How to Choose Your Shapewear Size (and How Long to Wear It)

Buy shapewear in your true measured size — sizing down does not smooth more, it creates bulges at the edges and becomes painful within an hour. Light compression is fine all day; firm compression is for a few hours, not a whole wedding. Here is how to get it right.

This guide is part of our guide to the types of shapewear.

General comfort guidance, not medical advice. If shapewear causes pain, numbness, breathlessness or digestive discomfort, take it off, and speak to your doctor about any ongoing symptoms.

Why does sizing down backfire?

Because fabric has to put the displaced volume somewhere, and too-small shapewear pushes it out at the top and bottom edges. You end up with a more obvious outline, not a smoother one.

Too-small shapewear also rolls down at the waist, digs into the thigh, and becomes genuinely uncomfortable within the first hour. The smooth result you want comes from the correct size in a firmer fabric, not a smaller size.

How do you measure for shapewear?

Measure your natural waist and the fullest part of your hips, then use the brand's own chart. Shapewear sizing varies far more between brands than ordinary clothing.

• Waist: the narrowest part of your midsection
• Hips: the fullest point, usually around 20cm below the waist
• If you fall between sizes, take the larger one — firmness comes from the fabric, not from squeezing into a smaller label

The same method as measuring your underwear size at home.

How firm should the compression be?

• Light: everyday smoothing, comfortable all day
• Medium: noticeable shaping, fine for several hours
• Firm: maximum control, best kept to a few hours

Medium that you forget you're wearing is far better at a long function than firm that you spend the evening adjusting.

How long can you wear shapewear?

Light compression is fine for a full day; firm compression is sensible for a few hours. Treat discomfort as information rather than something to push through.

Signs to take it off: numbness or tingling, difficulty breathing deeply, pain at the waistband, or indigestion. These aren't a sign you need to toughen up — they're a sign the garment is too tight or has been on too long. Overnight is not a good idea.

How do you stop it rolling down?

• Correct size first — rolling is usually a too-small problem
• Choose a wider waistband, which grips over more surface and stays put
• Silicone grip edges hold the top band in place
• Match the length to the outfit so the hem sits where the clothing hides it

What should you wear underneath?

Thin, seamless underwear — or nothing extra, if the shapewear has a built-in gusset. Bulky underwear under compression creates exactly the lines you're trying to avoid.

A seamless style like our Smooth Operator 7-pack sits flat under a shaper. Many people find a cotton gusset against the skin more comfortable for a long event.

Do you need shapewear at all?

Often not — well-fitted seamless underwear in a skin tone solves most visible-line problems on its own. Worth trying first, since it's cheaper and far more comfortable.

High-rise full-coverage styles like our Comfy Classic boyshorts give a smooth line under a fitted outfit without any compression. See how to stop visible panty lines.

Frequently asked questions

Should you size down in shapewear?

No. A smaller size creates bulges at the edges, rolls down, and becomes painful quickly. Buy your measured size and choose a firmer fabric if you want more control.

How long can you wear shapewear in a day?

Light compression is comfortable all day. Firm compression is best limited to a few hours, and should come off if you feel numbness, pain or breathlessness.

Why does my shapewear roll down?

Usually because it is too small. A wider waistband and silicone grip edges also help it stay in place.

Does Erblis sell shapewear?

No. We stock underwear, bras and loungewear, including high-rise and seamless styles that give a smooth line without compression.

The short version

Buy your measured size and size up if between, choose medium over firm for long events, and take it off if it hurts. For many outfits, seamless skin-tone underwear does the job on its own. Use code WELCOME10 for 10% off your first order.