Shapewear Lingerie: A Revolution in Body Shaping
A Brief history of Shapewear:
Corsets have been around for centuries. Though most consider corseting as vintage lingerie, belonging to the bad old-days, some still love the Art of Corseting. If you are into corseting consider a brand such as Vollers. Vollers is one of the few original corsetieres still being operated by a descendant of the originator and still being made in the same classical way, though the designs are anything but old fashioned.
In the early 20th century corsets gave way to the girdle. Girdles were made of elastic and much more comfortable than corsets. For nearly fifty years, a woman did not feel dressed unless she had on a girdle with garters and nylons. Girdles, however, went out of fashion in the late 20th century and were replaced mostly by control top pantyhose. However, there are still some who enjoy wearing Girdles such as those made by Rago.
Spanx: A modern revolution in Shapewear.
In the final years of the 20th century, Sarah Blakely launched Spanx. With a new patent for a new type of product, she changed the way women dress. The first Spanx looked a bit like pantyhose with the feet cut-off. However, today, Spanx comes in many styles, shapes and sizes. Spanx has grown from a small home business to an industrial giant. Celebrities from Jessica Alba and Gwyneth Paltrow to Oprah and Queen Latifah swear by Spanx. Spanx are not just 
for plus-size women, though larger women certainly benefit. But also smaller women appreciate Spanx for the way that Spanx makes them look in their casual dresses, jeans and evening wear.
Spanx are certainly effective, more comfortable than corsets and more modern looking than girdles, though some women complain that they are difficult to get on and off, especially when using the bathroom. Spanx addressed this since the “double cotton gusset opens to make life easier when Mother Nature calls”. Some women, love this built in convenience and others prefer to simply struggle with them when necessary. A few women complain that Spanx roll up from the bottom or down from the top. But the waist and leg bands are built into the material making them less painful than older fashioned control top pantyhose. While most women are perfectly satisfied, Spanx are clearly not for everyone.
Alternatives to Spanx
What are other options to Spanx? Barely There, Flexees and Sassy Bax are just a few. Barely There claims that they are more comfortable and states: “For panties, it means supersoft luxurious fabrics that don't ride up and knit waistbands that won't dig in. For bras, it means supersoft luxurious fabrics, flexible underwires that are cushioned against the body so they won't pinch or bind, microfiber-backed lace and straps that won't itch, rounded hooks and eyes that won't irritate, and even a satiny garment label that won't scratch.” Flexees, made by the well known Maidenform Company are a less expensive alternative to Spanx. While Spanx, Flexees and Barely There focused shapewear on the hips, thighs and tummy, SassyBax offered “revolutionary bras designed to meet the demand for a smooth silhouette under even the most body skimming clothing.” The original focus of Sassybax was to offer shapewear for the upper body. SassyBax promises to reduced VBL or Visible Bra Line and to make Fat Back a thing of the past. To be sure, recently all Shapwear manufacturers are offering excellent products to help women control their shape over the entire body. For example, Spanx “Hide and Sleek full body suit” offers mid-calf to shoulder shaping.
Tips to Selecting the Right Shapewear:
If you are a first time buyer of shapewear, here are a few suggestions to get it right: