Best shapewear to buy for support, control and comfort

As our diaries get booked up with nights out, dinner dates and weddings you’ll hopefully find yourself ditching the loungewear for something a little more glamorous. Whether you’re treating yourself to a new outfit or you're counting the pennies and just want to make an old faithful outfit look its very best, you may be in the market for some confidence-boosting shapewear to wear underneath your party outfits.

Whilst it isn’t for everyone, if you would like a little more support and control, the best shapewear can smooth, shape and enhance your body, while flattering your curves at the same time. Of course, we should embrace our body whatever size or shape, but shapewear can be a handy tool if you need a little help just to feel like the best version of yourself. It’s more to do with creating a smoother silhouette and making your outfit look really ‘put together’ than looking ‘slimmer’ than you are. In fact, some shapewear is now designed specifically to create curves, so if you’re looking for a more dramatic bustline or a more lifted derriere, shapewear can do that, too.

Shapewear, like firm control pants, waist cinchers and thigh trimming shorts, may sound painful and uncomfortable, but the latest undergarment solutions are actually very easy to wear. Gone are the days of getting stuck in your shapewear - designers now focus on comfortable cuts, using high-tech fabrics to make sure your underlayers are both flexible and breathable.

Whether it’s tummy control shapewear, firm control shapewear shorts or a smoothing bodysuit to wear under a dress, we’ve researched the best shapewear you can buy in 2023.

If you're still seeking comfortable clothing, check out our guides to the best lingerie for women, best loungewear for women, and if you're pregnant, we've got the best maternity tights for you too.

What does shapewear do?

Whilst you may automatically associate shapewear with attempting to look slimmer, that isn’t shapewear’s main purpose. Using compression style fabrics, shapewear can be used to smooth and enhance the body’s silhouette – whatever your size or body shape – creating a seam-free finish that is flattering under fitted dresses and outfits. 

What type of shapewear is best?

Shapewear comes in many different designs, but if you’re looking for shapewear that is both effective and comfortable you should pay attention to the amount of elastane they include.

Higher quality shapewear comes with a higher percentage of elastane (usually in combination with nylon or polyamide), which not only offers effective control and smoothing compression, but ensures comfort and flexibility of movement too.

Is shapewear uncomfortable to wear?

Whilst they can be a little tricky to get on, shapewear shouldn’t be uncomfy if you’re wearing the right size. Whilst there is an element of compression, they shouldn't feel restrictive or painful, nor should they leave painful marks on your skin. 

Some shapewear has medium compression which is ideal for everyday use, whereas others have a more firm control, better suited to event wear and special occasions. You may wish to try a few different brands to find the right fit and comfort level for you. 

What are the best shapewear brands?

Spanx is still definitely the market leader when it comes to Mumsnetters’ favourite shapewear styles. Its Higher Power Pants are a brilliant buy. But if you do have the extra pennies, then you won’t regret investing in Heist’s shapewear, like The Outer Body, as recommended above.

What brand of Spanx do the Kardashians wear?

We have it on good authority that the Kardashians love a high-leg shorts style of shapewear and were also big fans of the hourglass waist trainer type of Spanx product. However, since then Kim has launched her own shapewear brand, SKIMS, so if you’re a fan you might like to give that a go.

Does shapewear hide your belly?

Yes, it can but look for a product that is designed to target that specific area. The Miraclesuit Instant Tummy Tuck we’ve reviewed above is particularly good but all the best brands will have something in their arsenal for targeting tummies. 

What are the disadvantages of wearing shapewear?

Some shapewear can feel a little restrictive, particularly after a big meal so it’s worth shopping around to find products that are supportive but not ‘too’ firm and don’t dig in anywhere. Shapewear can also feel hot sometimes, because of the manmade fibres that are often used in them, so bear that in mind when choosing the rest of your outfit. Pieces that cover most of your body are often particularly hot as most of your core is covered - you’re essentially adding another layer of clothing. The heat can sometimes contribute to chafing, skin rashes and even UTIs if worn regularly so it’s best to keep your shapewear for high days and holidays. Worn occasionally it shouldn’t cause any problems. 

