The Best Shapewear We Tested Smoothed, Sculpted, and Enhanced Our Curves — and They Start at Just $15

We love the Skims Seamless Sculpt Brief Bodysuit for its seamless fits-like-a-glove design that is virtually invisible under clothing, including thinner garments like T-shirts. The nylon and spandex material is also super comfortable and aid the overall fit, plus we found that the straps don’t dig into the skin (which was much appreciated).

While the undergarment isn’t as compressive as we would have liked, it does a fantastic job at smoothing the waist. Plus, some may love that it’s comfortable enough for all-day wear due to it being less restrictive than a high-compression bodysuit. Plus, Skims has one of the most inclusive size and skin-tone color ranges on the market.

Size Range: 2XS-5XL | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Benefits: Smooths the core, lifts the butt, supports the chest

Despite having a reasonable price tag, this Maidenform bodysuit is comparable to more luxe styles. Designed with super soft nylon and spandex material, it stretches over the body without losing its shape. The open bust allows for a better fit and ensures you can wear your own bra for added support.

After testing out this bodysuit, we were most impressed by how well it smooths the body, especially on the hips, belly, butt, and thighs. We also liked that the material is thin, which makes it more breathable when worn under thicker fabrics. 

One of the worst things about wearing a bodysuit? Taking it off to use the bathroom. Since this bodysuit is crotchless, it makes bathroom breaks so much easier. We only wish the color and size ranges were inclusive of more plus sizes and various skin tones.

Size Range: S-2XL | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Benefits: Shapes tummy, hips, and thighs

After testing these Spanx shorts, we can confidently say that they’re some of the best we’ve ever worn. While it might not be preferred by everyone, we love that they have lightweight compression because they are tight but not suffocating, making them comfortable enough for all-day wear.

The shorts are more like elevated bike shorts that help protect against chafing under dresses but also provide lightweight smoothing and shaping on the upper thighs, hips, and low belly, too. We also found that these Spanx shorts stay put, whether you’re at the office or running errands, so you don’t have to worry about them rolling down or twisting along the thighs. 

Size Range: One size | Materials: Nylon, elastane | Benefits: Anti-chafe, no visible panty lines

We were impressed by these Yummie shorts which are constructed from a super stretchy nylon and spandex blend that provides light shaping and smoothing on the butt and waist without pinching the skin or causing discomfort.

Although the shorts have a super light compression — which might not be ideal for all preferences — we found that they did a fantastic job at smoothing the body and also felt supportive without being restrictive. The shorts are also easy to pull on and off, so you don’t have to worry about bathroom breaks, and they come in several shades, including a few fun colorful options. For a great price, we love these as light compressive bike shorts for wear under dresses and skirts.  

Size Range: S-XL | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Benefits: Shapes butt and waist

It should come as no surprise that Spanx makes the best plus-size shapewear we’ve tested. After an in-depth two-week test, we can confidently say it doesn’t get better than these shorts. They’re compressive at the stomach without any uncomfortable squeezing or pinching. We could even walk and sit in these shorts with no discomfort. Despite the supreme comfort, these shorts still shaped and smoothed our waist, hips, and thighs with impressive results.

We appreciate the 100 percent cotton gusset, which makes the lightweight shorts even more breathable. Plus, these shorts held up well in the washing machine, so it’ll be easy to wear (and wash) them on repeat. We wish Spanx offered even more colors of these shorts, since the four shades won’t offer a perfect nude to everyone.

Size Range: XS–3X | Materials: Nylon, lycra elastane, cotton gusset | Benefits: Shapes and smooths tummy, hips, and thighs

If you’re looking for shapewear for everyday wear, the Yitty Nearly Naked bodysuit offers comfortable light compression. While it’s not the most compressive option we tested, we appreciate the smoothing effects it offers, even under tight-fitting clothing.

During testing, we were able to wear this bodysuit under tight dresses without any visible lines or bulkiness. The low back makes sure the bodysuit won’t peek out of lower-backed tops and dresses. We also loved the moisture-wicking, stretchy material that kept us comfortable all day.

