Lately I have been hearing a lot of talk about shape-wear (spanx etc). Adele supposedly wore

3 or 4 pairs of spanx to the Grammys in 2012 and Octavia Spencer has admitted to wearing

2-3 pairs of spanx anytime she is on the red carpet.

I will admit, I have never worn shape-wear. So, I am interested to know what everyone here thinks

about them. What have been your successes and failures with these products?

Have you had success with shapewear in the past?

Best brand/type to purchase?

When do you use them? (I read that some women wear them while exercising )

Would you recommend wearing multiple at one time?

How much are you willing to pay for them?

Also,

Do you feel that shape-wear creates an unfair illusion that can not be lived up to when the person

is fully naked? I only ask because I have a guy friend who hates Spanx and padded push up bras.

"I turn around from taking off my pants and the hottie I took home hand hung up her boobs and

released an air bag, I was tricked!!"

I just love what's in'em...

Shapewear is absolutely essential under certain garments and for certain occasions, for the simple reason that it makes your clothes look better - and makes you look better in your clothes. If you are wearing a dress that you spent a lot of money on, I would think wearing something that smooths out any lumps and bumps underneath is just common sense. Do I want people to see panty or bra lines under a pretty dress? I do not.

Personally, I don't care all that much for Spanx (the brand) because they are not made of slick fabric and don't slide under clothing. What is the point of wearing shapewear that your clothing can get hung up on? I've worn various types of shaping undergarments - girdles, corsets, merry widows, shaper panties, camisoles, etc. I even wore them when I was young and thin - because no matter how thin you are, you still get bra or panty lines.

There is a debate about shape-wear, but it's really an extention of the debate regarding any "beauty enhancers"

Breast augmentation

Face lifts

Nose jobs

etc.

On one hand you have those that feel that "beauty enhancers" negate natural beauty. Why does a woman feel compelled to wear shapers? On the other hand why not look extra shapely in that outfit?

I wear shapers (Spanx are my favorite) occassionally, only when I want what I'm wearing to not be bumpy.

Oh, come on. Wearing a pair of Spanx is nothing like getting a boob job!

RenHoek said:

I just love what's in'em...

I have always loved you, Ren

Genesia: You seem to know a lot about this. How much should one expect to spend on

solid shapewear?

Genesia said:

Oh, come on. Wearing a pair of Spanx is nothing like getting a boob job!

If you talk to the right people it is, (not me personally, as I mentioned I wear them). I heard a discussion on public radio just recently stating that the whole shape-wear industry is negating the women's movement of the 70's.

Women burned bra's to protest the whole idea that women HAD to look a certain way or be a certain shape and now there's a billion dollar industry devoted to shaping women.

Just adding....the breast aug and other cosmetic surgeries was more in response to Lady's friend feeling "cheated" by a woman in a padded bra.

[Edited 2/25/13 13:55pm]

Nothinbutjoy said:

Genesia said:

Oh, come on. Wearing a pair of Spanx is nothing like getting a boob job!

If you talk to the right people it is, (not me personally, as I mentioned I wear them). I heard a discussion on public radio just recently stating that the whole shape-wear industry is negating the women's movement of the 70's.

Women burned bra's to protest the whole idea that women HAD to look a certain way or be a certain shape and now there's a billion dollar industry devoted to shaping women.

Just adding....the breast aug and other cosmetic surgeries was more in response to Lady's friend feeling "cheated" by a woman in a padded bra.

[Edited 2/25/13 13:55pm]

I have heard some of these discussions as well Nothinbutjoy.

Some people are really angry about the spin that "powerful" women need powerful shapewear.

They are saying that female power is not located in panties or bras, and that other powerful

women should not be playing into these ideas.

I don't wear shapewear, but it hasn't been because any of these reasons. I've just always passed

them up without really paying attention.

LadyCasanova said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

If you talk to the right people it is, (not me personally, as I mentioned I wear them). I heard a discussion on public radio just recently stating that the whole shape-wear industry is negating the women's movement of the 70's.

Women burned bra's to protest the whole idea that women HAD to look a certain way or be a certain shape and now there's a billion dollar industry devoted to shaping women.

Just adding....the breast aug and other cosmetic surgeries was more in response to Lady's friend feeling "cheated" by a woman in a padded bra.

[Edited 2/25/13 13:55pm]

I have heard some of these discussions as well Nothinbutjoy.

Some people are really angry about the spin that "powerful" women need powerful shapewear.

They are saying that female power is not located in panties or bras, and that other powerful

women should not be playing into these ideas.

