FLEXIBLE CUTS

Tracing the evolution of shapewear as a solution for women.

- MICHELLE OTHMAN

“I look so fat,” I groaned while wearing a pair of tight, high-waisted pants. I immediately rushed to pick up Spanx’s High-waisted Mid-Thigh collection, which is available in various ‘skin’ colours, and suddenly, all my problems seemed to be under control right away. Indeed, this body shaper doesn’t hold as tight as a corset, but it forms the curves of my waist and stomach in a more balanced manner, without feeling tortured. Back in the ’90s and early 2000s, when the ‘heroin chic’ aesthetic triumphed alongside the appearance of size-zero models, fashion ended up becoming an unrealistic standard for women. It also influenced what we know about the shapewear regime until now. The underwear is designed with a stretchy material, which is so strong that it sucks the body in. The illusion that you’re left with is such that one appears two sizes smaller, instantly resulting in a smooth and cinched figure.