Size Range: XS–5X | Materials: Recycled nylon, nylon, elastane | Benefits: Smooths and lightly shapes the full body

This Pinsy bodysuit features a thick material that provides really good coverage while remaining virtually invisible (with no noticeable panty lines) under most garments. It felt a little tight as we pulled it on, but once it was in place it fit like a glove.

While we wish it came in a lighter-weight material for wearing under thin fabrics, the bodysuit does a phenomenal job at smoothing the stomach and hips and providing some slight cinching at the waist, too. 

To make bathroom breaks easier, the bodysuit is designed with a hook and eye closure at the crotch. We felt like these hooks were a little loose, making it trickier to snap on and off; however, this didn’t take away from our overall experience.

Size Range: S-3XL (regular and long) | Materials: Recycled fabric | Benefits: Medium shaping in the waist and tummy area with a built-in wire-free bra

After trying the Honeylove SuperPower Short, we were blown away by its shaping abilities. Designed with targeted compression on the waist, belly, hips, and thighs, these shorts feature lots of amazing design details that allow for a more sculpting fit.

The built-in boning on the sides helps cinch the body and provide a contouring effect, plus the boning is undetectable under clothing (including bodycon dresses) so you can achieve a shaping effect without seeing panty lines and seams.

The shorts are also specially designed with toning compression on the belly and hips, which helps flatten and cinch the areas. Our only complaint is that these are a little too long to wear with mini dresses and skirts.

Size Range: XS-3XL | Materials: Not listed | Benefits: Ultra-high waist, posture support, targeted compression, butt-lifting design

Spanx’s OnCore Bodysuit is constructed from a stretchy nylon and elastane material that provides lightweight compression for smoothing and shaping the tummy, waist, and butt.

This bodysuit is super comfortable. It did a great job of smoothing and slimming the body while providing an open bust silhouette so you can wear an underwire or wireless bra that fits better and feels more supportive. It also has adjustable straps for a better fit, though we wish it came in more sizes.

The most annoying thing about this bodysuit, however, is that you have to fully remove it to use the bathroom, which can get challenging depending on where you are and what you’re wearing over the bodysuit.

Size Range: S-XL | Materials: Nylon, elastane | Benefits: Tummy, waist, and butt shaping with adjustable straps

Our top recommendation for a mid-thigh bodysuit is the Spanx Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low-Back Mid-Thigh Bodysuit, which is constructed from a thick elastane and nylon material and provides excellent compression on the thighs as well as the waist, hips, and tummy. We also love that it has adjustable straps that are removable, so you can easily wear this with a variety of necklines, including strapless styles.

Our biggest complaint during testing was how tricky it was getting it on and off. Due to the thicker and compressive material and short bra strap band in the back, you may need some extra assistance, which isn’t ideal for those who live alone. We also wish the color and size ranges were a bit more inclusive.

Size Range: XS-XL | Materials: Elastane, nylon | Benefits: Shapes the tummy, waist, butt, and upper thighs with a built-in bra

Shapewear can provide a ton of amazing support to the tummy, waist, hips, and butt, however, that’s not always the case with the bust. If you want something that has more support, we recommend the TC Fine Intimates Black Magic Strapless Bodybriefer, which is constructed from a durable nylon and elastane material that stretches over the body well and fits like a glove to provide extra firm control (and has snaps at the crotch).

Design perks include a built-in, supportive underwire bra and adjustable, removable straps that allow you to customize the neckline. While we like that you can get a more custom fit since you can purchase based on cup and band size, we wish it also considered other parts of the body, such as hip and waist size.

Size Range: 32B-40DD | Materials: Nylon, elastane | Benefits: Extra-firm control that shapes the tummy and waist and has a built-in, seamless underwire bra

The Commando Classic Control Short is constructed from a nylon and spandex material and stretches perfectly over the body for a glove-like fit. We love these shorts because they have light to moderate compression so they are comfortable and don’t feel too restrictive for everyday wear.

