The Best Shapewear
If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
Sometimes regular underthings just don’t cut it. That’s where the best shapewear comes in. Whether you’re trying to accentuate your curves or wear a certain type of clothing to an event, shapewear can help your clothes look the way you want them to. Nothing’s wrong with your body, no matter what it looks like. But if you’re trying to create a specific look, shapewear is what you want. I’ve spent months testing shaping shorts, bodysuits, underwear, and more to find the best options on the market. Below, you’ll find my top picks, like the Honeylove Cami Bodysuit ($90), which is perfect for special events.
Be sure to check out our other related buying guides, including the Best Hoodies, Best Leggings, and Best T-Shirts.
Power up with unlimited access to WIRED. Get best-in-class reporting that's too important to ignore for just $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and exclusive subscriber-only content. Subscribe Today.
How We Tested and What’s Up Next
I usually wear a 10 or 12 pant size, and during my initial testing period I gained muscle and lost weight. I wore every piece at least twice, both around the house and out and about running errands or attending events. I made sure to bend over, stretch, squat, use the bathroom, sit down, walk around, take them on and off, attach and adjust any straps, and generally wear the pieces as I would in my daily life. I checked for comfort, stretching, whether the pieces rode up, rolled, or slid down, whether they were easy to breathe in, and what the silhouette of applicable pieces looked like under a tight slip dress. Next up I’ll be testing more brands including Spanx, Skims, Victoria’s Secret, and some affordable options from Amazon.
Before You Shop
It’s ideal to measure your body before doing any online clothes shopping, but it’s especially important when it comes to shapewear. Get yourself a soft measuring tape and take careful measurements. Double-check reviews to see whether something runs true to size before purchasing. Some manufacturers have sizing recommendations, too. And if you’re ordering something for a special event, give yourself plenty of time to allow for potential returns or exchanges.
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Best Special-Occasion Bodysuit
Honeylove Cami BodysuitThere are a lot of shaping bodysuits on the market, and it’s hard to find one that I truly dislike (so long as it fits properly). But I think this bodysuit from Honeylove strikes a good balance between making me feel slim and snatched while also remaining comfortable throughout the day. The compression bands form an X over your midsection which helps to keep things tight and smooth, especially thanks to the doubleknit panels in the midsection which adds another layer of support and tightening, and there’s a built-in wirefree bra that gives you Aphrodite-level cleavage. There are mesh pieces throughout (depending on the style you choose) that make the bodysuit feel more breathable. Another detail I like is the hook-and-eye gusset closure, which makes going to the bathroom easier.
You don’t know real frustration until you’re fiddling with gusset snaps, and the bra-band-like closure on this gusset is easy to use, even in the dark or in cramped quarters. The straps are fully adjustable and the brief bottoms have a band to help them stay put. I also appreciate that this bodysuit doesn’t look like shapewear—I’ve worn it under jeans and flared pants without an issue. It does everything you want a bodysuit to do: lifts your breasts, sucks in your tummy, accentuates your waist and booty, and doesn’t cause an existential crisis when you use the bathroom.
Sizes XS to 4X, up to a G cup Colors 7 Compression level High Fabric details Nylon, Spandex, Cotton (gusset) - Photograph: Louryn Strampe, Yummie
Best Everyday Bodysuit
Yummie Ruby Shaping Thong BodysuitIf you’re looking for a simple bodysuit that feels more like clothing than shapewear, this one has you covered. It’s tagless and made from a soft, breathable blend of cotton, nylon, and spandex. The “360Sculpt” cotton technology is basically a fancier term for the hidden panel along the midsection of the bodysuit, which nips in your waist and flattens your belly without feeling too constricting. I would happily wear this every day. The fabric stays breathable and smooth while offering medium-strength compression to help tighten up your midsection, and the thong bottom doesn’t show up under clothing. I also like that it doesn’t have side seams, which helps to add to the comfort level.
I don’t love snap-closure gussets, but this bodysuit has two rows of closures so you can adjust the length based on your preference. I tried it in the black color, which is opaque, but the manufacturer notes that white and light colors are not completely opaque. It’s easy to dress this bodysuit up or down, and it’s well-suited to hot weather if you’re headed to a summer event and want to wear shapewear without aggressive compression.
Sizes S to XL, up to a G cup Colors 9 Compression level Medium Fabric details Cotton, Nylon, Spandex
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe, Knix
Best Shorts
Knix Shaper High Rise ShortsSimilarly to the other Knix shapewear I tried, I had to fight like hell to get into these shorts. I was praying to my ancestors that I wouldn’t get stuck in them. But once I finagled them up my body the first time, they stretched out a bit, and they also lost a bit of compression after washing them which made them feel less constricting (but still structured). The shorts do a great job at compressing my tummy, back, and thighs, and they’re high-waisted which nips in my waist without creating a bulge at the top. The ”3D Fabric technology” is really just flocked strips on the rear end. The strips frame the top and bottom of your butt, which help to lift it up and and push it out a tad. Basically, they make your butt look good. The waistband has an extra strip of elastic that helps prevent it from rolling down. These didn’t roll down on me, but that tight waistband might create a love handle effect depending on how long your torso is and how tight your bra is.
