These Are Our Editors' Favorite Butt-Lifting, Waist-Snatching Shapewear

PHOTO: Skims Why We Love It: Of the many bodysuits we put to the test, Skims' Seamless Sculpt Brief Bodysuit is our top pick for an everyday style that offers just the right amount of smoothing and sculpting. Comfortable and lightweight, the compressive fabric smoothed out bumps, subtly cinched the waist, and looked seamless under clothes. It maintained its integrity through multiple washes, and our tester noticed no changes in its fit or shape (although she did notice slight pilling on one occasion). That said, this bodysuit fits pretty tight and, at times, was challenging to take off—so if you want something that feels a little less restrictive, consider sizing up. Who It’s For: For light compression and sculpting, we think this is an effective bodysuit for most body types. If you're unsure of sizing (this piece tends to run small), we recommend taking measurements and following the brand’s size guide closely to find your perfect fit. Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XXS–4X PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Amazon Why We Love It: For a smoothing bodysuit that won’t break the bank, this cute lacy number from Bali is a must. It’s not as compressive and shaping as others on this list, but it does a good job of smoothing things out and holding everything in nicely. It’s not restrictive, and the tester found it easy and comfortable to wear (and just as easy to take on and off). Despite its light control, it still offered great support and stayed in place the whole time. And for the price, we were impressed with how well it held up after washing, showing no signs of wear or stretching. Who It’s For: This bodysuit is best suited for those with rectangle and inverted triangle body types, as those of us with bigger hips and booties found it difficult to clasp. Keep in mind that it isn’t offered in sizes smaller than a 34B or larger than a 40DD, and because the bottom is a full brief, you may notice some slight panty lines depending on what you pair it with. Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: 34B–40DD After testing this piece in various sartorial situations, from under workwear and occasion-wear to wearing it alone as a top, we found it works best as a cute, lingerie-inspired top with smoothing benefits rather than true shapewear. PHOTO: Nordstrom Why We Love It: This Wacoal bodysuit provided a decent amount of shaping in the belly and hips and lifting around the bust without feeling overly constricting or compressive. It gave a much smoother silhouette that was subtly slimmer and trimmer. The breasts looked noticeably perkier. Besides the tight straps on some of us, this bodysuit was pretty comfortable and invisible under clothes—so long as it was the correct size. If there were two things we could change, it would be to make the straps adjustable and for the gusset hooks to be a snap rather than a bra-like hook, as the tester struggled to re-hook them in the bathroom. Note that it’s also not offered in sizes below 34C, so it isn’t suitable for those with smaller chests. Who It’s For: Because this bodysuit uses bra sizing, it best fits those with slimmer hourglass, rectangle, or inverted triangle figures. Those of us who are wider on the bottom found that it was a tad too tight in the booty area, resulting in discomfort and visible panty lines, even when it fit the bust correctly. Material: Nylon, spandex; cotton-lined gusset | Size: 34C–40DDD PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle “I could maneuver this garment even after three glasses of wine, so I can confidently say it's very easy to get on and off. The hook and eye closure was easier to me than snaps.” -Chloe, tester PHOTO: Miraclesuit Why We Love It: If you’re seeking next-level compression, this sheer bodysuit from Miraclesuit delivers. The tester was impressed by how smooth and toned it made her look, and she deemed it a real confidence booster. The high-quality fabric is very sturdy and compressive, and it passed our durability tests with flying colors, maintaining its shape and compression level nicely after wearing and washing. Just keep in mind that it’s on the thicker side, which is great for shaping but may be a little too warm for summer heatwaves. If we could change one thing, it would be to omit the boning by the gusset snaps, as it sometimes causes discomfort along the inner thighs. Who It’s For: After testing this suit on multiple body types and sizes, we think it’s best suited for moderately curvy, hourglass to slim, athletic figures. The sizing is by band and cup, not alpha sizing, and we found that if you carry most of your weight in your hips and midsection, the bottom is a bit too tight. Material: Nylon, spandex, elastane | Size: 34–40 band; B–DD cup PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Bare Necessities Why We Love It: This back-supporting style is a favorite for a shaping bodysuit that’ll lay nicely under your strapless dresses (and just about anything else). Designed with the brand’s innovative Back Magic, which features corset-like boning for back support, it did a nice job smoothing and defining the torso, especially from waist to hip. It was surprisingly comfortable to wear for hours at a time (besides after a huge meal), and clasps at the gusset allow for easy maneuvering during bathroom breaks. Despite being sized by band and cup size, the tester was impressed by how well it fit in the waist and hip areas on several body types. She also appreciated the silicone grips along the bottom briefs, which prevented the bodysuit from riding up or moving under clothes. Note that this piece doesn’t come in the widest size range, and those with cup sizes smaller than a B or larger than a DD may struggle to find the right fit.  