What to wear under a bodycon dress
What to wear under a bodycon dress: the shapewear styles that stay invisible, how to avoid lines and rolling, which color to pick and how to test it at home.
A bodycon dress is all knit and no hiding place. Every seam, band and edge underneath shows up the minute you sit down or turn around. The good news: the fix is not complicated. It comes down to picking the right style, the right shade and a fit that stays flat.
Why does everything show under a bodycon dress?
Bodycon and bandage dresses are made from thin, stretchy knit that follows your shape closely. Leonisa makes the point that these dresses can be even more revealing than a sheath dress, because the knit is so thin. That is why ordinary underwear with thick elastic or seams can print through, and why a smooth layer underneath makes such a difference.
What is the best shapewear for a bodycon dress?
There are three styles that work well, and the right one depends on the dress and on what you want to smooth.
- A bodysuit. Leonisa recommends a full bodysuit for bodycon and sheath dresses, to cut down on lines, and one piece simply has fewer edges to show. Bare Necessities notes that some bodysuits combine bust support with waist and tummy smoothing.
- High-waist shaping shorts. Good when the dress has a strapless, off-the-shoulder, halter or plunging top, so a bodysuit strap would show. Leonisa suggests them for those necklines.
- A shaping slip. Bare Necessities describes slips as light to moderate control, and Leonisa points out that under a semi-sheer dress a slip doubles as a modesty layer.
If you want one strapped piece that smooths down to mid-thigh, our Smoothing Faja Bodysuit is made for exactly this. It has a hook-and-eye front with 3 levels, so you choose how firm it holds, wide adjustable straps and silicone lace bands at the leg. For a strapless or off-the-shoulder dress, our High Waist Shaping Short is a seamless nylon and spandex short with mid-thigh legs and a cotton gusset.
How do I avoid panty lines in a bodycon dress?
Lines usually come from an edge that sits in the wrong place. Leonisa suggests choosing a bodysuit with a thong bottom or one that ends at mid-thigh, so there is no edge running across your seat. Leonisa also says a seamless shaper that fits well can prevent visible lines from forming. In short: move the edge to where it does not show, and make sure it lies flat.
What color shapewear should I wear under a bodycon dress?
Pick a shade close to your skin tone or the same color as the dress. Leonisa advises nude tones or the dress color so they do not show through, and warns that black shaper shorts can be visible through a lighter dress. A simple test from Leonisa: before you buy, put on underwear in the same color as the shapewear you are considering and check it under the dress.
How should shapewear fit under a tight dress?
Snug, smooth and still. Leonisa says shapewear for tight dresses should fit well enough to avoid wrinkling, roll-up and roll-down, and should be comfortable enough to move in without constant adjusting. If a waistband folds over when you sit, or a leg band rides up when you walk, the size or the style is off. Do not size down hoping for more hold. A piece that is too small is more likely to dig in and roll.
How to check your outfit before you leave
- Look at the back. Bare Necessities suggests checking the rear view, since that is where lines and edges hide from you.
- Sit, bend and walk across the room. Watch for edges that move or fold.
- Check the light. Bright light shows more through thin knit than your bedroom lamp does.
- Put the shapewear on carefully. Bare Necessities suggests fastening closures first, stepping in with dry skin and pulling up gently instead of tugging.
Do I need different shapewear for different dresses?
Often, yes. A strappy bodycon, a strapless one and a long-sleeve one each put the edges in different places. Many people keep one bodysuit and one pair of shorts and choose by neckline. If you want both plus nipple covers for thin fabric, The Smooth Day Kit puts the faja, the shaping short and a 100 pack of nipple covers together.
Whatever you choose, the goal is not to change your shape. It is to give a thin knit dress a smooth surface to sit on, so you can stop checking the mirror and enjoy the night.
Keep going: Shapewear compression levels explained: light vs firm and Shapewear bodysuit vs shaping shorts: which do you need?.
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Questions
Should you wear shapewear under a bodycon dress?
You do not have to, but many people like it. Leonisa notes that bodycon and bandage dresses can be even more revealing than sheath dresses, so a smooth layer underneath helps the knit lie flat.
What underwear does not show under a tight dress?
Seamless pieces in a shade close to your skin or the dress color. Leonisa suggests a thong-bottom bodysuit or one that ends mid-thigh to avoid lines across the seat.
Can you wear a bra with a bodycon dress?
Yes, if the neckline and straps allow it. Bare Necessities points out that some bodysuits combine bust support with waist and tummy smoothing, which means one less layer to line up.
How do I stop shapewear from rolling under a dress?
Fit is the main fix. Leonisa says a piece that fits well avoids wrinkling, roll-up and roll-down. Too small can dig in and roll, too big can bunch.
Keep reading
Sources: Leonisa: the best shapewear for dresses · Leonisa: what underwear to wear under tight dresses · Bare Necessities: shapewear for every type of dress