We Tried Dozens of Pieces of Shapewear—These 12 Are Best For Plus-Size Women (2024)

Yes, this shapewear is on the pricier side, but you do get more out of it than just waist-cinching capabilities. We loved how the bodysuit looked on its own with high waisted jeans and a blazer, rather than just underneath our garments. It is quite compressive, supportively hugging the midsection and giving us a bit of an hourglass figure. We found that it also smoothed our hip region so that high-waisted pants fit a little more effortlessly.

Despite being rather tight, it never left any markings on our skin. It also felt surprisingly comfortable, enabling us to wear it for an entire day. Perhaps the best part, however, is that it comes with a built-in powermesh bra, so that even bigger-chested women can go braless in this bodysuit. And while there is an adjustable gusset at the bottom for easy bathroom access, we found it to be a little difficult to maneuver at first. Still, we found this bodysuit incredibly comfortable and worth the investment.

Size: Regular, long, S-3XL | Colors: 4 | Compression Level:2

Without skimping out on quality, Spanx offers an affordable open-bust, full coverage shapewear at Target that’s comparable to the main line of shapewear. At a compression level of one, it’s more of a lightweight shaper, ideal for spring and summer.

Full body shapewear can get itchy — fast. However, this fabric, made with nylon, cotton, and spandex, allowed seams to disappear under our clothing without all day fidgeting. Thanks to the open-bust, we didn't have to find a size that fit both our chest and our belly. Shop by body size, then combine your own favorite bra (we went with a backless bra) for perfect coverage. For people with bigger butts, however, compression around the bottom can feel a bit tight. Offered in beige and black, its slip-on application is easy with the amount of stretch in the fabric.

Size: S–3XL | Colors: 2 | Compression Level:1

We found this bodysuit to be the most agreeable across the board. Between a compression level of one and two, with decent tummy tucking capabilities and great chest support, it can be worn underneath just about anything, from formal dresses to office attire. We loved how it made little bumps disappear for a smooth look. Thanks to the near-invisible criss-cross bandaging around the waist, it also cinched in our bellies gently without constricting blood flow. On top of that, it comes with adjustable shoulder straps and adjustable gusset, allowing for easy bathroom access.

We did find it a little tight around the thigh, however. On our bigger bottoms, the leg openings dug ever-so-slightly into the flesh which only started to become uncomfortable after a few hours of wear.

Size: XS–4XL | Colors: 5 | Compression Level: 1

Similar to the Spanx piece we mentioned earlier, the Lane Bryant Open Bust Thigh Shaper sits underneath the breasts, allowing us to wear our favorite bra instead of having one built-in. It does, however, add a tiny bit of fabric around the underboob to help give whatever bra you pair it with a little push. We appreciated a lot of things on this option, from the way it contoured our bodies, held everything in, and felt soft and comfortable. Compression at a level three typically comes with the compromise of being uncomfortable. But this moisture-wicking fabric didn’t have us feeling sticky or icky underneath. It even glided on quite easily.

While it doesn’t come with an opening around the bottom, we found it shockingly easy to take on and off, which again, is rather uncommon for something this tight. The way it sculpted and smoothed our body underneath our clothes made us feel very appreciative and confident, otherwise.

Size: 14–36 | Colors: 2 | Compression Level:3

This piece provides excellent contouring. We’re talking smoothed out bellies, rounded out rear, and cinched in waist. The toning capabilities truly impressed us, and it’s achieved through their very thick and firm material. Yes, the mega compression is a bit of a hassle to slip into and making sure its in the right place on your body takes some time. It was enough to turn some of us away from it, but others enjoyed how spectacularly toning it was once on.

Something that really stood out to us here was how accurate the bra sizing was. On our editor who finds it very difficult to find shapewear that fits her DDs, this fit like a dream. She felt fully supported, with no gaping or constricting feeling around her chest.

