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From tummy to waist, these comfortable shapewear picks have you covered.

Shapewear has an evolving reputation – one that no longer serves to hide insecurities or alter your body entirely, but rather smooths and slightly re-shapes your silhouette, says Lauren Messiah, a fashion stylist and the author of Style Therapy: 30 Days to Your Signature Style. "Shapewear should enhance your figure, and if it fits well, it should really feel like your own skin," says Tina Zimmerman, Kleinfeld Bridal's director of alterations. Gone are the days of hyper-restrictive styles: "You should be able to bend and move, and if you can’t breathe, it’s not the right fit for you."

Our Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab experts and fiber scientists regularly test undergarments of all kinds, stretching across bras, pantyhose, swimwear and even period underwear. We consider the washability, material and more to get a sense of whether the fabric will hold up over time. We also try them in real life to make sure they fit well and feel good. From shapewear bodysuits to shapewear for dresses to plus-size shapewear, the women's shapewear pieces ahead are either picked by the Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Lab, vetted through customer reviews or recommended by professional bridal alterers, fashion experts and plus-sized stylists.

With so many styles to choose from, it can still be hard to know which ones actually suit your needs like offering tummy control for your lower belly pooch or helping slim your waist or lifting your tush, here are the best shapewear for every occasion:

1 Best Overall Shapewear Higher Power Shorts Spanx $37 AT AMAZON Read More $37 AT AMAZON 2 Best Value Shapewear Maidenform Flexees Shapewear Hi-Waist Brief Maidenform $18 AT AMAZON Read More $18 AT AMAZON 3 Best Tummy Control Shapewear Shape Away Extra Firm Control Torsette Miraclesuit $82 AT MACY'S Read More $82 AT MACY'S 4 Best Shapewear Corset Perfect Waist Contouring Cincher Squeem $59 AT AMAZON Read More $59 AT AMAZON 5 Best Bodysuit Shapewear Lace 'N Smooth Body Briefer Bali $27 AT AMAZON Read More $27 AT AMAZON 6 Best Postpartum Shapewear Bounceback Post Pregnancy Tummy Transformer Destination Maternity $20 AT DESTINATIONMATERNITY.COM Read More $20 AT DESTINATIONMATERNITY.COM 7 Best Plus-Size Shapewear The Original Thigh Society $37 AT THIGHSOCIETY.COM Read More $37 AT THIGHSOCIETY.COM 8 Best Body Shapewear Suit Your Fancy Strapless Cupped Mid-Thigh Bodysuit Spanx $148 AT SPANX Read More $148 AT SPANX 9 Best Shapewear Bra Back-Smoothing Bra Shapeez Shortee $89 AT AMAZON Read More $89 AT AMAZON 10 Best Shapewear Sleeves Reach Arm Slimming Shaper SlimMe $24 AT AMAZON Read More $24 AT AMAZON Load More Show Less

Ahead, you'll find our favorite shapewear pieces, perfect for sculpting and accentuating your body. Keep reading to learn how we test shapewear and for some helpful shopping tips. Looking for extended sizing? Check out the best plus-size shapewear.

This do-it-all style shapes your thighs, butt and hips with extra emphasis on the tummy. Tested by our Textiles Lab experts, the higher rise is designed to erase any "muffin top" issues, and its no-slip waistband helps it stay in place. The best part is you can wear it all day: The lightweight, seamless fabric offers a medium firmness, so it'll smooth without feeling like you can't breathe, according to our clothing pros. Fashion stylist Meaghan O'Connor also keeps this shapewear piece in her own repertoire.

If you're looking for tummy control but don't need thigh coverage, this high-rise brief has firm control around the tummy and a silicone waistband to help keep it in place. It's designed to smooth bulges and create the illusion of hourglass curves. While we haven't Lab-tested this pick, reviewers love its stay-in-place fit: "I LOVE the slightly rubbery threads around the top," says one Amazon reviewer. "This does not roll over even if you slouch. "

This style has the stay-in-place benefits of a bodysuit but gives you even more compression than other styles and you can wear your own bra if you prefer. We reviewed this in our Lab and were impressed by its all-over smoothing benefits, plus panels in the midsection that give extra support. This one also has the bottom closure that's a lifesaver in the bathroom.

This heavy-hitter Brazilian brand offers a more corset-like fit that works best for special occasions and on-camera work, according to personal stylist Messiah. Our Textiles Lab experts like that the structured boning and smoothing fabric work together to give you a curved shape. It may look like an old-school corset, but the hook-closure up the middle lets you adjust the fit to your liking. It's designed for everyone but is loved by postpartum women who want abdominal support.

This one-piece holds everything in comfortably and stays in place better than sectional shapewear. Our Lab experts were impressed by the light lining around the cups, which means you won't need your own bra. The lace pattern looks nice, but the brand also claims it makes the style more breathable. Plus, with the bottom closure, you can use the restroom without dressing down to your birthday suit.

Our Textiles experts were impressed by the wide coverage that smooths without being uncomfortable, great for new moms who recently had a C-section or for new moms who are recovering from giving birth. It's seamless, so it won't feel irritating against your skin. One Destination maternity reviewer says, "Everything fit great and is so soft. The bounce back feels so good on my stomach." Even if you didn't just have a baby, this panel can give you shaping benefits without needing a full-on contraption.