Who It’s For: If you’re looking for full-torso smoothing and sculpting, this bodysuit provides a medium amount of compression. It wasn’t overly dramatic, but it gave the midsection a noticeably slimmer, more cinched appearance. Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: 32–40 band; B–DD cup PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Honeylove Why We Love It: This Honeylove bodysuit is particularly effective at smoothing the lower belly area, especially for minimizing a “mom belly.” It won’t give you a dramatic transformation, but it provides adequate support that looks good and stays put whether you're sitting or standing. It was very comfortable overall and blended well under clothing, including casual skirts and formal, floor-length dresses. We also appreciate that it comes in a few cut options, including a cami brief, a cami thong, a completely seamless tank, and a crossover style. Our only issue is the brief slightly digs around the leg openings, but an option with a thong bottom may be a little less restricting. Who It’s For: This is a great option for anyone looking for a smoothing bodysuit that targets the lower half of the torso. Keep in mind that our tester found the leg openings to be slightly tight for pear shapes and that the cup sizing was a little off for larger busts. Since the cups are not very full, we recommend that people with fuller busts with long waists size up. Material: Nylon, spandex; cotton gusset | Size: XS–4X standard and petite PHOTO: Spanx Why We Love It: Many bodysuits have underwear-like bottoms, hugging the upper body but leaving the booty and thighs exposed and unsupported. That’s not the case with Spanx’s SuperSculpt TotalContour Open-Bust Mid-Thigh Bodysuit, though. Offering 360 degrees of support, from the adjustable shoulder straps all the way down to the mid-thigh shorts, this bodysuit shapes, lifts, and smooths your waist, hips, tummy, booty, and thighs. The tester found it extremely comfortable, and it never rolled or bunched under clothes. Instead, its high-compression fabric smoothed out lumps and bumps. And the open-bust design front means you can wear your best bra with it.  Who It’s For: Generally speaking, bodysuits offer amazing support, particularly throughout the upper body. This Spanx one takes it one step further by offering coverage throughout the butt and thighs. It’s an incredible choice for the person who wants a smoothing bodysuit they can wear under a mididress or any other pieces with long hemlines.  Material: Nylon, Lycra, elastane | Size: XS–3X PHOTO: Rago Why We Love It: Of all the shorts we tested, this pair is our top choice due to its incredible shaping capabilities. It effectively smoothed out our tester's natural dips (especially in the lower belly area) and nicely compressed and shaped her hips, butt, and thighs but wasn't too difficult to remove. Designed with boning and nonslip grips along the leg trim, it stayed in place throughout the day, and while on the tighter side, it was still pretty comfortable overall. According to the tester, it was a tad too tight for long periods of sitting and eating. Even still, it gets bonus points for its cute, lacy material. It wouldn't be so bad if it poked out under a skirt or dress since it doesn’t look like shapewear.  Who It’s For: If you’re looking for true shaping and contouring benefits, this pair gets the job done. The super inclusive size offering fits a wide variety of body shapes and sizes, though it’s important to note that the high waist goes up quite high on petite heights or those with shorter torsos. Material: Nylon, Lycra, spandex | Size: S–8X PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Knix Why We Love It: You don’t have to spend much on good shapewear, and these thigh-saver shorts from Knix are the perfect example. The buttery-soft, second-skin-like material is super comfortable to wear, and our tester was impressed by how well it smoothed us out despite being so light and airy. These aren’t shorts that will give you any serious sculpting or slimming effect, but they’ll save your thighs from chafing while simultaneously holding everything in place. Overall, she found these shorts to be excellent quality for the price, as they remained soft, stretchy, and smooth after a handful of washes and wears. Who It’s For: These shorts were a great fit for slender and hourglass body types, but we think the stretchy material would be comfortable on bodies of all shapes, especially given the inclusive size range. Material: Nylon, Lycra; cotton, spandex, carbon gusset | Size: XS–4XL PHOTO: SKIMS Why We Love It: This may be called the Butt Enhancing Short, but it does a great job enhancing the torso, hips and thighs, too. In fact, our tester was more impressed with how she looked from the front than from the back! As with any compressive shapewear, this style is pretty tight, but she wouldn’t call it uncomfortable. It's made from the quality Skims material, and it's great at holding everything in. Also nice? It features a gusset opening that makes bathroom breaks less of a hassle. Who It’s For: This short is great for enhancing hourglass figures, but the tester did find that the waistband was a bit too tight and slightly rolled down for those who carry weight in the midsection. Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: XXS–4X PHOTO: Honeylove Why We Love It: Simply put, these shorts are the key to looking snatched. A tester found that these had a great sculpting effect on the entire torso, hips, and booty area, cinching her nicely at the waist and smoothing out her hip dips. Designed with a super-high waist and boning throughout, these offer a pretty high compression level—which may take some getting used to—and are virtually undetectable underneath clothes. Plus, this pair features a pull-aside gusset, which makes bathroom breaks extra easy, requiring no fussing with snaps or undressing.  Who It’s For: We tried this style on petite pear shapes and slim, athletic builds and found it effective on both (though the former could feel the boning dig into the hips slightly when sitting). Material: Nylon, spandex; cotton gusset | Size: XS–3X PHOTO: Spanx Why We Love It: These super stretchy Spanx shorts have a barely there feel that’s perfect for everyday wear. They’re marketed as anti-chafing and anti-panty-line shorts, not sculpting, but we were surprised to find that they provide subtle shaping and smoothing to the midsection and thighs (a nice bonus). More importantly, they’re so comfortable that the tester forgot she even had them on. The stretchy material fits curvy and wide-hipped body types well, and we can see these working on a range of other body types.  Who It’s For: Those looking for light smoothing and chafing protection will love how effortless these shorts are. Given their lightweight, they’re also perfect for extra protection under mini skirts. Material: Nylon, elastane; cotton-lined gusset | Size: OS (fits 0–12) PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Commando Why We Love It: During summer months, a compressive shapewear short that’s airy and breathable is a total game changer. Crafted from an ultralightweight mesh (akin to a pair of tights), these shorts left our tester looking noticeably more snatched and did a great job of smoothing things out under clothes, making all of her outfits look amazing. These shorts do fit on the tighter side, and despite their thin, light material, the shorts were strong, sturdy, and high-quality. In fact, they kept their shape and compression level throughout the testing period. Who It’s For: Anyone looking for a breathable shaping short will appreciate this pair's mesh construction. They run on the smaller side, so size up if you don’t want the fit to be too restrictive or to ride up or roll down.  Material: Polyamide, elastane | Size: XS–XL PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle/ PHOTO: SPANX Why We Love It: These mid-thigh shorts from Spanx are a solid choice for a seamless look and medium sculpting power. According to the tester, these held and hugged her in all the right places. We also appreciated how comfortable and breathable the material is. We noticed they slightly rolled down at the waist throughout the day, but the shorts stayed nicely in place for the most part. Who It’s For: It contains extra material in the thighs to prevent chafing, making this a great option for summer, especially given how breathable the material is. It fits somewhat tight, so we recommend sizing up if you’re in between sizes or don’t want an overly constricting fit. Keep the mid-thigh length in mind, as they might peek out from underneath shorter dresses and skirts, especially if you’re petite. Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: S–3X PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Chantelle Why We Love It: This high-waisted brief from Chantelle was our favorite of the bunch, not only for its tummy-smoothing and cinching abilities but also because it’s completely invisible under clothes—quite a feat, considering it’s a brief and not a thong. While it fits pretty tight and requires a little work to get on, the compression and sculpting levels were truly impressive, and the seamless design ensured no digging throughout wear. The material is high-quality, sturdy, and durable, and it looked good as new after multiple wears and washes.  Who It’s For: This brief is a great option for anyone looking for tummy control and who doesn’t want to wear shapewear on top of their underwear. It's also a solid pick for those who want to wear tummy-control jeans. Material: Not listed | Size: XS–2XL PHOTO: Nordstrom Why We Love It: This shaping brief from Wacoal fits like a cozy glove—tight, but not too tight. It efficiently smooths things out, and we really appreciate the extra layer of compression over the tummy area, which makes this area look flatter and more trim. Because it’s a brief, it provides more coverage than your average shapewear underwear (which are usually thongs), and our tester found that extra coverage gave her confidence and security while she wore short dresses and skirts. The material is also top-notch. Despite being so thin and breathable, it's durable and sturdy, and she saw no signs of wear, shrinking, or stretching after multiple uses and washes.  