The 21 Best Shapewear of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

Best Overall

Skims Bodysuit With Snaps

View On Nordstrom $34 View On Skims.com $68 View On Saks Fifth Avenue $68

We’ve discussed this sculpting bodysuit many times in the past, even naming it the best shapewear that Skims has to offer, which, for a shapewear-heavy brand, that’s a tough feat. 

At a compression level of two, which describes how compressive the garment is, and goes up to level three (so, basically, this one has mid-range compression), the bodysuit smoothes the skin, without feeling too tight or sacrificing comfort. We wouldn’t turn to this bodysuit for exaggerated effects — it won’t take inches off your waist — but it does lightly cinch in our waist, give our chests a gentle push, and our bottoms a sweet little plump. The fabric is so kind on our skin, due to its soft touch, that it’s easy to forget it’s even on. The extremely lightweight material disappears under any clothes, even form-fitting ones, so we never have to worry about panty lines peeking through any skinny jeans or bodycon dresses. 

During our dash to the restroom, we were relieved to find clasps at the crotch that allowed us to get to our business quicker. Once finished, we did have to perform a little wiggle dance in order to get back into the compressing shapewear — but it just took some shimming and adjusting, then we were good to go again. 

However, we did notice that it doesn’t fit plus-size women particularly well. The straight sizes fit true-to-size, but it runs small once it reaches past an XL, especially for plus-size folks with particularly wide hips. Of course, it is supposed to fit tightly, due to the compression, it wouldn’t even slide on the plus-size editor who tested it out. Keep this in mind when choosing what size you think would fit you best. 

Size: XXS-5XL | Colors: 10 | Material: Sherica, nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 2

Best Splurge

Wolford Forming Bodysuit

View On Amazon View On Wolford.com

Everything about the Wolford 3W Stretch-Cotton Bodysuit impressed us from the stretch to the feel to the aesthetics. The ultra-soft cotton and elastane blend truly feels like a second skin, so much so that we felt like we could easily sleep in it and wake up with no markings. Much like the Skims option, it doesn’t feel too restrictive, but it does come with stronger compression in the midsection accentuating our curves and smoothing our tummy a little more. We still consider this to be a level two compression, though, because it does not fully alter your shape, but it feels firmer than a level one.

Pulling the shapewear on and off also felt like a breeze. We snapped ourselves in with the crotch closure (which never rode up uncomfortably), and at the end of the day, it simply rolled right off once we unsnapped the bottom. For our small chests, we noticed that the straps created a bit of a lift, giving our girls a nice look without the need to turn to push-up bras.  

We couldn’t spot this shapewear underneath a dress or a top, but we noticed the linings of the full-coverage bottoms peek through when worn with leggings or tight pants. Thick, rigid jeans hid the lines well, but other form-fitting fabrics might give away what’s underneath.

Size: 34-44 | Color: 2 | Material: Cotton, elastane | Compression Level: 2

Best Budget

Bali Women's Lace 'N Smooth Shapewear

View On Amazon $29 View On Roamans.com View On Shoemall.com

This budget-friendly body shaper works double duty in smoothing out any bumps and acting as a cute lace top. While this bodysuit is not the least expensive piece of shapewear on this list, we wanted to highlight a bodysuit that can be an alternative to our more pricey best overall and best splurge pieces, rather than shorts. Structurally, this bodysuit works similarly to Skims and Wolford’s options, offering full torso, bust, and booty compression, but at a much lower price. 

It feels much less firm than many other bodysuits on this list with only a compression level of one. But it did even out our skin enough to give us an overall sleek look, sans bumps and ripples. We found it very easy to slip in and out of, with a snap closure for easy access as well when going to the bathroom. 

Because you select your size based on your bust, anyone with a fuller bottom will notice the fabric feels a bit too constrictive around the thigh openings. It left marks on our thighs and felt less comfortable than other bodysuits we tried. On the other hand, the lace portion never seemed to bother us and looked rather chic as a going-out shirt when combined with a nude bra. Otherwise, the bra portion is completely sheer, and while it does have an underwire for support, it does not provide coverage to the nipples. 

Size: 34B-40DD | Colors: 3 | Material: Nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 1

Best Seamless

Commando Classic Control Short

View On Nordstrom $58 View On Wearcommando.com View On Zappos $58

Shapewear should be an invisible layer that helps you feel like your best self, which is why we recommend adding a seamless piece to your collection. These shaping shorts from Commando focus on the lower half of your body by smoothing out the stomach, hips, butt, and thighs so that tighter-fitting garments feel more comfortable. From waist to thighs, you’ll find no seams closing out the ends, but rather raw-cut edges without elastic, trim, or taping to deliver a smooth finish. 

