Shapewear: A Woman's Secret Weapon

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With the hectic days many of us have, there’s little to no time to eat healthy let alone exercise and very few of us have the eat-whatever-you-want-and-not-gain-an-inch metabolism.

With events like weddings, holiday parties or just nights out it’s easy to regret not making time to work out or eating a little more than you should have. But truth be told, last night’s indulgence isn’t to blame for you not being able to fit into your dress today or looking as fabulous as you’d like.

Luckily, your grandmother’s girdle has been revamped to help you create a minor illusion and help you feel confident enough to wear any outfit. In a survey conducted by Jockey, nearly three in five women said they would wear shapewear under their clothes in order to look curvier or squeeze into certain outfits.

Whether you want to wear a dress or a pantsuit, there’s an undergarment designed to help you show off your best attributes while hiding the one’s you don’t fancy as much. Spanx products intend to make you “Look slimmer, avoid panty lines and wear any style shoe with comfort and total confidence that you will look and feel your best!” it says on the Spanx site.

But think you’re not “there” yet? Shapewear isn’t only for those with a little something extra, it comes in all sizes because all women could use a little help at one time or another. Being toned doesn’t necessarily follow being thin and why should thin women be excluded from the benefits shapewear has to offer?

Women who find the time to make it to the gym can benefit from undergarments too. “Women who wear a tight girdle-like ‘shaper garment’ while walking on a treadmill burn more calories than they would without it, new research shows,” said emedicinehealth.com.

Talk about bang for your buck, you can wear it both to the gym and out on the town.

And the shapewear of today is far from your grandmother’s girdle. Granny panties not only have a new meaning but a refined purpose. Companies like Victoria’s Secret make a Hug Me Tight High-waist Shaper Brief, which “contours your tummy and waist for a streamlined silhouette. It defines your bum and creates those perky cheeks you seek under body-hugging styles.”

Is there something these “panties,” (if we can even call them that) don’t do? The technology is lightyears ahead of granny panties or undergarments of yesteryear.

So wear it if you like and wear it proudly because for all you know every woman in the room might be wearing some variety of it. There’s no shame in seeking alternatives for playing down your problem areas, and if you can gain a little bit of confidence in the process, why the heck not?

Sources:

Jockey Survey. Jockey.com. Web. November 30, 2011.
http://www.jockey.com/pressroom/ss_6_25_08_final.pdf

Spanx. Spanx.com. Web. November 30, 2011.
http://www.spanx.com/helpdesk/index.jsp?display=store&subdisplay=product

Undergarments. Emedicinehealth.com. Web. November 30, 2011.
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=116887

Hug Me Tight High-waist Shaper Brief. Victoria’s Secret. Web. November 30, 2011. http://www.victoriassecret.com/ss/SatelliteProductID=1265646052761&c=Pag...

Edited by Jody Smith

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.