Who It’s For: If you’re not a fan of thong shapewear, this high-waisted brief is for you. While briefs are typically more visible under clothing than thongs (and this pair was no different), we were still impressed with how well they performed. Material: Polyamide, elastane | Size: S–XXL PHOTO: Commando Why We Love It: Thongs—you either love ‘em or hate ‘em, but when it comes to preventing visible panty lines under your bodycon dresses, they're unmatched. This Commando thong is one of the more comfortable styles we tried on. The soft and breathable fabric provides an impressive amount of compression, smoothing, and shaping while remaining completely invisible under clothes. In fact, those of us who were former thong nonbelievers are already planning to buy more. Who It’s For: People with a wide range of body shapes and sizes found this thong very comfortable. However, we think the waist could be slightly higher. As it is, it may not provide those with longer torsos the amount of coverage they’d like. Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XS–XL PHOTO: Commando Why We Love It: If you’re going to buy one thing from this list, let it be this strapless slip, which scored perfect 5s across the board. It’s slightly challenging to get on, but once it’s on, it’s on. It didn’t shift or roll down at all—impressive for a strapless top—and our tester was delightfully surprised at how comfortable it felt as it conformed to the body. It smoothed and shaped her and was completely invisible under clothing (the brand suggests it can be worn on its own, too). The sturdy, high-quality material is on the thicker side yet still feels lightweight and breathable, which is everything we want from shapewear. Who It’s For: We tested this style on curvy body types and found it did an incredible job at smoothing and shaping, particularly around the hips, and we think it would be just as flattering on less curvy body types. Material: Nylon, cotton, elastane | Size: XS–XL PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Vanity Fair Why We Love It: This impressive little slip earned perfect scores for fit, comfort, and effectiveness. True to size, it provides a snug amount of compression that smooths out bumps and nicely shapes the figure without cutting or digging into the skin. It looks completely seamless under clothing and stays in place throughout the day. The fabric is super comfortable, breathable, and, in our opinion, comparable to some of the pricier products on this list. The only reason we knocked off half a point was because of its straps. They’re perfectly fine, but it would be better if they provided a little more lift in the bust. Still, for less than $30, this slip is a total steal.  Who It’s For: We tested this slip on curvy bodies of different heights and were impressed. We think it would flatter a range of body shapes thanks to its snug, form-fitting silhouette. Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: XS-XL PHOTO: Commando Why We Love It: This strappy slip is another style from Commando that ranked high on our list. Snug, secure, and seamless under clothing, it provides a moderate amount of shaping and smoothing without sacrificing comfort. Constructed in sleek microfiber with a comfy cotton lining, it’s oh-so breathable and lightweight, making it a perfect base layer for your vacation dresses. In fact, we think it’s comfortable enough for everyday wear. Its lightweight material has impressive quality and looks as good as new after multiple wears and washes. Do note this piece is slightly longer than most other slips, and we found that it's best paired with midi and maxi dresses for more petite people. Who It’s For: We were impressed with how flattering this fit is on curves, but we think it’s a great pick for most body types—although the size range could be more inclusive.  Material: Nylon, cotton, elastane | Size: XS–XL PHOTO: Amazon Why We Love It: If a dramatic hourglass figure is your M.O., you can’t go wrong with this contouring corset. It did an excellent job of cinching the waist, visibly shaping the torso while remaining as comfortable as a corset can be (it’s not uncomfortable, but you will notice it throughout the day). It has a lot of hooks, so make sure to pencil in some extra time to get it on. Our tester found it relatively easy to take off. It isn’t seamless, so you must be conscious about what you wear it with. It shows underneath anything too thin or fitted. It works better as a waist trainer than shapewear under a bodycon dress.  