Why We Love It: Of the many bodysuits we put to the test, Skims’ Sculpting Bodysuit is our top pick for an everyday style that offers just the right amount of smoothing and sculpting. Comfortable and lightweight, the compressive fabric smoothed out bumps, subtly cinched us at the waist, and looked seamless under our clothes. It maintained its integrity through multiple washes, and we noticed no changes in its fit or shape (although we did notice slight pilling on one occasion). That said, this bodysuit fits pretty tight and, at times, was challenging to take off, so if you want something that feels a little less restrictive, consider sizing up.
Who It’s For: For light compression and sculpting, we think this is an effective bodysuit suitable for most body types. We recommend sizing up if you have a longer torso or wider hips, as you may need a little more wiggle room around the legs and gusset. If you’re unsure, we recommend taking measurements and following the brand’s size guide closely to find your perfect fit.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XXS–4X
Why We Love It: For a smoothing bodysuit that won’t break the bank, this cute lacy number from Bali is a must. It’s not as compressive and shaping as others on this list, but it does a good job of smoothing things out and holding everything in nicely. It’s not restrictive, and we found it easy and comfortable to wear (and just as easy to take on and off). Despite its light control, it still offered great support and stayed in place the whole time. And for the price, we were impressed with how well it held up after washing, showing no signs of wear or stretching.
Who It’s For: This bodysuit is best suited for those with rectangle and inverted triangle body types, as those of us with bigger hips and booties found it difficult to clasp. Keep in mind that it isn’t offered in sizes smaller than a 34B or larger than a 40DD, and because the bottom is a full brief, you may notice some VPLs (visible panty lines) depending on what you pair it with.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: 34B–40DD
Styling Tip: After testing this piece in various sartorial situations, from under workwear and occasion-wear to wearing it alone as a top, we found it works best as a cute, lingerie-inspired top with smoothing benefits rather than true shapewear.
Why We Love It: This Wacoal bodysuit provided a decent amount of shaping in the belly and hips and lifting around the bust without feeling overly constricting or compressive. It gave us a much smoother silhouette that was subtly slimmer and more trim, and our breasts looked noticeably perkier. Besides the straps feeling slightly tight on some of us, this bodysuit was pretty comfortable and invisible under our clothes, so long as we wore our correct size. If there were two things we could change, it would be to make the straps adjustable and for the gusset hooks to be a snap rather than a bra-like hook—we had our moments of struggle trying to re-hook them in the bathroom.
Who It’s For: We found that because this bodysuit uses bra sizing, it’s best fit for those with slimmer hourglass, rectangle, or inverted triangle figures. Those of us who are wider on the bottom found that it was a tad too tight in the booty area, resulting in discomfort and VPLs, even when it fit our busts correctly. It’s also not offered in sizes below 34C, so it isn’t suitable for those with smaller chests.
Material: Nylon, spandex; cotton-lined gusset | Size: 34C–40DDD
Why We Love It: If you’re seeking next-level compression, this sheer bodysuit from Miraclesuit delivers. We were impressed by how smooth and toned it makes us look, and we think it’s a real confidence booster. The high-quality fabric is very sturdy and compressive, and it passed our durability tests with flying colors, maintaining its shape and compression level nicely after wearing and washing. Just keep in mind that it’s on the thicker side, which is great for shaping but may be a little too warm for summer heatwaves. If we could change one thing, it would be to omit the boning by the gusset snaps, as it sometimes causes discomfort along the inner thighs.
Who It’s For: After testing this suit on multiple body types and sizes, we think it’s best suited for moderately curvy, hourglass to slim, athletic figures. The sizing is by band and cup, not alpha sizing, and we found that if you carry most of your weight in your hips and midsection, the bottom is a bit too tight. It generally runs on the smaller side, so we recommend thoroughly reading the brand size guide and reviews. When in doubt, size up.