When worn underneath a dress, it successfully blurs out any dimples, while also forming a clean line from our hips to our thighs, with nothing hinting at any garments underneath. It reached down to our mid-thigh level, but on petite women, this can feel a little longer. The silky-feeling fabric even feels great on the skin and doesn’t leave us ready to tear it off our bodies after a long day’s wear. And in the process of removing it, we found that the shorts roll off like butter in one swift movement. Once off, we did however notice some markings on the skin around the waist where the band was.

Size: XS-3XL | Colors: 4 | Material: Nylon, spandex, cotton | Compression Level: 1

Best Thong

Fleur du Mal Le Body Control Bodysuit

View On Fleurdumal.com View On Orchardmile.com

You can avoid worrying about seams all together by opting for a thong bodysuit. When wearing this bodysuit, we loved how the waist-cinching compression pulled the body in nicely — it sucked us in in all the right places without making us feel like a sausage. The wire-free ruched cups also supported the girls, enough not to wear a bra underneath on chest cups C and below. Higher cup sizes can go without a bra as well, but it depends on the comfort level of the individual. Luckily, the material isn’t see-through, which allowed us to wear it as a top, out and about in our daily life. We particularly love the high cutouts around the thighs, which instead of pressing your hip curves down, accentuate them and lengthen the legs. Overall, the seamless bodysuit is almost undetectable underneath clothes, even with the ribbed texture on it. 

Unfortunately, trips to the restroom will require some extra effort because there are no clasps or openings at the gusset for easy access. You will be required to undress from the top down to use the bathroom. 

Size: XS-XL | Colors: 2 | Material: Polyamide, elastane | Compression Level: 2

Best for Lower Belly

Honeylove Cami Bodysuit

View On Nordstrom $99 View On Honeylove.com $99

For days when we want a little extra support and discrete smoothing around the lower belly, we  turn to the Honeylove Cami Bodysuit. The semi-invisible criss-cross bandaging around the waist tucks in the belly nicely without constricting it. We would wear this bodysuit casually underneath our clothing, rather than waiting for a special occasion to pull it out. It makes your bust look its best, which is why we love it for regular wear, too — it lifts, giving our breasts a more perky appearance, but it’s not so much that larger busts feel uncomfortable. 

The brand offers one of the widest size ranges going up to 4XL, as well as a petite and regular fit, which rivals Skims. We appreciate that it has multiple adjustable elements, too, to almost give you a customized fit: the shoulder straps and gusset can both be fixed to fit you how you’d like. Instead of buttons, the gusset actually has clasps similar to a bra band, making it significantly more secure, too. 

The only con we noticed was that on thicker thighs, the leg portion cuts in a little. After a few hours this can get a little uncomfortable. 

Size: XS-4XL | Colors: 5 | Material: Nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 1

Best Tummy Control

Honeylove SuperPower Short

View On Nordstrom $89 View On Honeylove.com $89 View On Barenecessities.com $89

When we want something with a little more contouring power, we turn to the SuperPower Short from Honeylove. With targeted, level three compression around the waist , these tummy control shorts provide some intense shaping on the body. While wearing these shorts, we noticed suctioning just about everywhere, but the tummy-controlling properties were particularly brought to life through the criss-cross bandaging around our midsection. Combined with the side boning, it really created an hourglass figure and cinched in the waist. The mesh is also very strong on the legs, despite looking deceivingly sheer, and helped smooth out our hip dips impressively. Our entire torso, hips, and butt area were expertly sculpted. 

These shorts embrace everything from your thigh up to your underboob in a tight grip, which we found a little restricting when sitting down or partaking in big movements. We did frequently fuss with the material, though, especially before sitting, in order to find its comfortable placement. This became quite uncomfortable on our wider hips, so we recommend sizing up. With that in mind, the tightness does help make it look completely undetectable under dresses – even the skin-tight Skims dress passed the invisibility test. Shorter dresses, however, revealed the shorts from underneath, so you can really only wear them with knee-length hems.

Size: XS-3XL | Colors: 5 | Material: Nylon, spandex, cotton | Compression Level: 3

Best Plus-Size

lane bryant Level 3 Contouring Open-Bust Thigh Shaper

View On Lanebryant.com

For shapewear with level three compression, this open-bust shaper feels surprisingly buttery soft and comfortable. It glides on like any other shorts, then can be pulled over the shoulders with adjustable straps. We never had to perform a wiggle dance to get these on — an appreciated detail for something so sculpting.

Once on, we were delighted to see what a remarkable job it did of smoothing our legs and waist. We tried on many shapewear, but this one provided one of the most noticeable visual changes to our bodies. We found no lumps or bumps while in this, and it really improved the way our clothing looked over it. As an added bonus, the opening under the chest worked hand-in-hand with our favorite bra to gently push the ladies up. The only thing we would change here is to add an opening around the bottom to make trips to the bathroom a little easier. While the garment doesn’t take a lot of work to slide off and on, it’s simply a hassle to first have to remove our top to get the straps down and perform our business. 

