Finding the best shapewear can be a tricky task, luckily, I’m here to help. The base to so many great outfits, finding the perfect shapewear can not only transform your wardrobe, but also give you a confidence boost in unison. If you thought that solution underwear was reserved for special occasions only – perhaps you’ve got a wedding coming up, you’re a bride-to-be, or you love to wear them on a night out – there are so many shapewear items that can work as part of your everyday uniform, too.
Whether you want to cinch in your waist to make sure you can zip up your favourite date night dress, you’re keen to smooth your thighs underneath lightweight spring trousers, or you want to add a sculpting effect all-over, I’ve found the shapewear to suit your needs. Heck, I’ve even found a pair of M&S shorts with removable padding that’ll make you look like you’ve been doing extra squats at the gym. No matter if you want to enhance, smooth, cinch, shape or define, you’re bound to find ‘the one’ when it comes to shapewear. And as a fashion editor of more than 12 years, I’ve tried and tested my fair share of different shapewear styles – from slips and bodysuits to briefs and shorts.
Kim Kardashian’s brand, Skims, is the destination for high compression pieces that will hold you in and boost your assets, while Next has a slip dress that allows you to wear your own bra underneath so you can effortlessly smooth your silhouette with the comfort of your own bra and pants. When it comes to that tricky halterneck or plunge dress you want to wear for a night out, the Spanx shorts bodysuit is here to solve quite literally any wardrobe dilemma – trust me, I’ve put it through its paces for several different occasions and outfits. In fact, I’ve put all of these shapewear pieces to the test – the result? A selection of the best shapewear pieces that will make you feel your very best self.
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The best shapewear pieces for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Dorina shaping bodysuit: £32, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget option – Simiya shapewear underpants: £10.95, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for smoothing your stomach – Next firm tummy control wear your own bra slip: £19, Next.co.uk
- Best for bum boosting – M&S cool comfort seamless bum boosting shorts: £15, Marksandspencer.com
- Best for tricky outfits – Spanx plunge low-back mid-thigh bodysuit: £105.60, Johnlewis.com
How I tested
Like your everyday comfy briefs and a good well-fitting bra, shapewear is an important part of most people’s lingerie drawers. But with so many different outfit solution styles to choose from, how do you know which ones are the best? This is where I come in. Over the course of a few weeks, I tried so many different shapewear styles – from the most popular (hello, Skims and M&S) to the lesser-known brands such as Dorina, wearing each style multiple times for different occasions and with different outfits. After thinking about the shaping result, materials, how they fared against wash instructions as well as how they made me feel when I wore them, I’ve now created an edit of the 12 best shapewear styles that I believe are the best for all different body areas.
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