The Control Levels of Shapewear
20 Oct
By Marcy Montgomery Jones
Cupid Intimates
You have a special occasion coming up. Perhaps you’re a bridesmaid. Maybe you’re giving a presentation. Possibly, you decided to introduce yourself to that cute, mysterious neighbor who’s always walking his dog. You have the perfect outfit and now you want the perfect body. You go to the shapewear section of your most beloved department store and you see that there are so many choices! “What is all this stuff, I just want to look hot,” you think to yourself. You’d like some help with the many questions coming to mind.
OK, we have to start somewhere, so let’s talk about control.
There’s a whole spectrum of control levels from which to choose.
Extra Firm – this level delivers. Some wearers believe that they really have to feel their shapewear working; Extra Firm control is made for them. Any hang tag that says, “Look 10 pounds lighter in 10 seconds®” means business. These garments can literally take inches off and re-sculpt your body. Extra Firm control garments give maximum results. Unfortunately, the concession is typically comfort. Extra Firm garments traditionally use up to three plies of fabric in strategic locations and have large amounts of visible stitching.
You may have heard about Extra Firm control shapewear made with a new construction technology. Instead of employing traditional panels sewn in place with thread, these garments have panels attached with adhesives. They’re strategically placed to both restrict stretch and add fit adjustability. Unlike those that are stitched, panels attached with these adhesives don’t have to be placed into the seams of a garment. This freedom allows for the creation of stride-, waist-, and leg-adjustability. These garments fit more people comfortably than any other Extra Firm control garments, and actually take off the same amount of inches as traditionally-constructed ones.
Extra Firm control is a great choice for all special occasions. Wear it under wedding dresses, evening gowns, cocktail dresses, or prom gowns. Basically, anytime you want to look breathtaking.
Firm – this level sets the standard. Firm control has been producing wonderful results for decades. It has traditionally used two plies of fabric, with large amounts of stitching, to create targeted control. Generally, the body fabric is a mixture of stretchy and rigid fabrics that often overlap one another. Firm control garments often feature plain or printed satin panels, and typically offer multiply-targeted shaping solutions for the tummy, hip, and thigh areas. The Firm control level bridges the construction properties of Extra Firm and Comfortable Firm™ (see below) control. For example, in Firm control garments you may see the wide elastics, boning, or hook-and-eyes of the former, made with fabrics as soft as those of the latter.
Firm control is a great choice to wear under Sunday dresses, skirt and pant suits, party and tea dresses, form fitting slacks, or blouses.
Comfortable Firm™ – this level represents the new generation of shapewear. Within the last few years shapewear companies have been using new, supple and adjustable fabrics that have changed the face of the industry. Comfortable Firm™ control garments are single-ply, high-stretch, high-modulus apparel that provide dramatic results. Until Comfortable Firm™ control was developed, such performance could only be approximated by adding stitching and layers of fabric to a garment. Comfortable Firm™ control designers eliminated that bulk and obtrusion, and created balanced, high-performance shapewear. The soft, single-ply fabrics move in tandem with the body, in every direction, without creating the restriction imposed by more traditional, Firm control garments. Comfortable Firm™ control shapewear has slightly less control than Firm control garments but can be worn much more comfortably, for longer periods of time.
I recommend using Comfortable Firm™ control with all types of clothing – anytime you want significant results for hours on end.
Light – this is the level of control in which you can live. Light control offers maximum comfort with less obvious results. It creates a layer of smoothing and wrapping, and tones the parts of your body that you don’t want to be “mobile.” Light control garments are usually made with a single ply of soft, gently-knit fabric and have very little stitching.
You may have recently seen an amazing new group of Light control garments that combine a sumptuous, multi-directional, high-stretch fabric with adhesives that melt right into it. This innovative group uses multiple grain lines to create unseen fit adjustability, while maintaining a light cohesiveness for the wearer. They’re lightweight and silky-feeling, and are ideal for those with hard-to-fit bodies – whether tall or petite. They create what I best describe as a loving hug. Their smooth, adjustable construction creates unbelievable twelve-hour-plus comfort.
Light control is the perfect complement to everyday clothing like sweaters, blouses, slacks, or skirts, and light control camis can even be worn by themselves, under jackets.
Think of shapewear control as a teeter-totter. Selecting a level is about getting the right balance of comfort and results for you and your particular situation. For special occasions and getting the maximum “wow” response, think Extra Firm. You might be a bit uncomfortable, but keep in mind that you’ll only be wearing it for a few hours. And you’ll remember the night forever! For sensational slimming results with moderate discomfort, think Firm. When your day is done that Firm control shapewear will come off, but you’ll have looked great and felt confident. Think of Comfortable Firm™ control as the new face of shapewear. It’s undisputedly the best balance of the worlds of comfort and performance. And think Light control for smoothing and light toning all day long. It’s sometimes so comfortable you can sleep in it!
If you haven’t been to the shapewear section of your favorite store in a few years, trust me – now is the time to go! New comfort barriers have been broken, and the entire category has been transformed, by the development of new fabrics and elastics, the use of adhesives, and the creation of new construction techniques. With a little knowledge, you’ll surely find the perfect shapewear pieces for you.
Any shapewear that I wear MUST be extra firm control. Have long legs and a high waist and prefer as many bones as possible to prevent rolling. I need all the help I can get taming my tummy and thighs. I want to feel the shaper working. Perhaps it’s an illusion, but feeling it work gives me more confidence in my appearance. That level of confidence makes it possible for me to wear the garment for many hours at a time.
Ahhh… a NO PAIN NO GAIN girl! I applaud your stamina. You aren’t alone. Several women just like you thrive on that super control. It’s hardcore shape wearers like you that make the Extra Firm category the success it is. More power to you!
I have worn my extra firm girdles for extended periods (18-24 hrs) on several occasions with little discomfort. I must say that it did become a bit uncomfortable during the holidays when the airport was closed down for 42 hrs and I was stranded there the whole time. I couldn’t go to the restroom and just take it off because the skirt I had on won’t zip without it. Hope my boyfriend appreciates what it takes to get the curves he seems to like so well!
What garment silhouettes do you prefer in Extra Firm?
I only wear style 5059. I’ve tried other styles and have not been satisfied.
I was in Chicago visiting my favorite corset shop 2 weeks ago. The owner of the shop showed me a Rago style # 6210 and talked me into trying it on. She insisted I wear it around the shop a bit. A long story short, I have never considered paying more than $50 for a shaper in my life. I left the shop wearing one and with 2 more. I believe my 5059s my wind up on eBay.
Hello again Annie,
It’s important to know why shapewear prices run the gamut. You can buy a style 5059 for $13 at a discount retailer or you can spend $69 on premium brand styles found at department stores. Both will give you extra firm control and shape your waist, tummy, and thighs. The price difference comes from the fabric and elastics. The higher priced garment will have a fabric that’s more adjustable and moldable that will feel more sumptuous and body hugging. While a style 5059 has great fabric that certainly gives results, the fabric look and feel is less luxurious and the fabric isn’t as forgiving as a top-tier body fabric. You would also find elastics to be plusher and have a tighter weave on more expensive garments. If you’re considering spending more on your shapewear and you love the style 5059 I would recommend trying TC style 499.