Spanx Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low-Back Thong Bodysuit
Sizes: XS to XL | Colors: 2 total, including Very Black and Champagne Beige | Gusset type: Easy access gusset
Spanx’s Plunge bodysuit earned the best overall distinction for its versatility. With its U-shaped front and scoop back, it’s great for all gowns, especially those with a plunging neckline or backless design. The adjustable straps can be worn five ways—traditional, criss-cross, halter, narrow back, and racerback—and the thong bottom eliminates panty lines. The bra is not meant to deliver full support, though, so this bodysuit is best if you’re smaller chested and the gusset (crotch) doesn’t have snaps, which might be a dealbreaker for some.
Best Strapless Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
Slide-Free Support And Smoothing
TC Fine Intimates Back Magic Strapless Bodybriefer
Sizes: Bands: 32 to 50; Cups: B to DD | Colors: 2 total, including Cupid Nude and Black | Closure type: Hook and eye
Whether you’re wearing a dress with a one shoulder, cold shoulder, thin spaghetti straps or halter top, strapless shapewear pieces are essential. TC Fine’s popular Back Magic bodysuit has silicone grips at the top and bottom hems to ensure it stays in place, along with seamless foam-lined underwire cups. For versatility it also comes with clear and matching adjustable straps that convert to criss-cross, regular, halter styles. Just keep in mind the level of support is extra-firm to smooth your stomach, waist and back—meaning it deeply compresses so it’s not designed to wear for hours.
Best Shorts Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
Sculpts Without Squeezing, Breathable Fabric Keeps You Cool
Honeylove SuperPower Short
Sizes: XS to 3X | Colors: 6 total, including Sand and Mocha | Gusset type: Open gusset
Honeylove’s top-rated SuperPower shorts have a X-shaped spandex panel to provide comfortable compression that shapes and sculpts the midsection, rear and thighs. Stretch microfiber and a cotton gusset allow airflow for breathability and to keep you cool, and these shorts boast built-in boning to prevent rolling at the waistband. Also great: Straps are included to attach the waist to your bra line for additional support.
Best Briefs Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
Seamless, Tummy-Control Underwear
Yummie Mia Shaping Brief
Sizes: S to 3X | Colors: 4 total, including Nude and Almond | Closure type: Pull on
If you’re looking for tummy control without fussing with straps, multiple layers or crotch openings, this seamless panty is your best bet. Yummie’s top-rated brief is comfortable and has a two-ply waistband and level 3 (medium) compression that provides shaping at your mid-section and waist. The soft elastic lays flat so you don’t have to worry about panty lines (or if you prefer, there’s also an excellent thong style).
Best Corset Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
Comfortable Waist Definer That Stays Put
Miraclesuit Inches Off Waist Cincher
Sizes: S to XXL | Colors: 2 total, including Nude and Black | Closure type: Hook and eye
If you want a little extra support in the midsection, Miraclesuit’s bestselling waist-cincher is worth considering. High-compression double panels hug you tightly without digging in (which can often happen with traditional corset boning) and mesh inserts keep you cool. Multiple hook-and-eye closures at the back ensure this shapewear piece stays put, and it’s strapless to work with a variety of necklines.
Best Slip Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
Sheer Smoother For Your Lower Half
Miraclesuit Extra Firm Control Sheer Slip Shaper
Sizes: S to XL | Colors: 2 total, including Nude and Black | Gusset type: Hook and eye
A slip is a versatile piece since it provides compression at your core to shape the midsection and accentuate the waist while also sculpting your hips, legs and derrière. The front panel also helps the skirt portion of your dress lay flat rather than dip into the center space between your legs. Miraclesuit’s slip has built-in panty underwear with a hook and eye cotton gusset (for easy bathroom breaks) and the bare midriff of this slip means you can wear it with two-piece dresses, too.
Best Long-Sleeve Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
3/4 Sleeve For Sleek Arms And Smooth Back
Spanx Open-Bust 3/4 Sleeve Catsuit
Sizes: XS to 3X | Colors: 2 total, including Champagne Beige and Very Black | Gusset type: Easy access gusset
Whether you’re a winter bride opting for a full-coverage gown or you’re going with a long sleeve à la Kate Middleton, an arm-shaping bodysuit smooths the upper back and arms for a seamless look. The open bust ensures you can wear it over any bra, and the ¾ sleeve ensures you won’t see any material peeking out of your dress sleeve. The firm tummy control center and ankle-length pants are added bonuses for additional compression and smoothing under long dresses of any silhouette.
