Shapewear That Actually Works And Will Make You Feel Your Very Best

Shapewear has long been a divisive topic, largely because it has often been marketed as a 'solution' to women, suggesting that they must restrict, restrain or compress their body. Gone, however, are the days of uncomfortable underwear designed to try and change your body in some way. Now, there are a host of smart shapewear brands that are creating truly functional pieces that simply provide a brilliant foundation for your clothes.

Hopefully, it goes without saying that shapewear should be entirely optional; nobody should feel like they have to wear anything that makes them feel uncomfortable. Sometimes, though, great shapewear can genuinely make you feel confident, especially if you're just looking for a smoother surface under silk dresses or more form-fitting styles.

What is the best shapewear that actually works?

Rebecca Corbin-Murray, celebrity stylist, swears by Spanx. 'I buy Spanx, Spanx and more Spanx,' said the 37-year-old, who styles A-listers such as Florence Pugh, Gemma Chan and Lily James. 'I buy everyone I work with a range of pieces of different lengths and heights. It's not about being smaller, it just makes for better lines and it makes a dress look so much better.'

Meanwhile, Elizabeth Saltzman, who styles the likes of Sandra Oh and Saoirse Ronan, swears by a few brands. 'Commando does an excellent body suit and I love their thongs. We use Wolford for tights and then there are times when you need Spanx. They’ve got really, really fine high-waisted pants that I love.'

There's been a lot of innovation in the shapewear market in the last few years. Gone are the days of a one-size-fits-all approach, replaced instead with a host of brands – many of them crucially led by women – helping to redefine body-shaping underwear for the modern woman. As Kiana Miree, chief merchandising officer at Spanx says: 'We obsess over comfort and ensure you look as good as you feel. Our goal with designing shapewear is to provide a smooth canvas so that the individual feels empowered from the inside out. We prototype and iterate with a diverse group of body types until we feel that the technology is serving its purpose. We believe you don’t have to sacrifice comfort. And that goes for all body types – we serve customers with sizes from XS to 3X.'

Today's biggest names in shapewear are helping to create a base for any outfit for all occasions, wants and needs, creating clever solution-wear designed to suit every eventuality. If you're looking for inclusive sizing, SKIMS is your go-to. The brand, famously founded by Kim Kardashian, was created when she felt frustrated at the lack of versatility in the shapewear market. So, she started cutting existing pieces and making her own versions to suit various clothes, such as dresses with slits up one leg. Now, the brand offers every kind of shapewear you could imagine, all available in a range of shades and in sizes which cover UK2-30.

Best shapewear at a glance:

Best all-round shapewear: SKIMS Seamless Sculpt High Waisted Above The Knee Short, £40

Best all-in-one shapewear: Heist Contour Seamless Bodysuit, £70

Best affordable shapewear: M&S Light Control Seamless Shaping Body, £12

Best shapewear on Amazon: SHAPERX Seamless Sculpting Bodysuit for Women, £40

Best bridal shapewear: Spanx Thinstincts 2.0 Shorts, £55

Best shapewear for tummy control: Miraclesuit Tummy Tuck High-Waisted Shaping Brief, £40

Best shapewear for post-partum: Seraphine Post-Maternity Leggings, £35

Another name which has changed the game in many ways is Heist, the British brand which developed innovative technical garments that put comfort before anything else. Of course, since new brands have emerged, creating an entirely new take on shapewear, the existing labels have had to up the ante to stay competitive. This is why you'll now see brands like Spanx offering many different products, not just the traditional all-in-one or those infamous big pants.

For us, shapewear is not about 'control', it's just about providing functional underwear that makes you feel good. You definitely shouldn't feel like your movement is restricted in any way, so make sure you read our guide to buying the best shapewear below.

How did Grazia test the best shapewear?

As a team of fashion experts who are mostly women, between us we have tried just about every brand making shapewear. Whether we've discovered it on photoshoots, working with models or A-list stars, or been lucky enough to try new much-hyped products as they launch, we have tested everything from SKIMS shorts to Heist's all-in-one. Here, we've hunted down the very best products based on comfort, efficacy, material and price, offering you what is hopefully the ultimate edit of the best shapewear for all body shapes and sizes, as well as different needs. Whether you want a dress you're wearing to a friend's wedding to feel that bit better on your body over a long day of celebrations, or you've just had a baby and want underwear to make you feel more supported under your clothes, we've rifled through the best the shops have to offer to ensure we're recommending shapewear that's worth your money.

Tried And Tested: The Best Shapewear Brands To Shop Now

Is it better to size up or down in shapewear?

Shapewear is designed to feel like a snug fit that doesn't restrict your movement but, equally, isn't baggy or too loose. Many brands publish measurements in their size guides so, if in doubt, check these and measure yourself before you select your size.

Miree says: 'Finding the right size shapewear can be tough, especially when hip and waist measurements fall into different sizing categories. If you're between sizes (ex: size medium waist and size large hips) we recommend choosing your regular size and a seamless product, such as our Thinstincts 2.0 collection.'

Which shapewear is best for tummy control?

Spanx remains a market leader and you might be pleased to know that it has evolved beyond the breath-restricting girdles of the past to create shapewear that neither looks, nor feels, like shapewear yet still does the trick. As Miree says: 'We innovatively combine fit, fabric, and function. Our shapewear is shoppable by compression level, style and solution area, allowing our customers to find the desired style for all of her shapewear needs.'

In general – from our collective experience at Grazia – shapewear shorts or briefs tend to be a good choice if you're specifically looking to smooth your stomach area. Some brands, however, will offer shapewear specific to certain areas of the body. Miraclesuit, for example, lets you shop from an entire 'tummy control' section, where you can choose from all-in-one styles, briefs, waist cinchers and even slips.

What shapewear do the Kardashians wear?

In 2019, Kim Kardashian founded SKIMS after she became frustrated with the lack of shapewear options that she liked. She struggled to find anything that offered the right support, coverage or shade. This led her to cut up and dye pieces at home, sewing them together to get the solutions and results she wanted - even wearing multiple pairs at once for red carpet events. Since then, the brand has gone where most other shapewear brands had never gone before. Think sculpting bodysuits, adaptive fits-everybody briefs and bras and waist trainers, as well as a size range that goes from XXS to 5X.

We have to hand it to her, SKIMS really is a great lingerie destination for every undergarment thinkable. Plus, more importantly, it's inclusive of size and skin colour. At the 2020 Golden Globe Awards, Saoirse Ronan and Priyanka Chopra were among the stars wearing SKIMS. Celebrity stylist Mimi Cuttrell even revealed on her Instagram Stories that she relied on SKIMS's shapewear in the ‘umber’ shade when she dressed Chopra for the annual event. And, of course, all of Kim K's sisters have expressed their love of the brand over the last few years.

Do you wear knickers under shapewear?

Clearly, this is down to personal preference, however you might find that wearing underwear underneath your shapewear is uncomfortable and causes bunching under your clothes. Most shapewear has either an open gusset or one with poppers to make it easy to go to the loo without having to remove anything. I would recommend treating your shapewear like normal underwear and therefore wash it after each use.

Hannah Banks-Walker is Grazia's head of fashion commerce. She has previously written for the likes of Harper's Bazaar, The Financial Times, Glamour, Stylist, The Telegraph, Red, i-D and The Pool on everything from fashion to curly hair (hi!) to the patriarchy. Not necessarily in that order. Find her on Instagram and Twitter. But please don't look for her MySpace profile, which until now was the last time she wrote about herself in the third person.