Lightweight materials are key when dealing with summer shapewear. Dig these looks from Body Wrap and Spanx, center. Photos: Thelittleflirt.com and Spanx.com
Bye-bye bumps! Later lumps! Muffin tops, back fat, and bat wings? You're all banished, too. Because summer shapewear is here and quite capable of making you look slimmer -- and feel hotter -- in your warm-weather wear.
"Shapewear and control garments are something every woman needs to have in her wardrobe," Rebecca Apsan, owner of La Petite Coquette in New York City and author of "The Lingerie Handbook," tells StyleList. "You never know when you are going to need something to hold you in and smooth you out."
But women face different needs during different seasons.
"As for summer shapewear, it is important to wear something that is breathable," Apsan says. "... Most important, it has to be lightweight and seamless, so that you look slimmer, not heavier."
Shaping up for summer is easier than you think, celeb fashion stylist Toni Ferrara tells StyleList.
"Let the technology of shapewear enhance your natural curves -- these are not your grandma's girdles," she says. "A key thing to keep in mind when you are selecting summer shapewear is fabric; [look for] lightweight, seamless and fabric that wicks away moisture."
Ferrara says when you're wearing shapewear under lightweight fabrics, it's best to stick with a one-piece bodysuit that matches your skin tone.
"Layering a bra, panty and shapewear can be hot and bulky," she says. "My clients and I really love the Yummie Tummy shapewear for summer. Their camis are comfortable, give great support with a built-in bra and look great by themselves with jeans and capris or layered under a short-sleeve button-up."
Here are Aspan's summer shapewear tips to keep you looking cool, chic, and confident when the temps are soaring:
- In the nude: "You always wear nude under white," Apsan says. "Many woman think you wear white under white in order to be invisible, but that is not true."
- Underwear as outerwear: "Depending on the look of the garment, you can get away with wearing certain pieces as dresses," Apsan says. "They will be, however, extremely fitted and sexy. For someone with a great body, and who is in shape, this look will work well on them. For someone who is a little more curvy, this might not be the best item to wear as outerwear. We carry Body Wrap and the Iridescent collection comes in black and leopard. There is an underwire in this garment and it can become strapless."
- For the booty: "From Spanx, we have a high-rise panty that controls the tummy and the bottom," Apsan says. "This is a full panty but it is not seamless. From Body Wrap, there is a high-waisted panty and high-waisted thong. The thong is a nice option if wearing a dress or skirt and you don't want to have any visible panty lines. One of the best butt lifting hosiery by Wolford is the Synergy 20 Push Up. This shapes your bottom so nicely and gives it a great lift."
