Shapewear Has Always Let Me Down, But This Brand Is a Total Game Changer

A few years ago, I made a solemn vow to never again wear shapewear. It came after an uncomfortable evening wearing shapewear underneath a dress that, although perfectly fitting, was made from a clingy fabric, and I thought said shapewear would give me a seamless silhouette. How wrong I was. Instead of the no-VPL look I was hoping for, I found the areas where the shapewear stopped and my body began now boasted bulges that weren't there in the first place, thus making me insecure about things I wasn't insecure about previously. The experience was enough to wean me off the stuff for life. That was until I started hearing the growing buzz around Skims shapewear.

The brainchild of Kim Kardashian, Skims is the star's very own brand of shapewear, which offers nine different colours and includes bodysuits, shorts, bras, bralettes, push-up bras and more. Although I'm constantly seeing snaps of influencers in their Skims loungewear (which is the epitome of chic), it's the range's shapewear that commands the most hype. You need only to google the term "Skims shapewear" to see thousands upon thousands of rave reviews, proclaiming it to be the most inclusive, most varied and most effective shapewear out there. That was enough to pique my interest and shelf my cynicism.

Allison wears loungewear from Skims. 

Here's how Skims describes the impetus behind the brand on its website: "Searching for the best shapewear and underwear over the years, Kim became frustrated with the lack of options available and couldn't find anything that offered the right support, coverage or shade. This led her to cut up and dye pieces at home, sewing them together to get the solutions and results she wanted. Skims is Kim's answer to shapewear that actually works. Designed to smooth, enhance, lift and tone—each piece has a solution for every body." Sounds good, right? 

Editors from Who What Wear's US arm were some of the first to try Skims shapewear when it launched. Their verdict? "At first glance, they looked really intimidating and so tiny, so I was really nervous about trying them on—however, they were surprisingly easy (for shapewear) to put on," says Sarah Yang, managing editor of THE/THIRTY. "I thought there was going to be a lot of yanking and pulling and contorting my body, but nope! After putting them on, I did feel like I had to catch my breath for a bit because they were so tight. They definitely got the job done, though—smoothing everything out and sucking everything in. I don't know if I'd be able to wear them for the whole day (I can't wear any kind of shapewear for the whole day), but for a few hours to an event or a party? I can handle that."

And with reviews like that, I just might have to see what the fuss is about for myself. With ingenious designs—including sculpting shorts with one leg longer than the other that are perfect for all the split-front dresses I seem to harbour—it would appear that sartorial problem solving is another string Kardashian can add to her bow.

Below, I've assembled a curated selection of Skims shapewear, which should give you an idea of just how vast the range is. With many of the pieces available in all nine colourways, it's worth clicking through to see the specific shades that come in the undergarments you like best, as there will likely be other options to choose from. For bras, you'll find bands 30 to 46, and cup sizes A to H. Meanwhile in the shapewear section you can shop sizes xxs to 5xl. 

So, have a scroll. Who knows—you just might find your shapewear soulmate.

SHOP SKIMS SHAPEWEAR:

Next Up: It's True - Our Editors Are Skipping These 7 Autumn Trends. 

This story was originally published at an earlier date and has since been updated.