Topic of Discussion: Shape Wear?

Saturday, January 30, 2010

One of the most unfortunate things about being fat is that sometimes we are plagued with unwanted back or stomach bulges. I go back and fourth about the way I feel about shape wear. Of course I want to look smooth in my clothes but, another part of me just wants to let it all hang it out. Usually though, I try and go for the smooth route. For my back bulges I have acquired countless cardigans, jackets, and vest to cover my back but, for my stomach I really don’t have anything. I don’t really have any control top tights because I have yet to find a pair that I enjoy ( I plan get some from we love colors soon). So, for me apart from the pieces I have to cover my back I’m all natural. 





Recently I received some interesting comments for wearing this dress with no shape wear.


Now ladies I’m leaving it to you. Do you have back or stomach bulges? Do you wear shape wear or do let it all hang out? Why or why not? What shape wear works best for you?

12 comments:

Jen said...

I have tried it in the past and I agree with the comment above, the Spanx definitely do ride down and then I have a gap of bulge between my bra and a piece of my back :( I go without it with the exception of being in a wedding party. A few times, I was a bridesmaid for friends weddings, and I did go with a middle girdle to help me to fit into those dresses. But just a note, the last time I did that, I seriously had welts on my middle for the following 2 days :(

vc said...

TIffany I was the same way, I went back & forth about how I felt about shapewear. I went for a long time not wearing any, then I went years wearing the most uncomfortable tight shape wear to hold it all in as much as possible. I finally found something that gave some support and is more comfortable. I usually just wear a shapewear cami under my clothes to kinda smooth out my tummy which where I have the most problem. I know it won't hide the fact that I am fat, but it makes me feel a bit better and more confident that my belly won't bounce when I walk around...LOL
I know a lot of younger girls don't care & are more free about letting it all hang out. I guess being older I grew up in a generation where big girls were taught to wear girdles to suck it all in!

Unknown said...

I have to agree with Chunky Curlz...I'm alittle older (36) and I just am not cool with letting the roll show. Nothing against those who do. But for me, I like to be smooth. I don't wear shapewear everyday but I do with dresses that are a bit more body conscious or thinner material such as the kind used in Monif C's dresses. It makes me feel more polished and confident.

Ultimately, I think you should do what you feel comfortable with.

Unknown said...

This was slated to be one of my blog posts for next week. Ehhh, lol, you're reading my mind Tiffany. I do wear shapewear. I have a few different reasons, but being a real size model, it's a necessity! When shooting, you want to be flawless. I admit, I hate spanx, I mean I love what they do, but they are some of the most uncomfortable things ever.

I say go with what is comfortable! I wear them every so often, but please believe that if I have a hot date with my boyfriend and that date ends in hanky panky, i'm not trying to sexily strip out of a second skin aka spanx!

vc said...

I just had to come back and check out the comments. I guess its an older generation thing...LOL
Well being in my 30's I don't consider my self old, but I know I grew up with my mom, grandma and aunts wearing shape wear and control top panty hose. They would not even hear about going with out. The first time I wore a dress with out a slip or pantyhose my mom was not happy, I remember how free and comfortable I felt!

I like Nikstar comment about "not trying to sexily strip out of a second skin aka spanx!" That is for sure not sexy! The first time my man realized I was wearing shape wear he kinda laughed and asked why was I wearing a scuba suit! LOL
He said he didn't care it I wore it our not he loved me just the way I am. SO I think sometimes we do it more, for either ourselves or other women. Most men are probably clueless about that kind of stuff!

Katrin said...

Just about 2 weeks ago I bought one of the solution undies at evans, cause it was on sale. I am pretty much satisfied with it, caus its just an undie that goes up above your belly. I also like to buy my tights so I can pull them up above my belly...I dont like it when it feels like loosing them *lol* But I wouldn't want to wear something like in the picture... You have to feel confy not the people who are looking at you, but I guess that is something you know xD

Sonia said...

i don't wear shapewear. it might be something i'd consider for a special occasion. but really... i'm fat and that doesn't just mean "big" that means i have rolls bumps and bulges too. i have tried some before and it feels constricting and very uncomfortable, without changing my "shape" at all. and they roll down in the back and my back roll (the only roll i actually have on my torso) even more pronounced.

Anonymous said...

I have never found shapewear that doesn't feel like it's suffocating/hurting me OR falling down/doing sod all. In my opinion, it's more trouble than it's worth. But perhaps that's just me. If I don't like how my bulges look in something I probably won't buy/wear it, because buying something I don't like my lumps in THEN buying something to fix that seems like an awful waste of money to me when I could just get something that lets me "hang it all out," as you put it.
Devon x
Fat-nurse.com

Dia de los diy said...

I have a pair of high waisted biker short type shape ware that I will use. Sometimes I just like to feel solid and not jiggly. The thing with shape ware that bugs me the most is it makes me sweat! I feel like I've sweated off most of my makeup by the time I get to where I'm going.

Anonymous said...

being a HYPER diamond shape i appreciate shape wear for its ability to not only "smooth" out my stomach but also prevent it from jiggling about! haha

the fundamental difference i think is WHY someone wears it. i'm a big girl and no amount of elastic is going to cover that up. i wear shapewear to look BETTER in my clothes.. not to fit into them. further, i'm looking good for myself and not for some joe shmo on the street!

i wear something similar to the picture 4/5 days out of the week (less in the summer) and i find it perfectly comfortable!

thefatandskinnyonfashion said...

I wear shapewear b/c I like to look smooth, but only in outfits I know my rolls will show. Most days I don't wear any shapewear, just special occasions.

Unknown said...

I see there is alot of different opinions. I used to wear shapewear and then one day I came to a conclusion... I am not a happy camper when I wear it. I am constantly tugging and pulling and adjusting. I am not comfortable, it is binding and tight and just plain uncomfortable. So I changed my way of thinking. Not to mention when I was single it was like playing a trick on men. You're all smooth with clean lines, and when the clothes come off, you are all humps and bumps. If you don't like what you see... LOOK AWAY!!! I am married, and he loves my curves, and I don't see why I should get a yeast infection or be uncomfortable to make someone else feel comfortable with what they see. This is me... all of me... take it or leave it... PERIOD!!!