Best Full-Coverage Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
Long Bodysuit For Mermaid Silhouettes And More
Skims Seamless Sculpt Catsuit
Sizes: XXs to 4X | Colors: 6 total, including Sand and Cocoa | Closure type: Pull on
Wedding dresses have a way of showing the slightest panty line or shapewear seam. When you’re wearing a mermaid silhouette that’s fitted through the thighs or a long silky slip dress, your best bet is opting for an ankle-length bodysuit. Skim’s popular one-piece has targeted mid-thigh compression with smoothing, sheer hosiery legs that completely disappear under even the tightest silhouettes or thinnest fabrics.
Best Luxury Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
Stretch Fabric Refines Your Shape With A Barely-There Feel
Fleur du Mal Cupped Nonwire Bodysuit
Sizes: XS to L | Colors: 2 total, including Tan and Black | Closure type: Snap gusset
If ever there was a time to splurge on shapewear, it’s your wedding day. Fleur Du Mal’s gorgeous bodysuit is a comfortable alternative to your more structured shapewear options. While it doesn’t boast a high level of compression, it’s great at smoothing to create a sculpted look under dresses. Built-in cups add support without wires or back clasps, which also makes this ideal for all-day wear.
Here at Forbes Vetted, we spend a lot of time thinking about and evaluating undergarments—which can really make or break your outfits, in both formal and casual situations. We test and thoroughly analyze the best shapewear pieces on the market, whether you’re looking for tummy-control options or the best underwear for your needs. Beauty and fashion contributor Stephanie Montes has years of styling and fashion experience, and she also consulted a celebrity styling expert who has dressed many clients for the red carpet and other camera-ready moments.
How We Chose The Best Tummy-Control Shapewear
To find the best shapewear options, we started with a long list of brands that specialize in shapewear and have excellent customer reviews to back up their reputations. Forbes Vetted’s senior fashion editor, Kari Molvar, weighed in on the top-rated options, based on her expertise in the market and time spent evaluating undergarments (and wearing them herself, of course). In order to select the winners, we rated the contenders for fit, size ranges, silhouette, compression level and shaping power. Finally, we choose pieces that scored highest in those areas and also received high marks for overall comfort and price.
What To Look For In Shapewear For Wedding Dresses
The wrong shapewear can, unfortunately, make it less comfortable to wear your wedding dress, and no one wants that to happen. A silhouette that doesn’t quite fit, an off color, a bulky construction or pieces that roll, pinch or bend can take away from the way your dress should look and fit. Celebrity stylist Vanessa Powell who has worked with Lainey Wilson, Hilary Duff, Vanessa Hudgens and more recommends, “trying and testing shapewear [ahead of your wedding], making sure you can move and dance without it rolling down or sliding.” She also advises: “Look for options with grips that hold onto your skin nicely along with a proper fit.” Here’s what else to keep in mind:
Shapewear has come a long way in recent years and so have the closures on each garment. While a corset style often has a column of hooks and eyes, bodysuits are usually constructed with snap closures at the crotch. Powell says, “Seamless shapewear that you can simply step into is the easiest solution that requires no snaps or hooks.” It also makes for the smoothest option under thin, silky and sheer fabrics.
Shapewear is meant to be completely undetectable, and Powell says the best way to disguise it is to blend it in with your skin tone as much as possible. “We all associate white undergarments with weddings,” she says, “but white undergarments can actually show a contrast from your skin color, especially under lightweight fabrics.” To avoid a wedding-day faux snafu, pick shapewear in the closest available color to your skin.
“Compression ranges from light to extra firm and is available in various levels depending on the brand,” explains Powell. As a rule of thumb, the thicker the compression, the more smoothing and firming it offers. And while it may be tempting to head straight to firmer levels, Powell recommends, “First consider the fabric of your dress—you don’t want your shapewear to feel thicker than your garment because it will add bulk.”