Size: 14-36 | Colors: 2 | Material: Nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 3

Best Open-Bust

Maidenform Women's Wear Your Own Bra Singlet Fajas Shapewear

View On Amazon $29 View On Womanwithin.com View On Shoemall.com

Dresses and tops with low-hanging fronts require shapewear with an open bust, if you plan to wear it underneath. With the bust portion uncovered on this piece, you have some more freedom to show a little cleavage, should you wish to do so. 

We loved how this shapewear evened out our bodies to create a smooth figure, but more than that, we adored how near-invisible it felt once on. We practically forgot we had it on thanks to the extremely comfortable fabric. The only reminder of its existence was that the shorts tended to show from underneath a mini dress as they are a bit long. And going to the bathroom requires a bit of patience with this one;  the crotch does have two flaps that can be pushed aside when you have to go. But unless you are extremely skilled at maneuvering through this opening, you will be required to take the whole piece off to use the toilet, which can be a major hassle. We had rather mixed feelings about this, as it took some patience and practice to use the opening flaps. We almost preferred taking the whole thing off, however time-consuming, just to not ruin the shapewear in the process of using the toilet. 

Size: S-XXL| Colors: 2 | Material: Nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 2

Best Bodysuit

Pinsy Shapewear Thong Bodysuit

View On Wearpinsy.com $89

From the exterior, this bodysuit looks like any other seamless bodysuit. But while wearing it, you notice just how compressing it is. One look in the mirror will reveal a cinched-in waist and accented hips, thanks to the high-leg cut-outs. The girls are also supported through the built-in, wire-free power mesh bra to give you more of an hourglass figure. While the straps can’t be adjusted in length, the stretchy seamless material molds to your body and doesn’t dig into your shoulders — basically, you don’t have to worry about too-tight straps. With a luxe finish, the bodysuit successfully elevates your look, and can easily be worn as a top for evenings out as well.

The bottom is held together through three hook-and-eye closures. They make trips to the bathroom much easier, but they do require a bit of time and fidgeting to manage each time. On occasion, we found that one hook would undo itself by the time we got to the second hook, which left us attempting to hook all three at once. This left us awkwardly wiggling around in the bathroom stall before we could finally exit. 

Size: S-3XL | Colors: 5 | Material: Nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 2

Best Smoothing

Shapermint High-Waisted Shaper Shorts

View On Amazon $25 View On QVC $28 View On Shapermint.com

At a compression level of one, these high-waisted shorts are an excellent choice for smoothing, rather than tightening, and evening out the body to create one sleek line from waist to legs. Made of lightweight and breathable materials, like nylon and spandex, we felt comfortable keeping them on for an entire day without ever feeling restricted (or overheated, for that matter). They slide on like any other shorts, then remain in place throughout the whole day. The anti-slip silicone strip around the waist also helps the material stay put, but we noticed that it never rubbed or tugged at our skin. It did, however, leave a few creases on the waist after removal. 

If you’re looking for a contouring effect, however, we recommend going for an option with a little more tightness around the stomach. This one simply guides the natural curve of your body but doesn’t do much tugging around your waist.

Size: XS-4XL | Colors: 5 | Material: Nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 1

Best Everyday

Spanx Fit to You Everyday Shorts

View On Amazon $36 View On Nordstrom $36 View On Spanx

It’s easy to forget that these biker shorts are even on once you pull them on. They come with a minimal compression level — we couldn’t decide if they were more a level one or two —making them inviting for everyday use. The fabric itself feels lightweight and breathable. And while the brand describes the pair as “non-shaping”, we were pleasantly surprised to find it kindly molds our body shape and held in our thighs and midsection with gentle support. It worked its magic discreetly, though, disappearing underneath our clothes, and it never left a mark on our body after we took it off for the day. 

The shorts claim to have a 400 percent stretch to them that adapts to your body, and therefore only comes in one size that covers bodies from zero to twelve in regular and petite. When we tested this on different body types, we did find this claim to be quite true, but we could imagine some sizes at the end of the spectrum (double zero and twelve and up) might not find it to fit like a glove.

Size: One size in regular and petite | Colors: 3 | Material: Cotton, nylon, elastane | Compression Level: 2

Best Low Back

Spanx Suit Your Fancy Strapless Cupped Mid Thigh Bodysuit

View On Nordstrom $148 View On Spanx View On Bergdorfgoodman.com $148

For something truly contouring, we recommend the Spanx Suit Your Fancy Bodysuit. While it takes some maneuvering and effort to slip into, once on, the fabric tightly hugs your body in a true shapewear fashion. Using the clasp around the upper back, we were able to adjust the tightness as well. And when it came time to use the bathroom, we were grateful to find an opening around the bottom. It did require some patience and practice to use – holding it open during the duration of our business – but it was much preferred over undressing completely. 