I don't wear shapewear, but it hasn't been because any of these reasons. I've just always passed

them up without really paying attention.

I pass them up because they are expensive. I rarely wear them, but I do like the way I look when I do.

LadyCasanova said:

Genesia: You seem to know a lot about this. How much should one expect to spend on

solid shapewear?

It varies - and depends on what you want. A shaper brief (like a panty, but with a tummy control panel and higher spandex content throughout) is probably going to run $25 to $30 (average). You can find cheaper ones, but they probably aren't going to be as supportive or durable. A shaping cami that has a built-in bra is probably going to run $70. (One without a bra will probably cost about the same as a shaper brief.) Shapers that come down the thighs are around $50. And an "all in one" or body briefer will probably be around $100. I hate those because they're almost impossible to pee in.

It's hard to be specific about price because there are just so many different kinds of shapers - and different brands. A brand like Wacoal is going to cost a lot more than something by Flexees. It all depends what you want.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Genesia said:

Oh, come on. Wearing a pair of Spanx is nothing like getting a boob job!

If you talk to the right people it is, (not me personally, as I mentioned I wear them). I heard a discussion on public radio just recently stating that the whole shape-wear industry is negating the women's movement of the 70's.

Women burned bra's to protest the whole idea that women HAD to look a certain way or be a certain shape and now there's a billion dollar industry devoted to shaping women.

Just adding....the breast aug and other cosmetic surgeries was more in response to Lady's friend feeling "cheated" by a woman in a padded bra.

Those women were wrong. Just ask johnart - he'll tell you.

Genesia said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

If you talk to the right people it is, (not me personally, as I mentioned I wear them). I heard a discussion on public radio just recently stating that the whole shape-wear industry is negating the women's movement of the 70's.

Women burned bra's to protest the whole idea that women HAD to look a certain way or be a certain shape and now there's a billion dollar industry devoted to shaping women.

Just adding....the breast aug and other cosmetic surgeries was more in response to Lady's friend feeling "cheated" by a woman in a padded bra.

Those women were wrong. Just ask johnart - he'll tell you.

Nothinbutjoy said:

Genesia said:

Those women were wrong. Just ask johnart - he'll tell you.

Seriously, though - the reason what's-her-name made a killing with Spanx is because she came along at a time when there was very little on the market in the way of modern shapewear. (Because the feminist wacka-doodles killed that industry.)

Eventually, however, even the women who wanted to be "free" in the 70s fell prey to gravity. We all need a little help at some point and in certain contexts. It's called having pride in your appearance - and it's no sin.

Of course, if somebody wants to wear granola sacks so she has not need of this type of garment, that's fine. But I'm glad they're around for me and mine.

Genesia said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

If you talk to the right people it is, (not me personally, as I mentioned I wear them). I heard a discussion on public radio just recently stating that the whole shape-wear industry is negating the women's movement of the 70's.

Women burned bra's to protest the whole idea that women HAD to look a certain way or be a certain shape and now there's a billion dollar industry devoted to shaping women.

Just adding....the breast aug and other cosmetic surgeries was more in response to Lady's friend feeling "cheated" by a woman in a padded bra.

Those women were wrong. Just ask johnart - he'll tell you.

I view bra-burners with the same eyes I view flag burners. It's simply un-American.

johnart said:

Genesia said:

Those women were wrong. Just ask johnart - he'll tell you.

I view bra-burners with the same eyes I view flag burners. It's simply un-American.

And it's why we founded Wednesday's Hag.

What's the point of wearing more than one garment at a time? I can't see it working better or making you smaller, if anything it's just adding extra layers.

Ok, so you're all smoothed out but you're still massive.

Growing up I was taught you wore that stuff to firm up, some folks are really jiggly

<--- Fat bitch checking in...

ain't nothing worse than a jiggly ass flopping about. What's worse is that some skinny women jiggle and they think showing their cottage cheese covered thighs is cute. Nothing worse than a jiggly chick in jello denile. When you walk your whole thighs shouldn't shake down to your ankles!

SMOOTH that shit out. You know you shit looks bumpy and if its loose then the clothing will wear horribly and creep and move into places it shouldn't go. If you don't like seeing yourself naked in the mirror, trust me, one layer of cotton will show that mess and we don't want to see it either!

I don't care how big I get... I wear spanx in layers if need be because the outer layer shouldn't show my dimples in my ass or thighs. Not because I am fat... but because I do not want my ass looking big AND loose. I like my pants to flow right and fit nicely. I like my blouses to drape nicely and not catch on every lump on my back. SMOOTH!

