Shape your body – with underwear

With Gwyneth Paltrow and Oprah Winfrey publicly declaring their love for Spanx pants, and high profile shapewear collections from Gok Wan and Trinny & Susannah flying off the shelves, support underwear has become the latest celebrity phenomenon.

And everyone wants a piece of the red carpet, body-sculpting action. Including the men in our lives. January sees the launch of an undershirt by Equmen, www.equmen.com, which helps improve posture, streamline and support the male torso. As GMTV's stylist Mark Heyes comments, we all want to be ‘slim without the gym.' But with so many foundation garments to choose from, it's hard to know where to start.

We asked four lingerie experts for the lowdown on shapewear and their advice on how to sculpt our bodies and create a smoother silhouette.

Years after ditching our corsets and burning our bras, support garments are back in vogue.  How on earth did that happen?

‘The infamous Bridget Jones' pants may have kick-started the trend,' says Maria Walker, chief lingerie fitter at John Lewis, ‘but there's also been a lot of publicity on TV makeover shows. This underwear really does nip and tuck without making you feel uncomfortable,'

GMTV stylist, Mark Heyes agrees, ‘Thanks to the huge amount of publicity over the last 10 years, support underwear is no longer a taboo subject - and the issue of women wanting to look slimmer will never go away.'

Improvements in garment construction and fabric developments have played a role too, ‘There's been a shift in the type of product that's available,' says Kirsty Robb, garment technologist at Simply Yours, ‘Shapewear has moved away from the traditional, uncomfortable and rather drab looking designs, to easier styles that women actually want to be seen in.'

So, how does shapewear work?

High quality yarns and special knitting techniques create seamless control pants. ‘We are working all the time on new developments in technology; softer yarns, prettier designs, the option of firm and light control,' states Sue Pickering, Head of Buying at Marks & Spencer, ‘the fabric in our magic knickers together with exclusive structures - targeted control zones across the problem areas of hips, thighs, bum and tum - allow ultimate control, with movement.' So, garments are carefully engineered, using sections of firmer Lycra (rather than old-fashioned panels with visible seams) to control and shape the body at specific points. 

‘Aristoc's new generation of Bodytoners use the best fabrics and differential compression knitting,' adds Mark Heyes, ‘ their products offer amazing control, a smooth silhouette and still look sexy.  No pain, no surgery - we're talking high street, not Harley Street!'

Is trying on shapewear not just a great big pain in the bum (and other places!)?

Yes, it can be difficult to get into and may look ten sizes too small, but finding the right size and asking the experts is crucial. Maria Walker, John Lewis, advises, ‘The golden rule when buying shapewear is don't buy too small! Underwear is designed to fit comfortably, buy too tight and you risk taking from one area and just squashing it somewhere else, not to mention a very uncomfortable evening.'

Lingerie advisors at John Lewis are specially trained and offer a personal service, ‘We have such a wide variety of brands in store, we're bound to find the perfect fit. Each fitting takes place in your own changing room, and the advisor is always at hand to find you another size, colour or style.'

Kirsty Robb, Simply Yours, empathises with the customer's plight, ‘The restrictive nature of garments can feel unusual when fitted for the first time.  Some shapes can be a bit tricky, but don't be put off.  These garments are carefully constructed to eliminate wobbles and give the wearer confidence and support.' And as Robb points out, ‘Buying online means you have the pleasure of trying on in your own home, under a variety of outerwear to see what suits.'

So, internet shopping eliminates the changing room tug-o-war, but what about the sizing? To overcome this conundrum, award-winning lingerie website www.figleaves.com have introduced a personal shopper. Customers book a time online and receive a call from the expert who will guide them round the site and offer advice and tips.

Click here to read the expert's guide to creating the perfect shape