Photo: Woman's Day / Are Media
Shapewear is the not-so-secret wardrobe weapon of women everywhere. Ideal for wearing underneath fitted, slinky, or sheer clothes to lift, flatten, and contour, these versatile garments are crafted from figure-hugging materials and carefully designed with seam placement and panelling to achieve a flattering, sculpted look.
Worn by everyone from celebrities on the red carpet to those dressing for work or special events, 2026’s best shapewear styles cater to all bodies and clothes, from waist-control underwear and slip dresses to bodysuits and thigh shapers.
Our top tip for purchasing shapewear? Consider whether you’re wearing it under a particular outfit, or if you’re after an all-rounder pair of shorts, a bodysuit, or a slip dress that works with a variety of wardrobe styles. As most shapewear comes in nude, white or black shades, a failsafe option is nude to best match your skintone and pair with sheer materials or lighter-coloured outfits. Black shapewear is perfect for darker or patterned clothes, or you can match your shapewear colour to your outer garment.
From the revolutionary Spanx and Kim Kardashian-created Skims to innovative brand Thigh Society that focuses solely on anti-chafing shorts, browse our edit of the best shapewear brands that’ll have you falling in love with your wardrobe again.
The best shapewear brands in NZ to shop now
1. Thigh Society
Thigh Society is our go-to for undershorts that actually have us reaching for dresses and skirts during the summer heat. Dubbed ‘chafewear’, the innovative brand makes anti-chafing shorts in sheer, semi-sheer, and opaque styles.
The supportive, stretchy shorts don’t compress your figure like traditional shapewear; instead, they provide light smoothing and allow for ease of movement, like a second skin that doesn’t pinch or feel constricting. They’re therefore ideal when you want to wear a shorter-length garment.
For surviving the party season, our go-to Thigh Society style is The Cooling short, made from a soft, silky-sheer fabrication which wicks away sweat while staying perfectly in place.
Available in sizes XS to 6XL, in nine colours and a range of lengths to suit different coverage preferences, we promise these will be your new favourite base layer from the first touch.
2. Skims
Kim Kardashian’s Skims is touted as the holy grail of shapewear. Its size-inclusive styles provide a variety of shaping support (from ultra-light to extra strong), and target all parts of the body from the arms and back to thighs and tummy.
The shapewear is available in various nudes to suit most skin tones, and its seam-free construction enhances your body’s natural shape. If you’re after shapewear to fit under a slinky, body-hugging dress, Skims is for you.
3. The Iconic
Browse a great range of shapewear styles from brands like Nancy Ganz, Spanx and Miraclesuit Shapewear. You’ve got to try Miraclesuit Shapewear’s shaping briefs for the ultimate in tummy-smoothing. If you’re prone to overheating, Nancy Ganz’ garments are made from breathable bamboo yarn, well suited to the scorching Kiwi summer.
4. ASOS
Affordable and well-loved, you’ll find everything from contouring shorts to shaping long-sleeve bodysuits at ASOS. The fashion retailer offers shapewear in various black and nude tones to suit all skin colours and outfits. We rate the Bye Bra high waist contour shaping briefs, a shapewear classic that sculpts the body.
5. Cotton On
Not only is Cotton On’s shapewear affordable, but its core-shaping bodysuits offer excellent wire-free bust support. The brand’s low-back bralettes are our first choice for occasion dressing. Its seamless G string and bikini briefs, while not strictly shapewear, are perfectly constructed, meaning no visible panty line.
6. City Chic
Enhance your silhouette with City Chic’s affordable body-shaping undergarments for plus-sized figures. City Chic’s shapewear has all the essentials, from low-plunge bodysuits to high-waisted G-string briefs that feature superior tummy-smoothing control.
7. Honey Love
Honey Love was founded by Betsie Larkin, who spent years touring the world as a vocalist. Desiring to feel confident on stage, she set out to create structured, sweat-wicking shapewear which cinches the body in all the right places and doesn’t roll down.
From compression sculpting shorts (with boning so they stay up) to lifting bodysuits, Honey Love’s versatile silhouettes (in an array of nude shades) are ideal for even the most intricate outfits. Sized from XS to 4X, this is shapewear for everybody.
8. Nancy Ganz
This Australian shapewear brand made waves with the invention of the Hip Slip in the 90s – a modern version of the girdle, essentially. Since then, Nancy Ganz has consistently been the number-one seller in Australasia thanks to its innovative range of sculpting and smoothing shapewear that enhances your natural figure. For everyday smoothing, the bamboo and lace-waisted brief is soft and comfortable. Stretch lace helps to avoid any VPL or leg lines. For a special occasion, this bamboo essentials jumpsuit smooths the whole body, but is still breathable, thanks to the 62% bamboo fabric, which wicks sweat away from the body.
To create the illusion of an hourglass shape, this firm support strapless body suit has hidden bonded panels to smooth and shape all the right areas.
9. Farfetch
Shop a variety of innovative shapewear brands at Farfetch, including Spanx and Wolford.
Our favourites? Wolford’s sheer shorts are ideal for wearing under floaty summer dresses, while Spanx’s low-cut bodysuits are perfect for plunging necklines.
10. Marks and Spencer
Iconic British retailer Marks and Spencer produces a great range of affordable and effective shaping underwear. The range includes firming strapless bodysuits with underwiring to moisture-wicking garments that promise maximum breathability. Your dream shapewear is just a click away from becoming a reality.
Related articles:
- The must-have Skims products to shop for
- Don’t splash your cash on expensive swimwear; consider these affordable brands instead
- Work out in stylish and comfortable plus-size activewear