They do have a side seam, but it’s nearly invisible, even under a tight slip dress. These shorts have PerfectCut technology, which means they can be cut shorter by using sharp scissors along the marked, flocked lines on the inside. It lets you adjust the length without needing to worry about fraying or losing compression. Note that if you don’t cut the shorts, the inside flocked lines might be noticeable if you’re wearing a super-tight, thigh-hugging garment on top. I do wish the shorts had a double gusset, but they’re not too difficult to take on or off after the first couple of wears. These also have the option to choose Knix’s leakproof fabric along the crotch, which helps to absorb leaks and sweat. You can choose “Moderate” absorption, which absorbs about 1.5 regular tampons’ worth of fluid, or “Essential” which is not leakproof. (I’ve tested Knix period underwear for a separate, upcoming guide, and can confirm that “Moderate” absorption does well to absorb leaks, but I’d still recommend wearing a tampon if you’re early on in your cycle and wearing these out and about.)
Sizes XS to 4X Colors 3 Compression level High Fabric details Body: Lycra Xtra Life Spandex, NylonGusset: Cotton, Spandex, Carbon (Gusset composition changes based on chosen absorption level) - Photograph: Louryn Strampe
Best Underwear
Honeylove Superpower BriefThese briefs from Honeylove really did make me feel like I had superpowers. Like the bodysuit we recommend from Honeylove, these briefs have X-shaped compression that helps to tighten and tone your midsection without making it appear lumpy. That same compression extends to your upper and lower back, lending a really smooth and flattering shape. What really sets these briefs apart is the built-in flexible boning on the side seams. The boning serves two purposes: It prevents the high-waisted undies from rolling down, which is a major problem when it comes to shapewear. It also helps to nip in your waist, further lending to the hourglass effect. And unlike the boning you might be thinking of from Victorian-era corsets, the boning in these undies isn’t too constricting. It‘s definitely noticeable, but not so much that it makes it hard to breathe or move around.
The mesh bottom panels are breathable and look smooth under clothing. I preferred the brief silhouette, but if you’re concerned about dealing with bathroom trips, the girl short and short styles both have a double gusset that lets you go pee without needing to peel the shapewear off. Every style includes a pair of straps that you can attach to the top of the underwear to help it reach your bra if need be.
Sizes XS - 3X Colors 4 Compression level High Fabric details Nylon, Spandex (Cotton gusset)
- Photograph: Louryn Strampe, Yitty
Best Dress
Yitty Smooth as Hell Shaping DressNote that Yitty, Lizzo’s shapewear brand, is a part of Fabletics. Fabletics requires a membership that charges you $60 for a credit every month if you don’t cancel, and purchasing without a membership makes this dress $89 rather than $19. You do get lower prices on Fabletics and Yitty apparel with a membership, but make sure to cancel it if you’re not interested in subsequent charges.
This dress was super flattering, though it’d probably look better on someone taller than me (I’m 5’1”.) It worked best with shaping underwear underneath, but even without the proper undergarments, the dress looked nice. The 4-way stretch fabric is snug and clingy, but not extremely compressive. Rather than structuring your body into a different shape, this garment flatters the existing shape beneath it. It has “anti-uniboob” technology that uses clever ruching and panels to separate and slightly lifts your breasts, and the stretchy, comfortable fabric of the dress has ruching that can be adjusted to best flatter your body type. The bust may as well have a built-in bra, and many reviewers point out that this technology helped them feel confident.
The torso is slightly thicker than the bottom half of the dress. The waist is cinched with a U-shaped panel, and that effect brushes down the hips on the back of the dress, which lends to a smoother shape all around. It almost creates a subtle empire-waist effect, allowing the dress to drape in a flattering way without being too obvious. There’s also a back slit which helps the dress not feel so constricting, and makes it a bit more breathable if you wear it on a warmer day. The straps are fully adjustable as well. This dress has more of a casualwear vibe than a dressy vibe, and I want to note that the structural details of the chest area are visible and that it can lean toward see-through if stretched a lot. That’s not inherently a bad thing, but it is something to take note of.
Sizes XS to 6X, up to 64-inch bust Colors 9 Compression level Low Fabric details Lyocell, Pima Cotton, Rayon, Nylon, Spandex
Shapewear We Didn’t Love
Yummie Ultralight Shaping Short for $20: Unfortunately, these shorts could not contain my booty. And not in a way that was voluptuous and like my cup runneth over—more so in a way that made me feel like a wad of meat constricted into a tube. (Which I suppose I was.) They’re not high waisted enough for me, and while the grippy tape at the bottom of the shorts helped prevent them from rolling up, they also cut my quads off in an unflattering way. And the top tended to roll down whenever I sat. They did take an inch off all around, but it was at the expense of my comfort—I felt like I had to constantly readjust them.
Knix Shaper Open-Bust Customizable Bodysuit for $90: I really like the idea of this bodysuit. Using sharp scissors, you can cut along the flocked guidelines to change the hemline and neckline, allowing for a custom fit with a lower back or higher shorts than the default. Unfortunately, it was really difficult—nearly impossible, actually—to squeeze myself into this suit, even though I ordered according to my measurements, and even after I washed it and let it air dry. I also don’t love that the crotch is closed, which means you’d have to peel yourself out of the bodysuit whenever you use the bathroom. Additionally, if you don’t cut to the lowest backline (or highest hemline), the cut guidelines can be visible under clothing. There are just too many other great bodysuits on the market for me to recommend this one.
Wired Coupons
10% Off Wayfair Promo Code with sign-up
20% off Dyson Promo Code
$50 Off In-Person Tax Prep When You Switch From Your Tax Current Provider
Up to $500 off cameras at Canon
Save extra 10% Off TurboTax
Exclusive: Up To 50% Off 6 Boxes With Factor Promo Code