We found, though, that this bodysuit does not properly fit large busts, especially those above a D cup size or who have a small back with a large cup size. Even with the removable straps, we found ourselves constantly adjusting the top throughout the day because it did not offer enough coverage or support. The cups gapped frequently, but those with smaller cup sizes did not experience this issue. We wish this came with an extended bra size offering, particularly ones with smaller bands yet bigger busts. 

Size: XS-XL | Colors: 2 | Material: Elastane, nylon | Compression Level: 3

Best Waist Control

Squeem Firm Control Strapless Waist Cincher

View On Amazon $56 View On Squeem.com

As a corset, this option functions more as a waist-trainer than shapewear, but it effectively cinches your body into an hourglass figure. Getting through the many tiny clasps at the front is a bit of a hassle, but once accomplished, we found the corset to sit snug along our stomachs and work exceptionally well in highlighting our waist and hips. We found that even our girls get a gentle push-up effect when combined with a bra. 

Clothes like high-waisted jeans or flowy dresses with a band around the middle would function the best with this option. This option is far from seamless (consider the clasps and riffs) and would easily show when combined with form-fitting garments. On our short torso, we felt like the garment was half an inch too long, cutting into our butt and hips uncomfortably. At a compression level of three, it’s also quite tight and is not ideal for all-day wear. But if you want to show off your curves in all the best ways, this option helps you achieve that the best.

Size: XXS-3XL| Colors: 2 | Material: Rubber, cotton | Compression Level: 3

Best Extra Firm

Bare Necessities Extra Firm Control Convertible Bodysuit

View On Barenecessities.com $88

Here to find something that will snatch your body into a tight grip? This bodysuit, with its built-in corset, can do just that. Similar to the low-back piece from Spanx, it offers an additional clasp to the built-in bra band for a more firming effect. It also has removable bra straps. But this one comes with additional details like caging around the waist to act more like a corset than a smoothing piece of shapewear. 

We loved how it isn’t overly constricting even with the boning along the back, though. It remains flexible enough for us to move around and sit comfortably in. Rather than dramatically changing how we looked, it simply enhanced our existing shape and supported the natural curve of our bodies. We feared that we might be able to see the boning from underneath our clothes, but it looked invisible under everything, including tighter-fitting dresses. We think the bra runs a bit large, though, especially for those with small chests. We noticed gapping instead of the tight fit we expect from bras. We recommend measuring yourself and cross-checking with the size guide before purchasing.

Size: 32B-40DD | Colors: 2 | Material: Nylon, elastane | Compression Level: 3

Best Shorts

Yummie Curved Smoothing Short

View On Amazon $20 View On Yummie.com $20 View On Shopbop.com $20

Tight shapewear might not be comfortable enough for everyday wear, but shorts that simply work to smooth out bumps can be worn daily. Yummie’s smoothing shorts slip on like butter. Even with a mild compression level of one, we appreciate that the shorts still effectively flatten any bumps along the legs. The two-ply hem and waistband also keep them from rolling or moving around. Interestingly enough, we found the most compression around the thigh instead of on the waist or belly. If that’s your spot of concern, then these options are great for you. They don’t act unlike regular biker shorts, which are easy to slip on and off. Since they are shorts, you just pull them down when it’s time to visit the restroom. With so much comfort, we found it easy to turn to them for our daily activities.

Size: S-XL | Colors: 5 | Material: Nylon, spandex | Compression Level: 1

Best Shaping Tights

Spanx Tummy Shaping Tights

View On Amazon $24 View On Nordstrom $24 View On Spanx

Finding the best black tights that are to your desired level of opacity, don’t stretch out or roll down throughout the day, and won’t snag at just the sight of your fingers, can be an annoying case of trial and error. For bonus points of a little extra support too, we turn to Spanx Tummy Shaping Tights. These mid-rise tights do go back the belly button, however they might be a tricky fit for our tall friends—the shaping means they have less stretch to accommodate different heights. 

The support through the stomach band was an ideal amount—it had a nice smoothing appearance without feeling like we were wrapped in a sausage casing. The rip-resistant fabric also earned a 4.9/5 for durability. We tried nails, velcro, and jewelry and there wasn’t a tear in sight. A pair of these will last you many seasons, making the price tag worth it. The size chart is a little confusing at first but we found that it was accurate if you follow the height and weight guidelines.

Size: A-F | Colors: Black, Nude, Black Sheers | Material: Nylon, Spandex | Compression Level: 1