Material: Nylon, spandex, elastane | Size: 34–40 band; B–DD cup
Why We Love It: For a shaping bodysuit that’ll lay nicely under your strapless dresses (and just about anything else), this back-supporting style is our favorite. Designed with the brand’s innovative Back Magic, which features corset-like boning for back support, it did a nice job smoothing and defining our torsos, especially from waist to hip. It was surprisingly comfortable to wear for hours at a time (besides after a huge meal, but we expected that), and clasps at the gusset allow for easy maneuvering during bathroom breaks. Despite being sized by band and cup size, we were impressed by how well it fit in the waist and hip areas on several body types. Testers also appreciated the silicone grips along the bottom briefs, which prevented the bodysuit from riding up or moving underneath our clothes. It’s also top-notch quality and looks and fits like new after washing, with no changes in overall shape or compression level.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking for full-torso smoothing and sculpting, this bodysuit provides a medium amount of compression. It wasn’t overly dramatic, but it gave our midsections a noticeably slimmer, more cinched appearance. However, it doesn’t come in the widest size range, and those with cup sizes smaller than a B or larger than a DD may struggle to find the right fit. We found the gusset to be a tad too short for some of us, which folks with longer torsos should note.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: 32–40 band; B–DD cup
Why We Love It: This Honeylove bodysuit is particularly effective at smoothing the lower belly area, especially for minimizing our “mom belly.” It won’t give you a dramatic transformation, but it provides adequate support that looks good and stays out whether you’re sitting or standing. It was very comfortable overall and blended well under our clothing, including casual skirts and formal, floor-length dresses. We also appreciate that it comes in a few cut options, including a cami brief, a cami thong, a completely seamless tank, and a crossover style. Our only issue is the brief slightly digs around the leg openings, but an option with a thong bottom option may be a little less restricting.
Who It’s For: This is a great option for anyone looking for a smoothing bodysuit that targets the lower half of the torso. However, we found the leg openings to be slightly tight for pear shapes and that the cup sizing was a little off for larger busts—if either of these describe your body type, we recommend sizing up.
Material: Nylon, spandex; cotton gusset | Size: XS–4X standard and petite
Why We Love It: Of all the shorts we tested, this pair is our top choice due to its incredible shaping capabilities. It effectively smoothed out our natural dips, especially in the lower belly area, and nicely compressed and shaped our hips, butt, and thighs. Designed with boning and non-slip grips along the leg trim, it stayed in place throughout the day, and while on the tighter side, it was still pretty comfortable overall. We must admit, it was a tad too tight for long periods of sitting and eating. Even still, we give it bonus points for its cute lacy material. We wouldn’t mind if it poked out under a skirt or dress since it doesn’t look like shapewear.
Who It’s For: If you’re looking for true shaping and contouring benefits, this pair gets the job done. The super inclusive size offering fits a wide variety of body shapes and sizes, though it’s important to note that the high waist goes up quite high on petite heights or those with shorter torsos.
Material: Nylon, Lycra, spandex | Size: S–8X
Why We Love It: You don’t have to spend much on good shapewear, and these thigh-saver shorts from Knix are the perfect example. The buttery-soft, second-skin-like material was super comfortable to wear, and we were impressed by how well it smoothed us out despite being so light and airy. These aren’t shorts that will give you any serious sculpting or slimming effect, but they’ll save your thighs from chafing while simultaneously holding everything in place. Overall, we found these shorts to be excellent quality for the price, as they remained soft, stretchy, and smooth after a handful of washes and wears.
Who It’s For: These shorts were a great fit for slender and hourglass body types, and we think the stretchy material would be comfortable on bodies of all shapes and sizes, especially given the inclusive size range. Also, the 4-inch length may not cover enough of the thighs on taller folks with longer legs, but it was the perfect length for mid and petite heights.
Material: Nylon, Lycra; cotton, spandex, carbon gusset | Size: XS–4XL
Why We Love It: These may be called the Butt Enhancing Short, but it does a great job enhancing our lower belly, hips, and thighs, too. In fact, we were more impressed with how we looked from the front than we did from the back! As with any compressive shapewear, this style is pretty tight, but we wouldn’t call it uncomfortable. It’s made from the quality Skims material we know and love: thick, sturdy, and great at holding everything in. Also nice? It features a gusset opening that makes bathroom breaks less of a hassle.
Who It’s For: This short is great for enhancing hourglass figures, but we did find that the waistband was a bit too tight and slightly rolled down for those of us who carry weight in our midsection. Having the waistband a tad higher would solve this issue.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: XXS–4X
Why We Love It: While Shapermint lists these shorts as having a high compression level, we found the compression to be on the lighter side. It’s a perfect everyday short for smoothing out the belly, hips, and thighs. It was easily one of the most comfortable pairs we tried on. They’re not at all restrictive and fit like a glove. They stayed in place nicely throughout wear without rolling down whatsoever and appearing seamless underneath our clothes. They were also super easy to take on and off, an important feature since there’s no opening at the gusset, making them all the more suitable for every day.
