Where
do you begin when choosing the right shapewear? The
choices may seem endless and confusing. You can take
the easy way out and just check out Oprah's Top Ten
list, but Oprah's a talk show host and you're….you.
This is certainly not a knock on Oprah - we actually
carry many of her recommended styles of lingerie - BUT,
we all come in different shapes, sizes and senses (i.e.
what feels right). The ole pocketbook can also come
into play.
It's been said that there has been a rebirth in shapewear
of late, - that it's become more popular again. We don't
believe it was ever unpopular. Instead, it has changed
with the fashion of the day. Girdles and nylon stockings
gradually gave way to control top pantyhose in the seventies.
In the past ten to fifteen years, work/office attire
has become more casual, thus we see more bare legs.
Jeans (e.g. hip huggers) and dress styles change as
well, thus shapewear changes accordingly. Today we still
see traditional panty and open girdles, body briefers
(corselettes) and nylon stockings. These items are still
a must for many women, especially on more formal occasions
such as proms, weddings, awards dinners and balls. Some
retailers or reviewers will lead you to believe that
modern seamless hosiery-like shapewear has all but replaced
this more traditional shapewear, but that is not the
case. The seamless, lightweight shapers of today, such
as Spanx, Berkshire Curves, Hanes Smooth Illusions and
others are great for smoothing out those little bumps
and bulges. They come in many different styles to smooth
the tummy, thighs, waist and behind. However, if you
need a little bit more control, then the more traditional
shaper, body briefer and girdles of today are just the
thing. If you have a dress that you can no longer get
into, even a girdle or body briefer won't help. But
if your favorite dress now feels snug and no longer
moves with you, one of these types of shapewear could
be just the thing. This brings us back to the original
question. What is the right type for me? Figure out
where you need help. Do you just have a few bumps and
bulges, but your overall shape is fine? Is your tummy
a little out of proportion to the rest of your torso?
The hips? Thighs? Behind? All of the above? Once you
have determined where you need help, then figure out
how much help. Shapewear is usually listed in terms
such as "light control, moderate control, firm
and sometimes extra firm." Now don't read into
this "painful, more painful, most painful."
We assume that you don't go around wearing a painful
bra and it's the exact same thing with shapewear - you
have to find the garment that's comfortable for YOU.
The body briefer (or corselette) has been very popular.
It allows for a smooth, uninterrupted look under tighter
fitting outerwear. Body briefers come in many different
styles. You can purchase from seamless, strapless, minimizer,
underwire, softcup, thong - back, low back, long leg,
split crotch, all-in-one girdles with garters, open
corselettes and so on. As with other shapewear garments,
there are levels of control - again, light, moderate,
firm and extra firm. Body briefers are the most difficult
undergarment to get just the right fit on, but they
can be some of the most comfortable styles of underwear
when they fit right. No two bodies are exactly the same,
but the body briefer must fit correctly in terms of
torso length, chest size, cup size, waist size, hip
size and in the case of long leg styles, thigh size.
That's quite an undertaking! But once you find the right
one, with just the right fit for YOUR body, you'll be
very pleased with the results in terms of shape-enhancement
and comfort.
Sometimes the trickiest fit with a body briefer is the
torso length. You may be very tall or very short and
the briefer maybe just doesn't fit right. Or maybe you
just aren't a corselette-type of gal. An alternative
might be a shaper (control brief, hi-waist brief, thigh
shaper, girdle, etc.) worn with a longline (some refer
to this with two words - "long line" ) or
¾ bra. These bras do double duty - breast support
and upper tummy shaping. The longline bra with shaper
provides similar support to the body briefer.
Now you may be saying, wait a minute! I just need a
little light tummy support, or thigh or hip support.
This is where the control briefs and hosiery-type (Spanx,
Berkshire Curves, Hanes Smooth Illusions Go Figure,
etc.) come in. So take your time, look around, ask us
questions (email or phone) and find what's best for
you.
At Brabarella we have shapers, thigh shapers, waist
nippers, high waist control briefs, long leg panty girdles,
open girdles, corselettes, body briefers, all-in-one
girdles, bodysuits and corsets. We carry both current
styles, and vintage new/old stock discontinued items.
Body briefers are very popular and we carry Grenier
briefelettes and corselettes; the Le Mystere Sangria
and Renaissance; Va Bien strapless bodsuits and briefers;
the Rago Lacette and Shapette body briefer and long
leg all-in-one girdles; and body briefers from Venus
of Cortland, Bali and Silhouette. We carry the famous
"Little X" pantie girdle and open girdle from
Silhouette; open bottom girdles from Rago, Venus of
Cortland and Grenier; long leg panty girdle shapers
from Rago, Venus of Cortland, and Fancee Free; and panty
shapers from Va Bien, Playtex, Bali, Rago, and Venus
of Cortland.
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