Who It’s For: This cincher best suits those with average to longer torsos. It was a little too long and slightly cut into the hips of a tester with a short torso. Material: Rubber, cotton | Size: XXS–3X PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: Amazon Why We Love It: Our tester was impressed with how well this open-bust, full-short bodysuit slimmed the midsection, giving her a smoother overall silhouette and showing no visible lines under clothing. She was also surprised at how comfortable it felt. The material is soft and stretchy, and while it took a little wriggling to get into, our tester forgot she was wearing any shapewear once she had it on. Also nice? It’s crotchless, so you won’t have to worry about baring it all in the bathroom. Who It’s For: If you prefer the comfort and reliable fit provided by bras, this shaping singlet is for you (especially if you find that most shapewear lacks your desired level of support). It does a great job smoothing and subtly slimming out the midsection, which can be especially flattering for apple and pear body types. Material: Nylon, elastane; cotton gusset | Size: S–3XL Brianne, tester: “This is a super comfortable piece of shapewear. The material is very smooth. It took a bit to get the bottom over my butt, but once it was on, it held everything in. The top was comfortable as well.” PHOTO: Lane Bryant Why We Love It: People with plus-size figures will appreciate the sculpting and compression this open-bust shaper provides from the torso down. The high level of compression is strong enough to create a smooth hourglass silhouette with no visible lumps or bumps under clothes, and even though it fits on the tighter side, the fabric is super soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking (a major plus), making it decently comfortable. The tester noticed slight discomfort after wearing it for more than six hours, but that was in no way a dealbreaker. It’s also virtually invisible under clothing, and the silky material allows clothing to slide right over it. Remember that this doesn’t have any sort of opening at the crotch, so you’ll need to take it down every time you use the bathroom, which some may find bothersome. Luckily, it was relatively easy to get on and off. Who It’s For: Those who’d like to see a slimming and shaping effect in the waist, butt, and thighs will appreciate the comfortable yet strong level of compression this shaper provides. Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: 14/16–34/36 PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: SPANX Why We Love It: Like all full-short bodysuits, this one isn't easy to get on (and may require a bit of jumping), but once it’s on, it’s so comfortable. Our tester really appreciated the shorts' thinness. They prevented chafing and, unlike others available, didn't leave her feeling like she was wearing sausage casing. A gusset eyelet opening made bathroom breaks easy, too. It has a smoothing and subtly slimming effect from the torso through the thighs, which made anything the tester wore over it look great (as long as she wore thicker straps). It also held up well after a few washes, maintaining its shape and light compression. Who It’s For: Given the comfortable light compression the mid-length shorts provide, this is a great bodysuit for anyone who wants to make their hips and thighs appear subtly slimmer and smoother. It was also completely invisible under clothing. Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XS–3X regular and petite PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle PHOTO: InStyle Our Testing Process InStyle testers with varying heights and body types wore over 30 shapewear pieces at least twice a week for six weeks, keeping them underneath their clothes for (at minimum) two hours at a time. Beyond the garments’ overall smoothing, shaping, and curve-enhancing properties, we considered other factors, such as overall comfort and fit, ease of putting them on and taking them off, and how their shape and compression held up through multiple wears and washes. We even took note of how easy it was to use the restroom, as not all options come with an easy access clasp at the bottom (and maneuvering in and out of a tight bodysuit at a public restroom is never fun). Lastly, we consulted a few shapewear experts to weigh in on the matter, sharing their tips for shopping the best styles for your body type and priorities. How to choose a shapewear size “I would not suggest going down a size in shapewear—that’s compressing vital organs and is going to cause discomfort. Always go with a realistic approach. If you’re a size large in other clothing, wear a large in shapewear, and so on. Shapewear is designed to be a smoothing device that will help your clothing fit better to your body.” —Gena Lisa, New York-based lingerie store owner and undergarment expert What to Keep in Mind Form: First and foremost, consider what area you’re looking to target and how you want to target it, which will determine the form and function of the shapewear you’ll need. “Different shapewear pieces work best for different garments,” explains Hanesbrands Chief Design Officer of Global Innerwear, Jane Newman. “For example, smoothing shorts, thigh slimmers, and booty-lift shapers are perfect under dresses, skirts, and tight pants as they create the look of a smooth silhouette while shaping panties and waist cinchers provide tummy-smoothing control and cinched waistlines ideal for special occasion wear. Bodysuits are perfect under dresses and as a smoothing layer under coordinates.” According to size-inclusive stylist Michaela Leitz, you should get shapewear that targets the specific areas you want to enhance—whether it’s your tummy, thighs, or overall body—to achieve the most flattering silhouette. Control Level: Shapewear comes in varying degrees of compression, from light to firm control, explains Leitz. “Choose based on your needs—light control for everyday smoothing or firmer control for special occasions that require more dramatic shaping,” she says. Material: Look for comfortable fabrics that are breathable and not