Where do you begin when choosing the right shapewear? The choices may seem endless and confusing. You can take the easy way out and just check out Oprah's Top Ten list, but Oprah's a talk show host and you're….you. This is certainly not a knock on Oprah - we actually carry many of her recommended styles of lingerie - BUT, we all come in different shapes, sizes and senses (i.e. what feels right). The ole pocketbook can also come into play.

It's been said that there has been a rebirth in shapewear of late, - that it's become more popular again. We don't believe shapewear was ever unpopular. Instead, shapewear has changed with the fashion of the day. Girdles and nylon stockings gradually gave way to control top pantyhose in the seventies. In the past ten to fifteen years, work/office attire has become more casual, thus we see more bare legs. Jeans (e.g. hip huggers) and dress styles change as well, thus shapewear changes accordingly. Today we still see traditional panty and open girdles, body briefers (corselettes) and nylon stockings. These items are still a must for many women, especially on more formal occasions such as proms, weddings, awards dinners and balls. Some retailers or reviewers will lead you to believe that modern seamless hosiery-like shapewear has all but replaced this more traditional shapewear, but that is not the case. The seamless, lightweight shapewear of today, such as Spanx, Berkshire Curves, Hanes Smooth Illusions and others are great for smoothing out those little bumps and bulges. They come in many different styles to smooth the tummy, thighs, waist and behind. However, if you need a little bit more control, then the more traditional shapewear, body briefer and girdles of today are just the thing. If you have a dress that you can no longer get into, even a girdle or body briefer won't help. But if your favorite dress now feels snug and no longer moves with you, one of these types of shapewear could be just the thing. This brings us back to the original question. What is the right type of shapewear for me? Figure out where you need help. Do you just have a few bumps and bulges, but your overall shape is fine? Is your tummy a little out of proportion to the rest of your torso? The hips? Thighs? Behind? All of the above? Once you have determined where you need help, then figure out how much help. Shapewear is usually listed in terms such as "light control, moderate control, firm and sometimes extra firm." Now don't read into this "painful, more painful, most painful." We assume that you don't go around wearing a painful bra and it's the exact same thing with shapewear - you have to find the garment that's comfortable for YOU.

The body briefer (or corselette)type of shapewear has been very popular. It allows for a smooth, uninterrupted look under tighter fitting outerwear. Body briefers come in many different styles. You can purchase from seamless, strapless, minimizer, underwire, softcup, thong - back, low back, long leg, split crotch, all-in-one girdles with garters, open corselettes and so on. As with other shapewear garments, there are levels of control - again, light, moderate, firm and extra firm. Body briefers are the most difficult undergarment to get just the right fit on, but they can be some of the most comfortable styles of underwear when they fit right. No two bodies are exactly the same, but the body briefer must fit correctly in terms of torso length, chest size, cup size, waist size, hip size and in the case of long leg styles, thigh size. That's quite an undertaking! But once you find the right one, with just the right fit for YOUR body, you'll be very pleased with the results in terms of shape-enhancement and comfort.
Sometimes the trickiest fit with a body briefer is the torso length. You may be very tall or very short and the briefer maybe just doesn't fit right. Or maybe you just aren't a corselette-type of gal. An alternative might be a shaper (control brief, hi-waist brief, thigh shaper, girdle, etc.) worn with a longline (some refer to this with two words - "long line" ) or ¾ bra. These bras do double duty - breast support and upper tummy shaping. The longline bra with shaper provides similar support to the body briefer.

Now you may be saying, wait a minute! I just need a little light tummy support, or thigh or hip support. This is where the control briefs and hosiery-type (Spanx, Berkshire Curves, Hanes Smooth Illusions Go Figure, etc.) come in. So take your time, look around, ask us questions (email or phone) and find what's best for you.

At Brabarella we have shapers, thigh shapers, waist nippers, high waist control briefs, long leg panty girdles, open girdles, corselettes, body briefers, all-in-one girdles, bodysuits and corsets. We carry both current styles, and vintage new/old stock discontinued items. Body briefers are very popular and we carry Grenier briefelettes and corselettes; the Le Mystere Sangria and Renaissance; Va Bien strapless bodsuits and briefers; the Rago Lacette and Shapette body briefer and long leg all-in-one girdles; and body briefers from Venus of Cortland, Bali and Silhouette. We carry the famous "Little X" pantie girdle and open girdle from Silhouette; open bottom girdles from Rago, Venus of Cortland and Grenier; long leg panty girdle shapers from Rago, Venus of Cortland, and Fancrom Va Bien, Playtex, Bali, Rago, and Venus of Cortland.