within the category is a matter of matching the garment to the outfit and the job. A camisole-leotard style or microfiber camisole handles smoothing under a top; boy-leg briefs and hot pants work under shorter garments; tights offer options that slim the whole leg or the thigh; and a unitard-style bodysuit covers the most area at the lightest touch. Neckline and back details — spaghetti straps, low cuts, scoop backs — exist so the foundation stays invisible under the specific outer garment it was bought for, which is why bringing that garment to the fitting is practical advice rather than a sales technique.
The sizing guidance is part of the definition for a reason. Shapewear works by compression, and compression past the intended level stops being shaping and starts being a health and comfort problem. Worn at the proper size, the garment should be relatively comfortable while it smooths. Special cases deserve extra care: anyone who is pregnant should check with a doctor about whether special maternity shapewear, or none at all, is appropriate. The category's promise is temporary and cosmetic — it alters how clothing sits on the body for as long as it is worn, and nothing more.
Shapewear is an undergarment designed to temporarily alter the wearer's body shape — smoothing and controlling the figure under clothing. It is also called a foundation garment, and includes bodysuits, body briefs, bras, control panties and pantyhose, corsets, garter belts and girdles.
Garments are categorized by the level or shape control they offer — light, medium or firm. The simplest foundation is a body-liner or bodysuit, an ultra-light leotard style offering light smoothing; leotard styles offer greater control, in boy-leg and capri-leg lengths, with options such as spaghetti straps, low-cut necklines and scoop backs to suit the outerwear worn over them.
Trying on is recommended: although shapewear can be bought online, going to a store to try several brands and styles — bringing the specific dress or outfit it will be worn under — gives a better result. Fit matters for health as well as appearance: too-tight shapewear may lead to health problems, and comfort and health are more important than appearance.