New-generation shapewear can alter look without inhibiting comfort

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How, exactly, are you going to squeeze into that form-fitting cocktail dress for the upcoming holiday parties?
Barring a crash diet and/or hitting the gym, the answer, of course, is shapewear.
The new generation of shapewear has been around for a few years and improvements in control technology are making them increasingly comfortable and provide more choices in a variety of price ranges.
There are even a few shapers for guys who've developed love handles or a beer belly, such as Musotica's $63 rubber "waist reducer" for men (www.musotica.com; 1-877-687-6842), although that's another story altogether. Going one step further, Spiegel Brands now offers apparel through its Shape fx line that shapes your body right when you get dressed, thanks to hidden power-mesh control panels built right into the clothes.
To take some of the guesswork out of shopping for shapers, we tried a few of the most popular brands. Here are some of the hits and misses.
If you've ever gotten up early on a Saturday morning and turned on the TV, chances are you've seen the hourlong infomercial for the Kymaro New Body Shaper ($39.95; www.newbodyshaper.com; 1-888-596-2761). I'm betting you not only watched the entire episode but marveled, as I have, over the dramatic results; on the right body (i.e., fairly heavy) the shaper supposedly can take off up to 6 inches and 20 pounds immediately. Add the "free" New Bottom Shaper shorts to your order (you'll pay $9.95 for shipping and handling) and you'll get rid of those nasty saddlebags, too.
I'm not nearly that large, thanks to regular exercise and good genetics. But like most women who like to drink beer and have had a couple of children (in my case, the last two by Caesarean section), my stomach isn't exactly a six-pack. So the Kymaro package, which ended up costing $59.85 after shipping charges, looked like a good thing.
A couple different customers on the UbuyEZ complaint board said that the bottoms were too tight to be comfortable and that the top, which scoops down under the breasts, did little to hide any unsightly bulges. I was similarly dissatisfied. While the body shaper was comfortable enough to wear all day and managed to whittle about a half-inch off my waist, it did little to flatten my abdomen. In addition, the scoop neck had such a weird cut that my bust was pushed inward and upward -- fine if you like the Wonder Bra-look, but not so great if you're more modest. The Kymaro bottom, meanwhile, created a highly visible line at my waist. While it erased any visible panty lines as promised, it looked like I was wearing a giant gumband.
I had much better luck with the Naomi & Nicole Shapewear Thigh Slimmer with Wonder Edge ($40 at Macy's). Both lightweight and comfortable enough to wear all day at the office, it helped define my waistline by pulling everything in, and it also helped smooth and shape my hips and thighs. That is to say, I was lump- and bump-free under my dresses and pants. I especially liked the Wonder Edge, a thin band of elastic at the bottom that kept the slimmer firmly in place. It didn't even leave a red mark after eight or more hours. The best part: It didn't constrict my stomach while eating lunch. The downside: The waistband occasionally folded over on itself.
Shape fx's new One-Size-Slimmer Holiday Dress (www.shapefx.com; 1-800-533-5696) was another winner. I'm usually not a fan of sheath-style dresses, which look best on ultra-slim frames or very tall women. And I definitely shy away from satin because it tends to show every single lump, bump or roll. A built-in "power-mesh" slip in this pretty dress ($69), though, managed to both control and comfortably smooth my tummy, while a lacy silicone gripper edge kept the slip from riding up.
OK, so I didn't look like the leggy, 100-pound model in the photo. But I didn't look that bad, either. The dress's squared neckline was flattering even to a smaller bosom, and princess seams that curved strategically over the bust added to its slimming lines. Made from a cotton/polyester blend with spandex, the material was forgivingly stretchy.
Among other shapers promoted on the infomercial circuit is the popular Spanx.
In 1998, Sara Blakely cut the feet off her panty hose so she'd look good in her cream-colored pants. It worked so well that she approached several lawyers to see if she could patent the product. Several thought her idea was so crazy that they figured her visit was a set up by "Candid Camera." But she eventually did get her footless body-shaping panty hose patented, came up with the catchy name of Spanx and went on to develop a whole line of shapers.
She was discovered by Oprah in 2000, and, well, you know the rest.
Among the company's products are bodysuits ($54-$88), panty shapers ($26-$62), mid-thigh shapers ($30-$72) and slimming camis ($42-$78). These also received some mixed reviews online about how they weren't nearly as comfortable as they looked in the infomercial, especially for larger women.
My colleague tried two of its products sold through Chicos, the $30 power panty and $36 high-waisted power panty. While these were size 0, they are designed to fit any woman 4 feet 10 to 5 feet 10 who weighs 110 pounds to 150 pounds. They're also available in narrower size ranges from Saks Fifth Avenue, other retailers and the Spanx Web site (www.spanx.com).
Both of these shapers trimmed a half-inch off her waist, although nothing from her hips or rear. While the power panty worked well, was comfortable and lived up to its "no more grid butt" motto, the more expensive high-waisted shaper was a disappointment.
Its long bulky seam vertically down the front showed through outer garments, partly defeating the smoothing purpose of the shaper. It did, however, come with an additional feature -- a nifty opening at the bottom for easier bathroom breaks -- a girl fly, if you will.
Overall, most of the shapers did the smoothing we were looking for. Guess we'll be able to enjoy that second drink at the office Christmas party, after all, and not feel like it's going right to our hips or waist.

(Virginia Linn contributed. Gretchen McKay can be reached at gmckay(at)post-gazette.com.)

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, www.scrippsnews.com.)
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