I think it’s worth the splurge for feeling more bespoke-fitting than my top-pick Skims bodysuit (the brand credits this feeling to a material called “ Powerbond 2.0”). The Powersuit from +Body by Julia Haart (an eponymous company created by the former creative director of La Perla) comes in at almost $200 - though it’s on sale right now for about half that. Sizes: XS–XXXL, A–F cups | Type: Bodysuit with a plunge and thong | Comfort snd shaping level: 2.5 (“It looks as though you’re wearing a skin-colored leotard, not some torturous contraption,” adds former Strategist writer Chloe Anello.) For $70, you’re getting a really good piece of shapewear. (I don’t wear underwear with it, and again, sizing up helps keep it in place.) I have worn it for long nights out, and under a close-fitting jumpsuit, without issue, and I like that it’s not traditional-looking - nothing like the girdles my grandma owned. It highlights my butt instead of flattening it, with a cut that’s a little cheekier than the standard brief. The bodysuit contours my curves and sculpts my shape while still feeling comfortable. With that said, don’t be too scared by how tiny it looks coming out of the box, because this thing really stretches (just know there will be some wiggling involved to get it on). I’d personally suggest sizing up, as I’ve found the bodysuit runs small.

Skims uses its own support scale, which ranges from ultralight to extra-strong this bodysuit is ranked “strong,” and the brand suggests sizing up for more comfort or ordering your usual size to get the most shaping. The shapewear from Skims even comes in a nice range of “nudes,” with names like sand, ochre, cocoa, and espresso. Listen, Kim Kardashian knows how to make - in the words of our sister site the Cut - “ maddeningly good shapewear.” And while there are other well-established and much-recommended brands, it’s hard to beat Skims’ inclusive size range and relative affordability. Sizes: XXS–4X | Type: Bodysuit with brief | Comfort and shaping level: 2 Or, if you’re shopping for more underthings, we have guides to the best underwear and lingerie as well.

Then I started trying their recommendations myself, wearing them under everything from jeans to figure-hugging frocks to judge their level of comfort and see how smoothing and supportive they really are. So to find the best shapewear, I put together a panel of experts - including underwear-store owners, plus-size bloggers, and Hollywood costume designers - and asked them about their favorites. There’s also a lot more competition in the market: Kim Kardashian–founded Skims is a formidable Spanx rival, and start-ups like Shapermint abound. Plus, the industry has gone through big changes in the last five or so years: Much of today’s shapewear is meant to be comfortable enough to wear every day, and lots of brands have made their lines more inclusive, with fits for different body types and a range of skin-tone shades. But I like to think of it as a secret weapon (and a bit of a confidence booster) for smoothing out my curves, giving me some lift, and hiding possible panty lines, so I feel my best in whatever I’m wearing. First things first: There’s nothing wrong with not wearing shapewear, which has a reputation for being uncomfortable - the phrase “sausage casing” came up often in interviews for this guide.

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