shapewear
Tight-fitting undergarments designed to temporarily mold, compress, or smooth the body's contours for a sleeker silhouette.
Unlike historical corsets which physically altered the skeletal structure, modern shapewear uses elasticized, high-tech synthetic fabrics to gently compress and smooth flesh without rigid bones.
Word relationships
- girdle: A girdle is an older, stiffer style of shaping undergarment, whereas shapewear is a modern, flexible, and comprehensive category.
- foundation garment: Foundation garment is a formal, traditional industry term that includes shapewear but also covers structured brassieres.
- loose clothing: Loose clothing does not compress or alter the body's natural silhouette.
Commonly confused with
- corset: A corset is a historical, heavily structured garment with steel or whalebone stays, whereas shapewear relies on elastic fabric tension.
Word family
- shape (verb): To give a particular form or contour to something.
Collocations
- compression shapewear
- seamless shapewear
- body-shaping shapewear
- slimming shapewear
Example sentences
- "Many celebrities rely on seamless shapewear to ensure their form-fitting gowns drape flawlessly without any visible lines." A red carpet fashion review.
- "The rise of elastane in the late twentieth century revolutionized shapewear, making it far more breathable than the girdles of the past." An article on the evolution of modern fashion foundations.
Memory hook
It is literally 'wear' that helps 'shape' your body. No complex tricks needed—just think of a smooth, sculpted shape. Shapewear: Wearable sculpting for a smooth shape.
When not to use
Do not confuse with athletic compression wear, which is designed for muscle recovery and performance rather than aesthetic smoothing.
Fun facts
- The multi-billion dollar shapewear industry was supercharged in the early 2000s by the invention of Spanx, which started when its founder cut the feet off her control-top pantyhose.
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