Who It’s For: We found these shorts to be especially flattering on pear shapes since they do a great job smoothing out the lower regions of the torso, hips, and thighs. We wouldn’t rely on these for shaping or slimming, but they left us lump and bump-free and looked great under casual clothing like jeans. However, we do think there’s a possibility they would show with tighter clothing like a bodycon dress.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: XS/S–4XL
Why We Love It: During summer months, a compressive shapewear short that’s airy and breathable is a total game changer. Crafted from an ultralightweight mesh (akin to a pair of tights), these shorts left us looking noticeably more snatched and did a great job of smoothing things out underneath our clothes, making all of our outfits look amazing. These shorts do fit on the tighter side, and despite their thin, light material, the shorts were strong, sturdy, and high-quality. In fact, they kept their shape and compression level throughout the testing period.
Who It’s For: Anyone looking for a breathable shaping short will appreciate this pair’s mesh construction. They run on the smaller side, so size up if you don’t want the fit to be too restrictive and to prevent them from riding up or rolling down.
Material: Polyamide, elastane | Size: XS–XL
Why We Love It: For a seamless look and medium sculpting power, these mid-thigh shorts from Spanx are a solid choice. We felt smoothed, shaped, and confident while wearing them. They held us in and hugged us in all the right places. We also appreciated how comfortable and breathable the material is. We noticed they slightly rolled down at the waist throughout the day, but the shorts stayed nicely in place for the most part.
Who It’s For: It contains extra material in the thighs to prevent chafing, making this a great option for summer, especially given how breathable the material is. It fits somewhat tight, so we recommend sizing up if you’re in between sizes or don’t want an overly constricting fit. Keep the mid-thigh length in mind, as they might peek out from underneath shorter dresses and skirts, especially if you’re petite.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: S–3X
Why We Love It: Simply put, these shorts are the key to looking snatched. We found that these had a great sculpting effect on the entire torso, hips, and booty area, cinching us nicely at the waist and smoothing out our hip dips. Designed with a super-high waist and boning throughout, these offer a pretty high compression level—which may take some getting used to—and are virtually undetectable underneath clothes, even a bodycon Skims dress (which, alone, is pretty impressive). Plus, it features a pull-aside gusset, which makes bathroom breaks extra easy, requiring no fussing with snaps or undressing. We love this short in particular, but we’re also big fans of the rest of Honeylove’s SuperPower collection. The SuperPower Brief also ranked quite high on our list for its excellent compression and superior comfort.
Who It’s For: We tried this style on petite pear shapes and slim, athletic builds and found it effective on both (though the former could feel the boning dig into the hips slightly when sitting). Overall, we think this is a solid piece of shapewear that would work with most body types. If shorts aren’t your thing, we recommend trying the SuperPower Brief or the SuperPower Thong if you’re worried about VPLs.
Material: Nylon, spandex; cotton gusset | Size: XS–3X
Why We Love It: These super stretchy Spanx shorts have a barely there feel that’s perfect for everyday wear. They’re marketed as anti-chaffing and anti-panty-line shorts, not sculpting, but we were surprised to find that they provide subtle shaping and smoothing to the midsection and thighs (a nice bonus, if you ask us). More importantly, they’re so comfortable that we forgot we even had them on. In fact, those of us who were bodysuit enthusiasts now consider ourselves short converts.
Who It’s For: Those looking for light smoothing and chafing protection will love how effortless these shorts are. Given their lightweight, they’re a perfect addition to anyone’s summer wardrobe for extra protection under miniskirts and dresses. The stretchy material fits curvy and wide-hipped body types well, and we can see them working on a range of other body types.
Material: Nylon, elastane; cotton-lined gusset | Size: OS (fits 0–12)
Why We Love It: This high-waisted brief from Chantelle was our favorite of the bunch, not only for its tummy-smoothing and cinching abilities but also because it’s completely invisible underneath our clothes—a feat, considering it’s a brief and not a thong. While it fits pretty tight and requires a little work to get on, the compression and sculpting levels were truly impressive, and the seamless design ensured no digging throughout wear. The material is high-quality, sturdy, and durable, and it looked good as new after multiple wears and washes.