restricting, says Shapermint Brand Director Gabrielle Richards. “Nylon and spandex are key shapewear fabrics that deliver on stretch and flexibility, so you'll feel comfortable all day long—plus, nylon has breathability and moisture-wicking properties perfect for warmer climates and for year-round use if you run hot,” she says. And if you’re planning to go sans undies? “Look for a cotton gusset, which supports a balanced pH and overall more comfortable wear.” Ensure the material is high-quality, too, as this will help the product maintain shape after multiple washes and ensure longevity, adds Leitz. Your Questions, Answered How is shapewear supposed to fit? No matter what your shapewear's compression level is, you should always feel comfortable in it, according to Newman. “It’s important to purchase shapewear that isn’t too tight, as that could actually have a reverse effect on the look you’re trying to achieve," she says. Instead, she recommends opting for something that holds you in but doesn’t roll, dig, or pinch your body. “Lean into your normal size, but you should be open to experimenting with various shapes and silhouettes to find the perfect level of support and comfort for you.” Most of all, it should imbue confidence when worn and feel snug and secure. Can you wear shapewear while pregnant? Yes, you can wear shapewear while pregnant! “It’s recommended to wear maternity-specific shapewear that doesn’t have compression in the belly area, but instead smooths so it doesn’t cause discomfort,” says Richards. “Wearing regular shapewear without this detail could constrict the belly and irritate the skin.” Newman agrees, adding that your pre-pregnancy go-to shapewear may no longer be comfortable or ideal as your body is changing. Of course, always consult your doctor if you’re feeling unsure, she adds. How do you choose the right shapewear for you? First, you’ll want to pinpoint the specific areas you want to smooth or shape, says Richards. If it’s your torso area you’re looking to target, she recommends opting for a shaping cami to smooth out your midsection. “For your bottom, smoothing panties and butt-lifting shaper shorts are some choices available to add lifting and shaping to your thighs, legs, and booty,” she says. “Some of us would like support in multiple areas, so consider a full-body piece like a bodysuit if you want an all-over sleeker look—just ensure it has an easily accessible open for bathroom breaks, like a snap gusset.”Once you know what style of shapewear will best suit your target areas, consider the compression level you need. Most importantly? Choose something comfortable. “A shapewear try-on rule of thumb: Channel the feeling of a hug over a squeeze,” says Nordstrom Women's Associate Fashion Director Linda Cui Zhang. “Prioritize form and function and the best fit for the outfit.” Leitz also recommends paying close attention to sizing. “Always refer to the brand’s size chart and, if in doubt, opt for a slightly larger size rather than squeezing into a small one.” Can you wear shapewear every day? Shapewear is perfectly fine to wear every day, so long as you keep a few factors in mind. “It’s essential to choose pieces that prioritize comfort and breathability,” says Leitz. “Look for lightweight, seamless options with moderate compression. It’s also crucial to give your body breaks and listen to how it responds; prolonged use of high-compression garments can sometimes cause discomfort.” She also recommends rotating your shapewear pieces to ensure you’re not consistently compressing the same areas. “This can help maintain circulation and skin health,” she says. How is shapewear supposed to fit? No matter what your shapewear's compression level is, you should always feel comfortable in it, according to Newman. “It’s important to purchase shapewear that isn’t too tight, as that could actually have a reverse effect on the look you’re trying to achieve," she says. Instead, she recommends opting for something that holds you in but doesn’t roll, dig, or pinch your body. “Lean into your normal size, but you should be open to experimenting with various shapes and silhouettes to find the perfect level of support and comfort for you.” Most of all, it should imbue confidence when worn and feel snug and secure.“I would not suggest going down a size in shapewear—that’s compressing vital organs and is going to cause discomfort. Always go with a realistic approach. If you’re a size large in other clothing, wear a large in shapewear, and so on. Shapewear is designed to be a smoothing device that will help your clothing fit better to your body,” says Lisa. Why Shop With Us Jenna Igneri is a freelance writer who has worked in fashion and beauty media for over a decade. To put together this list, she compiled insights from InStyle’s in-house testers and read through online reviews to narrow down our top picks, and then consulted a team of shapewear experts to share their insights and shopping tips. The following experts spoke with InStyle for this story: Gena Lisa is a lingerie store owner and undergarment expert.Linda Cui Zhang is Nordstrom's women’s associate fashion director.Michaela Leitz is a size-inclusive stylist.Gabrielle Richards is the Shapermint brand director.Jane Newman is the chief design officer of global innerwear for Hanesbrands.

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