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Incredibly, it’s been seven years since the last (and only) time I wrote about shapewear on this blog. It’s just not my favourite part of the lingerie industry, to put it mildly – too much body snark in the way it has traditionally been marketed, and frankly, I also find it boring. I’d much rather write about the prettier and more creative things.
But shapewear is still a huge part of that industry, whatever I think about it personally. SKIMS proved that, if the popularity of Spanx hadn’t already. And it doesn’t always having to be about slimming your figure; shapewear can also come in handy when you simply want a sleek, smooth silhouette under a fitted outfit, without VPL or visible bra lines.
The only shapewear designs that I can recall catching my eye over the (many!) years I’ve been writing about lingerie are this 2012 shaping dress by Scandale – it was scarlet red, unheard of in shapewear back then – and this 2019 decorative mesh range by Nancy Ganz which featured little diamanté gems. But things are changing, it seems. I’m getting served more social media ads than ever for colourful, trendy shapewear designs, which made me do a little research and I was pleasantly surprised at just how many not-at-all plain and beige pieces I was able to find. Finally, shapewear I actually want to write about!
Impudique by Catanzaro
Impudique is a lingerie label created by the daughter of fetishwear designer Patrice Catanzaro, and while it leans a lot more on the ‘fancy lingerie’ side of things than Catanzaro’s vinyl-heavy aesthetic, you can still see the fetish influences such as the open and zip-open crotches seen above. At the time of writing, there are a little over a dozen shaping pieces available which, along with a high elastane content for a smoothing fit, all use a mixture of sheer and opaque fabrics to create interesting and visually-slimming lines. Definitely not your average shapewear!
Next
British high-street fashion retailer Next has an expansive collection of own-branded shapewear in sizes up to a UK 22 / US 18. It’s all based around a neutral colour palette of mostly black and nude (including different skin tone options) but there are a number of pieces that feature pretty lace touches as shown above. Briefs, thongs and shaping slips are all also available.
+Body by Julia Haart
Founded last year, +Body is a shapewear brand you’ll want to show off, and that’s exactly the point. Created by fashion designer Julia Haart who has previously served as the Creative Director of La Perla, it’s specifically intended to work as both underwear and as a visible part of your outfit. The debut collection is all made from a lace-effect print (meaning it’s still completely smooth for under thinner fabrics) which is available in the traditional shapewear colours of black and beige, as well as some much more vibrant options.
Pinsy
Speaking of colourful shapewear, Pinsy is another shapewear-meets-outerwear brand primarily focused on bodysuits, which come in a wide array of silhouettes and colours. Alongside solid pieces in fun colours, this includes a range of lacy designs which, though they may look single-layered in the images above, are lined with powermesh for a smoothing effect. Different control levels are available, from light shaping or tummy control only through to all-over ‘medium to firm’ shaping.
Popilush
Staying on the topic of chic and colourful shapewear that’s made to be seen, Popilush* creates everything you could want in this category: lacy shapewear with more of a traditional lingerie look, shaping garments such as rompers and slips which could feasibly be worn as athleticwear or partywear all on their own, and a wide variety of dresses with a built-in shaping layer hidden away inside. Sizes go up to a 6X.
Shapellx
Shapellx* is very similar to Pinsy in that it offers both traditional ‘undergarment’ shapewear and dresses with a shaping layer built in, and also goes up to a size 6X. Alongside standard, plainer-looking shapewear designs, they also offer a small range of lacy bodysuits for those who want something prettier, albeit only in a light control level.
Many, many vintage-inspired brands!
It would be remiss of me to write about where you can find stylish shapewear options and not mention the numerous retro lingerie brands out there making designs like those pictured above. This is a great option for those who want to wear their shapewear with stockings, since garter straps are often par for the course with this type of lingerie brand. However, you can also find items such as waist cinchers, as well as pieces with detachable garter straps that are more versatile.
Love this vintage-style look? As well as the three brands pictured above, I recommend checking out Revival Lingerie, the VIP Retrolution range by Gossard, and this earlier article on vintage-inspired lingerie brands. To cast your net wider – or maybe even to find some authentic vintage pieces on sites such as eBay and Etsy – just search for keywords such as ‘girdle’, ‘corselette’ and, of course, ‘corset’ (a properly-made one, mind you) for the most dramatic waist shaping of all.
And some final options
I decided to organise this article by brands rather than individual pieces, but in my research for it, I did come across many pretty shapewear bodysuits that were either one of the only ‘stylish’ options from a shapewear brand, or one of the only shapewear options from a lingerie brand. So, I wanted to give a few of my favourites a shout out at the end here.
Alongside the three designs pictured above, take a look at the Lace ‘n’ Smooth Body Shaper by Bali, the Straight Laced Shaping Bodysuit by Wolford* (lower tummy shaping only; more colours available here*) and the embroidered Deauville Shaping Bodysuit by Primadonna*. If you know of any others, feel free to add them in the comments.
So, shapewear wearers, do you still prefer the standard plain designs for maximum invisibility under clothing, or are you excited by these more fashion-forward alternatives? And is there anything that’s still missing in the shapewear industry?