Who It’s For: This brief is a great option for anyone looking for tummy control and doesn’t want to wear shapewear on top of their underwear. It’s also a solid pick for those who want to wear tummy-control jeans. We had pear and curvy body types take it for a spin, and they thought it was extremely effective at shaping, sculpting, and comfortably holding everything in. We bet it’d do the same for those who hold their weight in their midsection and less curvy folks, too.
Material: Not listed | Size: XS–2XL
Why We Love It: This shaping brief from Wacoal fits like a cozy glove—tight, but not too tight. It efficiently smooths things out, and we really appreciate the extra layer of compression over the tummy area, which made this area look flatter and more trim. Because it’s a brief, it provides more coverage than your average shapewear underwear (which are usually thongs), and we found that extra coverage gave us confidence and security while we were wearing short dresses and skirts. The material is also top-notch. Despite being so thin and breathable, it’s durable and sturdy, and we saw no signs of wear, shrinking, or stretching after multiple uses and washes.
Who It’s For: If you’re not a fan of thong shapewear, this high-waisted brief is for you. While briefs are typically more visible under clothing than thongs, we were still impressed with how well this pair performed. We just wouldn’t recommend wearing it underneath anything too tight.
Material: Polyamide, elastane | Size: S–XXL
Why We Love It: Thongs. You either love ‘em or hate ‘em, but when it comes to preventing VPLs under your bodycon dresses, they’re unmatched. This Commando thong is one of the more comfortable styles we tried on. The soft and breathable fabric provides an impressive amount of compression, smoothing and shaping us while remaining completely invisible underneath our clothes. In fact, those of us who were former thong nonbelievers are already planning to buy more.
Who It’s For: People with a wide range of body shapes and sizes found this thong very comfortable. However, we think the waist could be slightly higher. As it is, it may not provide those with longer torsos the amount of coverage they’d like.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XS–XL
Why We Love It: If you’re going to buy one thing from this list, let it be this strapless slip, which scored perfect 5s across the board. It’s slightly challenging to get on, but once it’s on, it’s on. It didn’t shift or roll down at all—impressive for a strapless top—and we were delightfully surprised at how comfortable it felt as it conformed to our bodies. It smoothed and shaped us and was completely invisible under clothing (the brand suggests it can be worn on its own, too). The sturdy, high-quality material is on the thicker side yet still feels lightweight and breathable, which is everything we want from shapewear.
Who It’s For: We tested this style on curvy body types and found it did an incredible job at smoothing and shaping, particularly around the hips, and we think it would be just as flattering on less curvy body types.
Material: Nylon, cotton, elastane | Size: XS–XL
Why We Love It: This impressive little slip earned perfect scores for fit, comfort, and effectiveness. True to size, it provides a snug amount of compression that smooths out bumps and nicely shapes the figure without cutting or digging into the skin. It looks completely seamless under clothing and stays in place throughout the day. The fabric is super comfortable, breathable, and, in our opinion, comparable to some of the pricier products on this list. The only reason we knocked off half a point was because of its straps. They’re perfectly fine but would be better if they provided a little more lift in the bust. Still, for less than $30, this slip is a total steal.
Who It’s For: We tested this slip on curvy bodies of different heights and were impressed, We think it would flatter a range of body shapes thanks to its snug, form-fitting silhouette.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: XS–XL
Why We Love It: This strappy slip is another style from Commando that ranked high on our list. Snug, secure, and seamless under clothing, it provides a moderate amount of shaping and smoothing without sacrificing comfort. Constructed in sleek microfiber with a comfy cotton lining, it’s oh-so breathable and lightweight, making it a perfect base layer for your summer dresses. In fact, we think it’s comfortable enough for everyday wear. Its lightweight material has impressive quality and looks as good as new after multiple wears and washes.
Who It’s For: We were impressed with how flattering this fit is on curves, but we think it’s a great pick for most body types—although the size range could be more inclusive. It’s slightly longer than most other slips, and we found that it’s best paired with midi and maxidresses for more petite people.
