Shapewear: light, medium or strong, which level suits you?
Shapewear that sits unused in your drawer usually wasn't bought too small or too big. More often it's too firm for a long workday, or too light for that fitted dress you bought it for. The shaping level makes a big difference to how comfortable something feels. That's why at CurvesWear we divide our styles into three levels: light, medium and strong. In this blog you'll read what the difference is and which level fits your moment. On the product page, the icons below show which shaping level a product has.
Why the shaping level matters so much
Shapewear works with compression: the fabric gently presses your body into a smoother shape. The firmer the fabric, the more you see, but also the more you feel. For an evening of a few hours that's no problem, but for a nine-hour day at the office it can get to be too much. If you choose the level that fits how long and for what you'll wear it, you'll actually put it on.
Light: a smooth base
Light shaping smooths your body without much pressure. The seams and edges of your underwear disappear, and your clothes drape better. You can easily wear it all day, even if you sit a lot.
Choose light if your clothes already fit well and you mainly want a smooth base, for example under a thin sweater, a blouse or a jersey dress.
Example: the Invisible Singlet Dress by Bye Bra. A slip dress that gently smooths your body and that you hardly feel under a fitted dress.
Medium: just a bit more support
Medium shaping gives more support around your tummy and waist, but stays comfortable enough for a whole afternoon or evening. You see a clear difference without feeling wrapped up.
Choose medium for a party, a dinner or a pair of fitted trousers where you want just a little more shape.
Example: the Body Perfect Curves by Janira. Medium shaping with an almost seamless design, so you can wear this bodysuit effortlessly under fitted clothing. No edges, no lines, no fuss.
Strong: a visible difference
Strong shaping corrects firmly, especially around your tummy, waist and back. This is the level for the moments when you want a fitted dress or a top in thin fabric to fall exactly the way you pictured it.
Choose strong for a wedding, a gala or an evening you've had your outfit hanging ready for weeks. If you're wearing strong shaping for the first time, put it on at home for an hour to get used to it.
Example: the Go-Figure Open Bust Bodysuit by SPANX. This bodyshaper combines powerful, targeted shaping with lighter, more elegant materials. The result is a smooth, shaped silhouette from tummy to thighs, while staying comfortable enough to wear all day.
A rule of thumb to remember
The longer you wear it, the lighter the level can be. For an evening, go ahead and choose strong, for a workday you're better off with light or medium. If you can't decide between two levels, pick the lighter one. You'll wear it more often, and shapewear that you wear always does more than shapewear in your drawer.
And your size?
The level tells you something about the firmness of the fabric, your size determines how it fits. Always choose your size based on the size chart on the product page, and if you're in doubt, go for the larger size. A size that's too small makes even light shaping uncomfortable and can cause it to roll at your waist. In our webshop we indicate when a shaper runs large or small. Otherwise you can normally choose your usual clothing size.
Need help choosing?
Send us your waist and hip measurements and tell us what you want to wear it for, and we'll help you find the level and size that suit you. Or take a look at this shapewear advice page for more information.
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