The Best Tummy Control Shapewear, Tested and Reviewed

This high-waist brief from Maidenform had a lot of compression and a little less comfortability factor. But at under $30, I recommend it if you are on a budget and looking for a brief versus a thong or boy short style. It stayed put and didn’t roll, even when I moved around in it. I didn’t love having so much compression over my stomach area for a long time, but it definitely flattened things out. I wore it under a dress for a cocktail party, and while I appreciated that it smoothed down my mid-section, I was happy to take it off at the end of the night. It has over 5,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, so even if it wasn’t my favorite, others really love it.

MAYA DOLLARHIDE

I am a long-time fan of this brand, and one of my favorite items is these shaping shorts to wear under jumper dresses, skirts, and slacks. These smooth out the lower half of your body, feel so soft and silky (and non-constrictive), and are ultra lightweight to the point that you practically forget you are wearing them. I am comfortable in these all day (or night) and they go on and off easily, unlike some of the competitors. These are hands-down my favorite shapewear shorts. They fit easily under all my clothes and elevate my confidence and my outfit. I could (and have) worn these all day, but if you are looking for a lot of compression, there may be better choices.

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This bodysuit is so great it topped two of our categories. According to its maker, the SKIMS seamless sculpt brief bodysuit is designed to “provide support without adding bulk or sacrificing comfort.” The bodysuit has snaps at the bottom and adjustable straps, and neither one caused any discomfort, other than feeling a little squeezed by the end of the day. My colleague, however, raves about her SKIMS. She wore it to a high school reunion, and it was comfortable and confidence-boosting all day long. SKIMS wins best bodysuit because of the level of compression and comfortability and best plus size because of rave reviews and inclusive sizing. The brand says machine washable, but I would opt to hand wash. For a more in-depth review of how it performed, check out my SKIMS bodysuit review.

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While technically this is a body suit, it won runner-up for shorts because of the comfortable mid-thigh section of the bodysuit, which, on me, ran a little too snug in the middle but felt great on my legs. I was tempted to roll down the upfront portion just to enjoy the lower portion of the bodysuit, and I’m going to buy the Nearly Naked Shaping High Waist Short from Yitty. This brand is owned by the Grammy award-winning singer Lizzo, who designed size-inclusive shapewear for all. I love this. And I loved the open gusset so I could pee without struggling with snaps. This bodysuit moved with my body, and while it had a little less compression than some, I appreciated that I could feel comfortable wearing a shorter dress and still have some thigh coverage.

This was my runner-up pick for the best bodysuit, namely because it was a little more difficult to get on and off, and I appreciated that the website actually addressed this issue and explained the best way to put it on. It kept everything together, and I felt secure in it, even without an additional bra. Instead of snaps, there is an opening in the bottom part of the bodysuit; at first, I didn’t like it, but I appreciated not having to worry that the snaps would come undone. The material is breathable but a little bit thicker than I liked. That being said, it has hundreds of positive and glowing reviews, so I would recommend it to a friend.

Maya Dollarhide / without shapellx

This works great if you just want to shape and sculpt your midsection without having to wear a full bodysuit or shorts. I found this to be comfortable (you just slip it on over your head and wiggle it down your body or step into it and pull it up). It stayed up without rolling or slipping down, and the seamless top and bottom didn’t dig into my skin. While there are pieces of shapewear designed to look more like a corset, you can’t really see the boning, and I would not recommend wearing it as outerwear, which some people (younger than me, lol) might do. Spanx (and reviewers) says its cinching design creates an hourglass silhouette, and it received high marks from customers. However, I noticed compression versus cinching in my waist for an hourglass. I liked that it didn’t show through my clothes (I tried it on with a white shirt), as well.

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I have a few dresses that call for a slip, so I was happy to try this one and see how it holds up against regular silk or cotton slips, which are my usual go-to. The Knix slip was comfortable and lightweight enough not to feel bulky underneath my dress. I removed the pads in the cup and bust area and found the slip much more comfortable without them. I would have liked a little more support in the mid-section with this slip. I found that the top fit well and then it was a little loose. If you are wearing this for tummy control with a sheer dress, you might want to consider a bodysuit instead. But I appreciated the support up top, and the slip provided enough coverage for me. It probably won't work well with a tight dress because of the amount of fabric, but it was great for flowy, warm-weather outfits. I love how soft it is and that it doesn’t stick to my body. I would probably use this as a slip with support versus compressive shapewear.

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If you are looking for a no-seam bodysuit and don’t need super strong compression, just something that keeps everything smooth, this is my favorite choice for everyday wear. It has a cotton gusset panel, breathable fabric, and adjustable straps. While it may not offer enough support for some individuals without the addition of a bra, it is a great layering piece. If you need some coverage but want to stay comfy and gently supported, this classic by Commando is a strong contender.

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These are thicker than my beloved Commando shorts and have a higher waist for better coverage. I really liked these shorts for the compression. I felt like all my bits and bobs were tucked in, yet the material was comfortable enough to wear for several hours. They went on and off easily, although I had to tug a bit to pull the top part of the shorts up. They are thicker fabric than some, so I think I would opt to wear these in cooler weather. These shorts provided excellent coverage for my midsection down to my mid-thigh, but if you are petite like me, the length may cause them to peek out of shorter dresses or skirts. They didn’t roll down, like some others I tried, after a few hours of movement, which I appreciated.

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I loved wearing this tank top underneath my sweater because it was soft and didn’t ride up like some tank tops. It was a bit of a struggle to get on, but it stayed put. While I wouldn’t wear this as outerwear, I liked that it gave me an extra layer of control. While the fabric wasn’t super compressive across the tummy, it was form-fitting enough to help hold me in, and the panel of material at the bottom meant the tank didn’t bunch up—I tried it tucked and untucked, and each way, it stayed put.

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