Material: Nylon, cotton, elastane | Size: XS–XL
Why We Love It: If a dramatic hourglass figure is your M.O., you can’t go wrong with this contouring corset. It did an excellent job of cinching us in at the waist, very visibly shaping our torso while remaining as comfortable as a corset can be (it’s not uncomfortable, but you’ll notice it throughout the day). It has a lot of hooks, so make sure to pencil in some extra time to get it on. We found it comparatively easy to take off. It isn’t seamless, so you’ll need to be conscious about what you wear it with. It shows underneath anything too thin or fitted. We think it works better as a waist trainer than shapewear under a bodycon dress.
Who It’s For: This cincher is best suited for those with average to longer torsos. For those of us with shorter torsos, it was a little too long and slightly cut into our hips.
Material: Rubber, cotton | Size: XXS–3X
Why We Love It: We were impressed with just how well this open-bust, full-short bodysuit slimmed our midsection, giving us a smoother overall silhouette and showing no visible lines underneath our clothing. We were also surprised at how comfortable it felt. The material is soft and stretchy, and while it took a little wriggling to get into, we forgot we were wearing any shapewear once we had it on. Also nice? It’s crotchless, so you won’t have to worry about baring it all in the bathroom.
Who It’s For: If you prefer the comfort and reliable fit provided by bras, this shaping singlet is for you (especially if you find that most shapewear lacks your desired level of support). It does a great job smoothing and subtly slimming out the midsection, which can be especially flattering for apple and pear body types.
Material: Nylon, elastane; cotton gusset | Size: S–3XL
Why We Love It: When you want to look absolutely snatched underneath your wedding dress (or your wedding guest dress, or any formal attire for that matter), this underwire slip from Skims is a solid choice. From a shaping standpoint, this style is top-tier. It smooths everything from our back rolls to our stomachs and provides a sturdy amount of compression while still allowing for plenty of movement and dancing. It’s on the pricier side, but its outstanding quality make it a worthy investment for special events.
Who It’s For: This slip is best for curvier body types, like hourglasses and apples. Those of us with rectangle body shapes noticed it fit well in the hips but was slightly too large in the bust. However, it does accommodate larger cup sizes very well, including E cups, which can be tough to find in slips.
Material: Polyamide, elastane | Size: XXS–4X
Why We Love It: People with plus-size figures will appreciate the sculpting and compression this open-bust shaper provides from the torso down. The high level of compression is strong enough to create a smooth hourglass silhouette with no visible lumps or bumps under our clothes, and even though it fits on the tighter side, the fabric is super soft, breathable, and moisture-wicking (a major plus), making it decently comfortable. We did notice slight discomfort after wearing it for more than six hours, but that was in no way a dealbreaker. It’s also virtually invisible under clothing, and the silky material allowed our clothing to slide right over it. Remember that this doesn’t have any sort of opening at the crotch, so you’ll need to take them down every time you use the bathroom, which some may find bothersome. Luckily, we found these relatively easy to get on and off.
Who It’s For: Those who’d like to see a slimming and shaping effect in the waist, butt, and thighs will appreciate the comfortable yet strong level of compression this shaper provides. We mentioned that it could become slightly uncomfortable after sustained wear, but it’s a great option for weddings or other formal events where you’ll need shaping for a few hours.
Material: Nylon, spandex | Size: 14/16–34/36
Why We Love It: Like all full-short bodysuits, this one isn’t easy to get on (and may require a bit of jumping), but once it’s on, it’s so comfortable. We really appreciated the shorts’ thinness. They prevent chafing and unlike others on the market, don’t leave us feeling like we’re wearing sausage casing. And don’t worry, a gusset eyelet opening makes bathroom breaks easy. It has a smoothing and subtle slimming effect from the torso through the thighs, which made anything we wore over it look great (as long as we wore thicker straps). It also held up well after a few washes, maintaining its shape and light compression.
Who It’s For: Given the comfortable light compression the mid-length shorts provide, this is a great bodysuit for anyone who wants to make their hips and thighs appear subtly slimmer and smoother. It was completely invisible under clothing and smoothed everything out along the hips, butt, and thighs (no VPLs here), so we’d recommend it for underneath your occasion-wear. It’s a little too complicated to wear every day. It’s also a great option if you prefer to wear your own tried-and-true bra.
Material: Nylon, elastane | Size: XS–3X regular and petite
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