The Best Shapewear Tried And Trusted By Celebrities And Their Stylists

Shapewear was born in an era in which women were made to believe they had to adhere to a very specific body type (note: also the age of bodycon dresses and low-rise jeans) and was marketed as a "solution to your problem areas" and to restrict, restrain or compress your curves.

Today, however, brands like Skims, Heist, and Commando are (thankfully) helping to redefine body-shaping underwear for the modern woman by helping to create a base for any outfit for all occasions, wants and needs with clever solution wear designed to suit every eventuality.

For us, shapewear is not about 'control', it's just about providing functional underwear that makes you feel good. With that said, we've rounded up our favourite shapewear brands and pieces to shop below, and keep scrolling for all the need-to-know info on shapewear.

SHOP: The Best Shapewear To Buy Online

What shapewear brands are out there?

In 2019, Kim Kardashian founded Skims after she became frustrated with the lack of shapewear options. 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 went 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 Skim’s shapewear in the ‘umber’ shade when she dressed Priyanka for the annual event.

What is the best shapewear for tummy control?

Spanx, which celebrated its 22nd anniversary this year, remains a market leader, 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.

Rebecca Corbin-Murray, a celebrity stylist, starts every outfit by selecting the right undergarments. She 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.'

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.'