Additionally, they work well under many different types of garments, including different dress silhouettes and jumpsuits (though, we don’t recommend wearing them under jeans because the leg seams will show). Despite having light compression, the shorts also work well to smooth out the body, especially in the hip, stomach, and leg areas. 

Size Range: XS-3XL | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Benefits: Light to moderate compression on thighs, butt, and waist

When shopping for petite shapewear, it’s important to not only go for a high-quality undergarment but also to choose an option designed with petite sizing for the right fit. Honeylove’s Cami Bodysuit not only has a stellar petite size range, but it also offers excellent coverage and support.

During testing, we appreciated how well it fit the body and how it was virtually seamless, even under thin fabrics. The bodysuit also has built-in cups for support (though we wish this area was a little stretchier) and adjustable straps so you can achieve a more custom fit and don’t have to worry about them digging into the shoulders. Once it’s on, it stays in place well so you won’t have to worry about making adjustments.

Size Range: XS-4XL (regular and petite) | Materials: 62% nylon, 38% spandex body | Benefits: Smooths the bust, tummy, and butt

The Shapermint High Waisted Body Shaper Shorts is one of the best shapewear pieces we’ve ever tried. After testing this shapewear out, we were most impressed by how easy they were to pull on, despite having more of a snug fit.

Once pulled on, we loved how supportive and secure they felt and thought they worked phenomenally at smoothing the tummy, thighs, and butt. We tried these on with a variety of clothing options and, although we think they would work best on a high-waisted skirt, they paired well under most garments, including jeans. They also come in a wide range of sizes and five neutral options to better match your skin tone.

Despite their comfort and smoothing effects, we’d love to see these shorts come with a wider and stronger band to cinch the waist better. Since the shorts have a smaller waistband, we feel like they miss out on a big shapewear opportunity.

Size Range: XS-4XL | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Benefits: Smooths tummy, butt, and thighs

A waist cincher isn’t ideal under many materials; however, it’s an excellent option for gowns (especially wedding dresses and ball gowns) made from thicker material if you want to get that hourglass look. Our top pick for the best waist cincher is the Squeem Perfect Waist Contouring Cincher, which is made from a cotton and rubber material and is super comfortable.

In addition to its shaping abilities, the undergarment fits well and is available in an inclusive size range that includes plus sizes. While it was a bit of a hassle to get into (there are so many hooks!) and isn’t seamless unless worn under a thicker garment, the cincher does a great job of staying put without twisting or falling down, which is the most important thing you can ask for with one of these.

Size Range: 2XS-3X plus | Materials: Rubber, cotton | Benefits: Cinches the waist without sacrificing comfort

If you want something a little more design-forward, we were impressed with the Bali Lace ‘n Smooth Firm-Control Body Shaper. This shapewear at Amazon is constructed from a nylon and spandex material that is super stretchy and comfortable, even with the lace finish. It also has snap closures on the crotch which makes using the bathroom a lot easier compared to bodysuits without snaps.

Although we found that it’s not very compressive and the lace material might create visible panty lines under more lightweight fabrics, we do love the smoothing effect it offers. We just wish the color range included more skin tones other than light beige.

Size Range: 34B-40DD | Materials: Nylon, spandex | Benefits: Smooths and shapes the tummy, waist, and butt

If you want to invest in a piece of shapewear, we recommend the Wolford 3W Stretch-Cotton Bodysuit, which is excellent for everyday wear. While it doesn’t have a lot of compression and we wish the bust offered a little more support, we love how soft and comfortable this bodysuit is.

Since it’s made from a cotton and elastane material, it’s super stretchy, lightweight, and breathable, which adds to the comfort factor. Because it has more of a seamless design, it works well under lightweight garments, including T-shirts. Additionally, the straps are super comfy and don’t dig in or pinch the shoulders, so you barely even notice them. 

Size Range: 34-44 | Materials: Cotton, elastane | Benefits: Shapes the stomach, waist, hips, and butt with a molded bust and adjustable straps