Shapewear you can keep on all day

Shapewear should smooth your silhouette without you thinking about it all day. In practice most shapewear goes wrong in two places: the band rolls down over your stomach, or the edges show through your clothes. Neither is usually about size alone; it is usually the construction. This collection was selected on exactly that: seamless edges that lie flat, and compression that is spread out rather than concentrated on one line.

Which shapewear suits which situation?

• Under a fitted dress or skirt – a bodysuit or short that continues past the hip. The longer the continuous surface, the smaller the chance of a mark halfway down.
• For everyday wear – light shaping in a seamless brief or short. Enough to keep lines smooth, light enough to forget.
• For a long day or an occasion – firmer fabric with a wide waistband, so the weight is spread rather than cutting into your waist.

Why does shapewear roll down, and what helps?

Rolling down is almost always a sizing question in the wrong direction: the garment is too small, so the fabric retreats to the narrowest point. Choosing more compression therefore backfires. Measure your waist and hips and choose the size you can still sit comfortably in, not the size that feels tightest in the fitting room. If you are between two sizes, take the larger one: it gives a smoother result than the smaller one that curls up.

Invisible under your clothes

What shows through are seams and finished edges, not the fabric itself. Choose circular-knit, seamless styles with a laser-cut or flat edge. Under very thin or light fabrics, a colour close to your skin tone works better than white; white under white is exactly what shows.

At Novyre you order on the same principle as with our bras: try first, pay later. You try it at home, on an ordinary day, and you have 14 days to decide. Shipping costs €3.95 and is free over €50.

Read on

• Shapewear under a dress: which style for which type
• Shaping underwear for your stomach: what actually works
• Underwear under white clothing: skin tone beats white
• Size guide: measure your size in two minutes

Frequently asked questions about shapewear

Can I wear shapewear all day?

Yes, provided the size is right. Shapewear in the correct size spreads pressure over a large area and feels no tighter after an hour than it did when you put it on. If it pinches, or you keep shifting position, the garment is too small, not you.

What is the difference between shapewear and shaping underwear?

In practice they are the same: underwear that keeps lines smooth. The difference is the degree of compression. Light shaping is meant for every day, firm shaping for a specific outfit or occasion.

Which shapewear works under a fitted dress?

A bodysuit or a long short that continues past the hip. The longer the continuous surface, the smaller the chance of an edge showing halfway down. Choose a seamless style without a finished waistband.

Which shapewear size should I take?

Measure your waist and hips and choose on that, not on your dress size. If you fall between two sizes, take the larger one: it gives a smoother result, whereas a size too small will roll down.

How do I wash shapewear?

By hand in lukewarm water, or in a laundry bag on a cold cycle. Not in the tumble dryer: heat damages the elasticity, and it is that elasticity doing the work. Let it air dry.