Being big isn't nasty. Your ass moving uncontrolably while you take a step with the texture of cottage cheese is. I may be big but I don't want to appear nasty.

paintedlady said:

My opinion doesn't much matter here... so I won't offer it.

I am curious, though, upon learning some women wear multiple layers of shape-wear. Really!?! Surely these garments must come in varying levels of -- I dunno -- "support"(?) so that a woman can get the contour she desires without having to double and triple the layers she has on. That sounds sooo uncomfortable.

[Edited 2/25/13 17:59pm]

Lammastide said:

Genesia said:

Lammastide said:

My opinion doesn't much matter here... so I won't offer it.

I am curious, though, upon learning some women wear multiple layers of shape-wear. Really!?! Surely these garments must come in varying levels of -- I dunno -- "support"(?) so that a woman can get the contour she desires without having to double and triple the layers she has on. That sounds sooo uncomfortable.

Some people have a lot of hail damage.

Lammastide said:

Genesia said:

Lammastide said: Some people have a lot of hail damage.

Depends on the shapewear also.

I have a huge gut... and if I wear a garmet that may creep or sticks to me I will layer up.

So a shape wear piece may only cover my butt/thighs and the top cami-bra may only cover my tits-to-mid-section....

So a fat bitch like me will get what you call "condom-roll" issues. Where shit rolls up or down lik a condom in a wrapper when you sit down and the fat shifts causing the stretch properties of the shape wear fabric to "snap back" and retreat to crevices unknown. So you layer up for TWO reasons.

1- You want that shapewear pantyhose to stay up OVER your belly and not retreat and roll away like a fruit roll up under your clothing. That sexy "condom-ring" effect under your skirt or trouser will have you fishing for the hem and if it continuously rolls down then it may very well roll right off under your butt if you suffer from lackoass. It just can get down right ugly. The same goes for those stretchy Ahh bra (Genie bra) shits that roll up and define any back breasts... giving them more fullness and shape... and God no we don't want that.

The apple shaped or big bellied woman has to face these issues on a regular. And some of today's stretchy lighter fabrics offer less construction and more reason to layer so stuff doesn't shift or roll away. So you wear TWO pieces, one which coveres the edges of another in order to prevent the roll away. Sometimes wearing a double layer - even triple layer prevents this too.

2- Some women have DEEP dimples and ZERO muscle, causing too much movement one mere layer of spandex can not solve. So may place an extra layer to get the desired smoothness ... filling out carvenous dimples and pushing down peaks of hardened fat deposits. No one needs to know your not so lovely lady lumps exist.

Genesia is right... it does get VERY warm. I myself have worn two layers in order to prvent to "roll-up" effect...

thank goodness it was never an ALL day thing... its mostly a thing to do when you wear a special occasion gown. If you need it on a daily then its time to either lose weight and firm up or rethink any clothing not constructed with boning.

paintedlady said:

i was wearing 'spanx' back in college when i discoverd that my dance leotards made fine long underwear AND smoothed the bumps. looking back i see i should have patented the idea back then.

paintedlady said:

<--- Fat bitch checking in...

Brilliant!

My opinion doesn't matter much, but I'll speak up anyway (surprise, surprise!).

When it comes to outer appearance, mainly clothing, make-up, style etc, of course I am thinking about how it looks, but the look of it is mostly determined by the "sexual practicality".

In other words:

- A woman's hair may look wonderful, but if she has to remove one hundred hair pins before she can hop into my bed and let her hair fly loose, it's simply not sexy, no matter how good it looks.

- If her three inches thick layer of make-up will either be all crusty when she wakes up next to me, or if it'll take her half an our to remove it before she can join me in bed, it's simply not sexy, no matter how good it looks.

- If I still need to take three layers of shape-wear off after I have taken off her dress all romantically and shit, it's simply not sexy, no matter how good it looks.

And that is precisely why sometimes showing that your outfit/appearance is rather minimalistic, simple and natural is way sexier than trying to hide what's underneath it, even if you hide it well.

My opinion.

I recently discovered body shapers for men! I don't know how many men use shapers but I'm willing to bet that most who do would NEVER admit it. Well, I'm admitting it. I'm wearing one now. I think it's amazing!!! Flattens out all of those little annoying bulges. I have this groovy red shirt that I purchased about 3 years ago that I was never able to feel comfortable in because of my figure flaws. Well, I have that sucker on today and I look absolutely incredible! I've been getting compliments all morning!

[Edited 2/26/13 6:54am]