Shapewear sizing is something you definitely want to get right. Should you size up or down in shapewear? Is the size of the shapewear related to clothing sizes? Do the sizes in one brand mean the same thing when looking at another brand? Return policies tend to be restrictive with underwear. Therefore, it makes sense to spend a little time to make sure that shapewear sizing is accurate before you order.

Know your measurements

A perfect fit starts with an accurate measure of your body. Unfortunately, your clothing size really will not be of much help here. Shapewear sizes are often connected to dress size ranges. However, you should never use a dress size to determine a shapewear fit. Depending on your body shape and the shapewear pieces you are looking to get, you should work with individual measures of body dimensions.

To measure yourself for shapewear, you will need a sewing tape measure. Standing comfortably, take a measurement of your waist at its narrowest, which is usually about an inch above the navel. The tape should be snug and flat but not pressing into your skin. Additionally, it should be parallel to the ground. Second, take a measure of your hips at their widest, once again making sure the tape is flat, snug, and parallel to the ground.  Then, still standing, take a thigh measurement around the widest part of one thigh.

You will also need a bust measurement if you are looking for a shapewear bodysuit that has the bra built into it. Some of the best shapewear for plus size will have a bra included. Wrap the tape measure around the fullest part of your bust, parallel to the ground, once again snug but not overly tight. Additionally, you will also need a chest measurement, just under the bosom. This way, you can calculate cup size if you don’t know it already.

A shapewear size chart is brand specific

Every brand will publish a shapewear size chart that is specific to themselves. You cannot look at a Spanx size chart, for example, and then shop for Skims in the same size because Spanx sizing is unique. If it matches another brand, it is coincidental because there is no standardization in shapewear sizing. Even in plus size shapewear, XL or 3X can be significantly different between brands.

With your measurements in hand, review the size chart of your favorite brands. See where you land in the various categories. All the size categories in a shapewear size chart (e.g. XS, S, M, L, XL) will correspond to a range of measures. Sometimes the categories will have a gap between them.  If you find your measurements land in one of those gaps, measure yourself again to be sure. If a confirmation measurement still lands you in the gap, then a decision to size up or size down must be made. Sometimes shapewear sizing isn’t so easy.

If in doubt, size up

If you absolutely must choose to size up or size down, then size up. The discomfort of a garment that fits too tightly will be a constant reminder that you should have made a different choice. If shapewear sizing is done right, you will have the joy of a garment that feels like a friend giving you a hug all day long.