Size: 32B–42DD | Colors: 2 | Compression Level:3

This tightened our midsection, creating an incredible hourglass figure. We loved how it looked underneath high-waisted skirts and hip-hugging jeans. But you won’t be able to wear this with any bodycon garments because the many clasps and ripples down the front can be seen under tight clothing. We did find that it’s a little long, especially on our short torsos, so the edges dug into our butt and hips a little uncomfortably. It’s also not meant for long or daily wear, but more of a special occasion piece.

Size: XXS–3XL | Colors: 2 | Compression Level:3

A little bit smoothing, a little bit compressing, this bodysuit cinched our waist in all the right ways offering a mix of heavy and light compression through three layers of fabric on the body and a single layer on the thighs. This tummy control bodysuit follows the natural curves of your body, blurring any bumps on your thighs, hips, and belly. It also has mesh on the legs to alleviate any potential discomfort in the pelvis area. You can wear your own bra due to its open-bust construction, too.

The material on the trimming of this bodysuit is slightly more porous than the material from the rest of the bodysuit, which can fit a little tight through the leg area. A small zipper at the bottom allows you to use the bathroom without fully disrobing.

Size: XS–6XL | Colors: 5 | Compression Level:2

These shorts truly sculpt the body. It has boning on the sides, which shaved our hips a bit, and criss-cross bandaging around the stomach to cinch our waist. The material starts at the thigh and comes all the way up to your breasts, so we were able to get a seamless contouring effect in all the places where it mattered. We also found the mesh portions to be extremely strong on our legs, despite looking deceivingly sheer. Any kind of hip dips or dimples were immediately blurred out. We love this power short so much, we invested in the briefs and thong versions, too.

Size: XS–3XL | Colors: 6 | Compression Level:3

If you want to keep your upper body free, try compressive shorts that leave your chest and shoulders bare. We found these shorts to be a little gentler on the body, as they have more of a smoothing effect rather than a contouring one, like the Honeylove SuperPower shorts. We could slide these on like any other biker shorts, and they remain in place throughout the whole day, thanks to the silicone strip at the waist. It never itched or tugged in any way, but we did notice some markings on the skin once we took the shorts off.

The breathable fabric is comfortable for all-day and everyday wear, and we could wear them underneath tight jeans as well.

Size: XS–4XL | Colors:4 | Compression Level:1

For any tight dresses that show off your figure, Torrid's Smoothing Slip dress is the one to grab to complement the look. The lightweight, silky-soft fabric appeared invisible under our garments and the medium compression allowed us to move comfortably without sacrificing the shaping characteristics. Spaghetti straps, which by the way, are adjustable in length, ensure this slip will slide under almost any dress, including slinky, summer styles. While black is one of the most universal colors for a slip, we love this piece so much that we would want it in every shade imaginable.

Size: M–6XL | Colors: 1 | Compression Level:2

Your favorite leggings just got a huge upgrade. The Yummie shaping leggings come with 360 degree shaping, a tasteful hug around the waist, and butt lifting technology. Perfect for running errands or lounging at home on the couch, the cotton-based fabric combines comfort with style. Dubbed the "everyday shaping legging" on the Yummie site, these pants are the happy medium of stretch and compression. The nine colors range from goes-with-everything black to gray to a deep forest green, an option for every outfit. Since you can wear these like any other leggings, no one will be any wiser that you are wearing shapewear. We just wish these came with pockets for extra convenience.

Size: XS–3XL | Colors: 9 | Compression Level:1

Maidenform has tons of shapewear, but this camisole may be their niftiest number. The straps can be adjusted to create a criss-cross back for special tops. Not to mention, the camisole has a seam below the bust, which divides the built-in bra from the added tummy control on the bottom half of the top. The longer length makes sure this shapewear will stay tucked into pants and skirts.

We do find that it compresses the chest area as well. If you wish to suppress your breasts, then this is an added bonus. However, if you want them to be perky and lifted, you might want to check out another option.

Size: S–3XL | Colors: 3 | Compression Level:1