Should you buy shapewear a size smaller?

No. Not unless the brand says that the sizes run big so you need to size down. Buying a size smaller won’t ‘hold you in’ any more. In fact, it might make you spill over the top and just look worse so always buy the ‘right’ size for your body. 

Does shapewear actually change your shape?

Some shapewear claims to take inches off you but be wary of any outrageous claims. It all has to go somewhere, after all! Mostly what shapewear does is just smooth out your silhouette, getting rid of any lumps and bumps so that clothes ‘hang’ nicely on you. So it can really change the way you look in an outfit but it’s not going to help you fit in a dress two sizes smaller or anything like that. 

How tight should shapewear fit?

You’re looking for a fit that’s firm (or what’s the point) but not uncomfortable. If you find it’s leaving red marks on your skin or, worse, that it’s hard to breathe properly or eat, you’re in the wrong shapewear. What you want is firm support and a bit of lift maybe, not an iron cinch.

How to choose the best shapewear for you

• What are you wearing? - When choosing your shapewear, consider the style of outfit you are planning to wear. All-in-one bodysuits and slips are ideal for under dresses, particularly ones that allow you to wear your own bra. If you’re wearing something particularly fitted, pay attention to any visible seams or waistband support that will prevent them from rolling down. 
• How much control do you need? - From light to firm control, how much shaping and smoothing are you trying to achieve? Medium control pants will provide a smooth silhouette but may be less effective at flattening tummy fat. Firm control can feel quite fitted if you’re not used to them, so consider how long you intend to wear them. 
• What areas do you want to focus on? - Is it your muffin tops, tummy overhang or thigh chafing that you’re aiming to support? Some shapewear is better suited to overall shaping and smoothing, whilst others specifically target the tummy or lower abdomen. 
• Consider the fabrics - The fabrics will not only determine how stretchy, elastic and comfortable the shapewear will be, but also how breathable and moisture-wicking it is too. Look at the fabric make-up when making your choice – some feel significantly softer than others.
• Size up, not down - Whilst it may be tempting to buy a size smaller to achieve maximum compression – don’t do it. Buying shapewear that is too small will simply make you feel uncomfortable and at its worst or squash and squeeze your body to the outer edges of the pants. Not a great look. Whilst most shapewear brands recommend buying your usual size, some specify sizing up if you’re not used to firm control. 
• Colours - Consider the colour of your shapewear which you could match to compliment either the outfit or your skin tone. Some shapewear brands offer more variety of skin tone shades than others.
• Price tag - Finally, how much do you want to spend? Whilst quite often you get what you pay for, you can still pick up some medium control shapewear at a relatively reasonable price. If you are someone who socialises regularly, enjoys dressing up and is confident they can get regular wear, you may be willing to justify a higher price tag when you consider the cost per wear. 

How we chose our recommendations 

Recommendations from real Mumsnet users 

Mumsnetters have certainly put shapewear brands through their paces when dressing up for nights out and special events, with many Mumsnet users sharing experiences (both good and bad) of the shapewear they’ve personally tried and tested. 

First up, we sought out the trusted opinions of Mumsnet users to get their feedback on their favourite shapewear, as well as the brands that they have tried, rated, and would recommend to their friends.

We also looked out for any negative reviews, where Mumsetters highlighted products that they felt were poor quality, ineffective, rolled down or simply failed to create a smoothing effect. 

Expert opinions

We then cross-checked our recommendations with the shapewear praised by top stylists, fashion industry experts, and tastemakers, to ensure we were bringing you the best products that are rated across the board.

Authentic consumer reviews

Finally, to bring you our definitive list of the best shapewear, we thoroughly investigated genuine, in-depth customer reviews on retailer sites such as Amazon, John Lewis, Next and independent sites to get broader consumer experiences regarding the products on our shortlist. 

Why you should trust us

We work hard to provide honest and independent advice you can trust and we spend hours scouring the Mumsnet forums and online bestseller lists to find products that real parents rate.

Transparency is really important to us and that's why we're always upfront about where we find our recommendations. We write about products that we feel offer the best value to most parents – the ones that our users would recommend to their own friends and family.