Aug 6, 20193 min read

Shapewear Q&A Part III: Solving Common Issues

Is shapewear already a part of your base layer wardrobe? If not, I highly recommend that you give it a try. Women of every shape and size can enjoy the silhouette-slimming and sculpting benefits of shaping garments on a daily basis and on special occasions. We all deserve to look and feel our best, so why hold back?

When you do choose to wear shapewear, you might run into some ill-fitting garments that can take away from your experience. Just because a product claims to be shaping or slimming doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you or the level of quality you need. In fact, poorly-designed shapewear can make you look and feel worse.

Where to Start

First, you need to choose a quality piece of shapewear that fits your figure. Start with the carefully curated selection available at HerRoom.
To learn more about fitting, wearing, and shopping for shaping undergarments, read my first two posts in this 3-part series:

When Shapewear Goes Wrong

Even if you’ve chosen the right style and size, you can still have a negative experience – which is why some women turn away from it altogether, and even warn their friends against it.

The good news: Whether you’ve had trouble with it in the past or you know someone who has, rest assured that every shapewear problem has a solution.

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about shapewear issues and how to deal with them.

How do I keep my shapewear from rolling up or down?

There are few things that are more frustrating than having to adjust and readjust your shapewear all day long. It’s common for the waist of some shapewear to roll down, or for the legs or skirt of shapewear to roll up. This usually means you’re either in the wrong fit or a low-quality garment.

The solution is simple: Make sure you’re in the correct size and that it’s designed specifically to stay in place.

Features to look for:

Gripper elastic on the hem of the openings, such as silicone. For example, the Miraclesuit Shape With An Edge Hi-Waist Thigh Slimmer has silicone lining in the leg openings to keep them from rolling up or shifting out of place.
Firm or extra firm control at the top or bottom. Quality waist-slimming garments often have either reinforcement around the midsection or a thick band that ensures the garment will stay in place. Try the Annette Extra Firm Control High Waist Mid-Thigh Shaper.
A waist minimizer or a torsette shaper with adjustable shoulder straps like the Body Hush Glamour Star Torsette Body Shaper. It won’t roll down!

How can I make bathroom breaks easier?

If you’re afraid wearing shapewear will make it more difficult to use the restroom, all you need is a quality piece designed with this problem in mind.

Features to look for:

Bodysuits and other shaping garments with an easy-access hook-and-eye closure in the crotch, like this Va Bien Minus Touch Vintage Bodysuit.
Make sure you layer your undergarments to make it easiest for you to pull them down and pull them back up into place. For more details on how to do this, watch my video.

How do I avoid visible seams and lines?

Obviously, you don’t want the world to know that you’re wearing shapewear. Luckily, there are a lot of options out there that will create an invisible, seamless look.

Features to look for:

Seamless shapewear styles. Seamless shapewear is designed to have seams and closures in less conspicuous places, so they don’t show through clothing. They’re great to wear under thin or revealing materials. Try the Wolford Individual Nature Forming Dress.
Shapewear with a thong back or with leg openings that are lower on the thighs instead of right around the rear. Which style you choose depends on how much shaping you want for your hips and thighs. The Rago Shapette High Waist Shaping Thong and the Wacoal Beyond Naked Thigh Shaper are both great options.

How do I keep the boning in my shapewear from bending?

For shapewear styles that have boning (plastic or metal shaping inserts to reinforce the shape you want), they can sometimes warp or become damaged in other ways – making them uncomfortable and sometimes even painful.

Improper care is the most common cause of this problem. So, make sure you’re always caring for your shapewear properly. For information on how to properly launder and care for your lingerie and shapewear, visit The Fitting Room™ Lingerie Care page.

Ready to shop for shapewear? Start with the newest lookbook at HerRoom.