Start building your shapewear collection with the perfect starter short. This slightly sheer option from Thigh Society claims to be buttery soft and fights against chafing, and goes from XS up to a size 6XL. Choose from three different short lengths to fit your specific occasion. It's also a style and brand coveted by O'Connor: "I have a number of different styles, different brands, all with different purposes in my shapewear arsenal," which includes Thigh Society.

Some shapewear takes a struggle to throw on but not this one: It's so easy to slip on and take off. Thanks to its endless strap configurations, you can keep it perfectly hidden no matter if you're wearing a strapless dress or a long-sleeved top. "I love that you don't have to worry about clips or anything when you need to use the loo, thanks to the 'easy access gusset'," says GH Institute General Manager Laurie Jennings.

Some bras create unwanted lines and bulges, but this style has back-smoothing fabric to get rid of bra-induced back fat. When we Lab-tested this bra, consumer testers said it was comfortable, supportive and looked great under clothing. One D-cup tester even says it was the best-fitting bra she's ever owned!

Shapewear isn't just for your mid-section and bottom! Try this compression garment for smoothing under long-sleeve tops and dresses. It's thin enough that it'll fit under layers and is designed to help with sagging skin and reduce that annoying jiggling. The style is one piece and goes on just like a bolero, so you don't have to worry about the sleeves rolling down. "It is helping me with a shoulder injury," says one Amazon reviewer. "The compression is soothing."

These shorts are lightweight and sculpting, so they'll smooth without feeling too constricting, plus they don't rise as high as other pairs, according to a GH product & reviews editor who owns this pair. Think of them as a layering bottom that you can wear under anything, whether skirts, dresses or pants.

If you typically wear an everyday layering tank, this one's for you. You can throw on this style under tops to slim and smooth, but it won't feel as constricting as regular shapewear. It's designed with increased compression at the midsection and is made to fit up to a G cup bra without compressing your bust. "I love it and wear it at home on the weekend and also as a layer under sweaters to work instead of wearing an actual bra," says a Knix reviewer.

If you’re looking for just shapewear underwear, Commando panties are very supportive, according to Zimmerman. The Classic Control Thong features a seamless design that is virtually invisible under dresses, with a light compression in the hips.

Pair this seamless thigh shaper with your favorite bra. A favorite piece of O'Connor's, its contours provide an invisible layer of control under any outfit, and the adjustable straps make sure you have a comfy fit.

Stick to the classics with this high-rise sculpting thong. It's a versatile piece that works under any sort of garment as it smooths your tummy and enhances your natural figure. This celebrity-owned brand is a staple among both Messiah and O'Connor and our very own Product & Reviews Updates Editor Raena Loper, who loves the color and size range. "I’m able to find undergarments and shapewear that are the perfect 'nude' for me which a lot of companies don't offer." She loves how breathable the pieces are, and that this the sculpting mid-waist thong "provides tummy control but doesn't give the annoying panty line under your garment."

These days, shapewear for women comes in all shapes, sizes, colors and cuts, so whether you're shopping for your wedding or an everyday staple, there's something out there for you that can even replace your favorite bra and/or underwear. Here's what we look for in good shapewear for women:

✔️ Comfort: Not all shapewear is created equal: Some shapewear have higher compression levels than others, so be sure to select the material and its thickness based on your wants, says stylist and podcast host O'Connor. Her advice: "Keep a lookout for pieces that are designed to stay in place." Ideally, shapewear shouldn't roll down or limit your circulation — you should be able to breathe and eat!

✔️ Type: If you want extreme tummy control and contour, you should look for shapewear with mid-to-high level compression, she says. Looking for some control but mostly to just smooth your silhouette and enhance your outfit? Opt for pieces that focus less on compression and more on smoothing, so that you maintain comfort and keep your shape. Or if you're looking for shapewear as a modesty piece like skirt slips, find lightweight fabrics with minimal compression and features that work for your personal style.

✔️ Sizing: Never size down. Buying too small can squish your skin and cause unwanted bulges, advises Zimmerman. Most of us don't wear the same clothes all the time, and that should go for shapewear as well, says O'Connor. Consider shapewear as you would your other intimate apparel pieces, and it will be clear that variation in style makes for easier dressing!

This list was put together with the help of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Executive Director of the Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Lexie Sachs. With more than 15 years of experience in the textiles industry, including merchandising and product development for fashion. Lexie joined Good Housekeeping in 2013 and has extensively tested apparel of all kinds, including sports bras, workout leggings, pajamas and more, using specialized lab equipment and with hundreds of consumer testers.

Jacqueline Saguin keeps her finger on the pulse of fashion, from testing viral social media products to anticipating buying trends. She began her career in the style and beauty reviews realm and writes about products through a personal lens. She regularly collaborates with GH's Textiles Lab to put together product reviews on the very best clothing and accessories out there, according to consumer and Lab testing.

We also consulted clothing experts, including personal stylist Lauren Messiah, fashion stylist Meaghan O'Connor and Kleinfeld Bridal Director of Alterations Tina Zimmerman.