How firm a foundation?

November 29, 2015 6:39 AM

My school's winter formal is coming up soon. I want to look fabulous, and since I already have the dress, that means one thing: good foundational undergarments. Given my description of the dress (and myself) below the cut, what kind(s) of shapewear should I buy?

Here's what I'm working with:

• I am a large woman. I wear size 18-20 dresses, and my current bra size is approximately 40H.
• The dress is floor length with 3/4 sleeves, black, and polyester. It is flattering, but definitely shows lumps and rolls if present.
• I'd like the shapewear to go well above my waist (i.e. to cover the area around my bra band). I'm agnostic about whether the bottom end should be more like panties or like bike shorts. (Your guidance would be helpful here!)
• I will probably be wearing tights.
• I want to be able to move well; I anticipate that I'm going to be dancing a lot.

What kind of shapewear do you think I should get?

posted by ocherdraco to Clothing, Beauty, & Fashion (13 answers total)

Is the dress lined? If it isn't, and you plan to wear tights, wear something that goes longer down the leg, (two piece, so you can use the lavatory), otherwise the material will cling to the tights. Sorry for not having a good recommendation on the rest.
posted by kellyblah at 6:51 AM on November 29, 2015

I can recommend against bicycle short-style at the bottom: the edges can roll, and dig into your thighs.

I wish I had bought a more traditional girdle that ended like a very short mini-skirt.

Also: that is a beautiful dress.
posted by jb at 6:54 AM on November 29, 2015

oh: yes, I agree the shape wear should go above your waist. I had a similar rolling & digging in problem at the waist.

Something that includes a bra, or hooks into a bra, would be ideal.
posted by jb at 6:56 AM on November 29, 2015

I've found that, somewhat counterintuitively, it helps immensely to size up in shapewear. It's much more comfortable and minimizes rolling, but you still get the benefits of having everything smoothed out.

With that in mind, I recommend shorts-type butt style over panties-type. Preferably mid-thigh or lower. You won't have anything cutting into your butt, and if the edge produces any visible line it'll be well concealed under the skirt. If your thighs rub together when you walk, the shorts will make that zone a lot more comfortable too.

Definitely don't get the tight slip kind if you're going to be dancing; that style works well if you're going to a business meeting or somewhere you don't anticipate moving a whole lot, but one false move and the whole thing rolls up like a cheap window shade.

That dress is amazing!
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:23 AM on November 29, 2015

I prefer bike short style shape wear - if it's the right size and the shorts are long enough, they won't roll up at all (I wear shapewear shorts under dresses all summer primarily to prevent chafing). If you end up wearing tights, I'd do the shorts over the tights. You could also do knee high stocking to avoid multiple layers, since it's a long dress.

I'd go for something like this, though I don't know about sizing and I don't think I've tried this brand - but I like this general style.

Agreed that you want to get the right size, which may mean one size up - too small shapewear is miserable, but the right size is comfy and supportive in a good way.
posted by insectosaurus at 7:31 AM on November 29, 2015

Well hi there body double! With a dress like that I wear high waist shaping tights. They generally stay up by themselves, but if not I have been known to safety pin them tht bottom of my bra.
posted by Requiax at 7:31 AM on November 29, 2015

That dress rocks! Keep things simple underneath. The wrong shapewear, mixed with heels and dancing, can lead to fainting (yes, this has happened to me). Target has pantyhose that goes up to the bra line. You might want to try them before committing to the dreaded spanx. Wear a slip (like our grandmothers used to) over your support hose, to smooth out the lines.

Three days before the event, avoid eating anything white. No sugar, no yeast, no flour, no milk. Eat regular portions of everything else, don't starve yourself. Just reducing the white will reduce bloat, which will reduce your desire to wear really uncomfortable underwear.

In the end, people are going to notice you dancing confidently in that gorgeous dress, and they won't even notice anything else.
posted by myselfasme at 7:46 AM on November 29, 2015

Spanx does an open bust bodysuit (so you can wear your own bra) with a snap crotch (so you can use the bathroom) which is the shapewear I would use with a fitted top/full skirted gown. The also do an open bust crotchless body suit that ends in bike short legs

I find dealing with high waisted shaping tights every time you go to the loo with a long full skirt to be a serious pain in the ass and would personally go with an open-bust body suit of some sort.
posted by crush-onastick at 7:51 AM on November 29, 2015

How recent was your last bra fitting? A fantastic bra is your most important foundation garment - the right one can be slimming, waist defining and proportion evening without any other accessories. I recommend being fit, or using the r/abrathatfits community/calculator and getting yourself a great longline in your size. Once that's taken care of, I'd get a cincher. It'll provide a corset-like shape without weight, make bathroom visits *much* easier and the longline will smooth out any bumps where the two garments meet. Then throw on your favorite pair of undies and some thigh highs and knock 'em dead. <3
posted by givennamesurname at 8:32 AM on November 29, 2015

Forgot to mention (and missed the edit window!): if your bra size is an accurate US40H, this could be a great all-in-one option for you.
posted by givennamesurname at 8:39 AM on November 29, 2015

I would reconsider the tights and go with a version of the above mentioned bustless bodysuit type garment. There's nothing more annoying than tights that slip off shapewear and tights under shapewear feel horrible (to me). Definitely a well fitting bra. And shoes you're comfortable dancing in.
posted by koahiatamadl at 8:41 AM on November 29, 2015

The bodysuit that was linked above by crushonastick is probably the best bet. Those babies smooth EVERYTHING and they can't roll or tug (which, sorry to say, just about every pair of tights WILL do at some point.) The only question is whether it is low cut enough in the back to be hidden by your beautiful dress. The one linked seems like a likely winner for this; typically they come up quite a bit higher.
posted by fingersandtoes at 3:26 PM on November 29, 2015

That kind of spanx bodysuit is great- I have the same one (mine was not spanx brand but the cut is identical). Get it in black so the peeking straps are ok, and a little bigger than you think so it's comfortable, and maybe try wearing it UNDER your bra- the straps might push your bust inwards and putting a bra overtop might be better- I've had better luck this way.
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:29 PM on November 29, 2015