Do you need to wear underwear under shapewear?

Shapewear is a must-have undergarment piece in any wardrobe. With its empowering features, this lingerie element can help you smooth out your curve, enhance your assets, and feel like a star in your own skin.

But if you’re a newbie in this realm and don’t have much experience with this type of undergarments, there’s one question you’re probably asking yourself – do you wear underwear under shapewear?

In the following sections, we dive deep into this topic to answer this common question. 

Do you wear underwear under shapewear?

In short, there’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to wearing underwear under shapewear.

However, in most cases, shapewear is specifically designed to help you create an impeccable, seam-free silhouette. Naturally, these pieces are, in most cases, designed to offer all the support and coverage traditional underwear would provide. 

Considering this, it’s safe to say that underwear can often work against shapewear by preventing it from achieving its ultimate goals. 

Of course, it also depends on the type of shapewear we’re talking about. 

For example, briefs, thongs, body shaping pieces, and bodysuit shapewear are usually created with a gusset, meaning that underwear isn’t a necessity. However, some shapewear is gusset-free, like skirts, girdles, shapewear tank tops, and others. 

In this scenario, the expectation is that these products will be worn with underwear. At the same time, this is by all means optional and depends on personal preference. 

Pros of wearing underwear with shapewear

When discussing the topic of do you need to wear underwear under shapewear, it’s essential to explore both the advantages and disadvantages of this practice.

When it comes to the positives, there are plenty of perks of wearing underwear with shapewear:

  • Hygiene – Naturally, wearing a combo of shapewear and underwear is the more hygienic option as underwear can protect the skin from bacteria and sweat. 
  • Extra support – Underwear can oftentimes offer an extra layer of compression and therefore support. It can also help shape the body’s silhouette even better and can be beneficial for those who suffer from discomforts like lower back pain and others. 
  • Low risks of malfunctions  – Having underwear under shapewear can also give you peace of mind knowing that you’re protected no matter what. Even if the shapewear malfunctions or changes its position, you’ll be safe against unexpected or even embarrassing situations.

However, there are also a few drawbacks to consider.

Cons of wearing underwear with shapewear

Some of the main challenges of wearing underwear with shapewear are related to bulkiness, comfort, and fitting issues.

  • Bulky – As you can imagine, wearing underwear beneath shapewear can result in additional bulk that most people would prefer to avoid. If you’re styling your outfits with sheer clothing or form-fitting components, this could be especially important to consider.
  • Discomfort – Most shapewear pieces already provide compression. Adding underwear to the picture can cause significant discomfort in specific parts of the body. If the underwear is designed using non-breathable fabrics, this problem could escalate even further.
  • Difficult to fit – Not to mention that it’s a mission on its own to discover underwear that fits in perfectly well with shapewear. After all, the goal is to avoid any visible bulges and lines. 

By understanding both sides of the coin, you’ll be able to make an informed decision on whether or not you’re willing to try marrying underwear to shapewear when styling your outfits.

Tips on wearing shapewear

When shopping for your next shapewear solutions, there are several fundamental components to keep in mind. 

Get the right fit

Make sure that you invest enough time in researching your options in order to make the right choices when it comes to a comfortable and reliable fit. 

Although the role of shapewear is to offer a stable and guaranteed compression and smoothing effect, ensure that the products you’ve set your eyes on are not too small or too large.

Remember that these products are designed to boost your natural silhouette based on your true size. Don’t try to shop for shapewear that is a size below your clothing or even worse – larger. 

Check the sizing charts of the solutions you’re considering before making a purchase.

Find the perfect support level

When it comes to support level, keep in mind that it will play a role in comfort, the final shaping effect, and overall – your confidence. 

Choosing shapewear with the perfect support level means that you can wear it for longer without feeling any discomfort. Products that are too intense can dramatically restrict your movements, potentially affecting your breathability.

On the other side, buying shapewear that offers support that’s too light is likely to result in no effects after all.

Choose the best shapewear style for your needs

Finally, it’s crucial to select the best shapewear style based on your personal needs.

In order to achieve this, you’ll need to fully understand the nature of your body, your wardrobe, and the exact results you’re after. 

For maximum results, we recommend: 

  • Identifying your target areas 
  • Determining the level of support you wish to receive
  • Considering how you’ll match the shapewear to your outfit
  • Testing different styles 

Most importantly, always prioritise comfort and strive to identify shapewear solutions that won’t make a compromise with style. 

Read more: Does shapewear work?

Take your shapewear to the next level with Bye Bra

If you’re searching for high-quality, durable, and reliable shapewear solutions, Bye Bra is the perfect place to look.

With a range of options to choose from, there’s a perfect piece for everyone in our catalogue. Discover different shapewear categories, featuring bodysuits, dresses, shorts, skirts, tops, underwear, and more. 

Shapewear can quickly turn into your best friend, especially if you’ve made a good choice.