Best Shapewear for Women Over 50

Control slips

These modern updates on the classic full-length slip are an alternative to bodysuits for dress and skirt fans. Frill-free and sleek, the mid-thigh length works for every hemline from above the knee to midi. Styles with adjustable straps and removable cups, including the Knix LuxeLift Slip ($69, knix.com), are stretchy enough to comfortably climb stairs and cross your legs.

Shaper tanks

Soft, seamless tanks and camis provide a smooth surface beneath silky blouses, knits and sweaters and minimize back fat, muffin tops and torso bulges without going the bodysuit route. Styles include those with built-in cups to eliminate the need for a bra to layering tanks with wide straps such as the Lane Bryant Level 2 Shaping Seamless Cami in Black or Cafe ($33, lanebryant.com) designed to be worn over your own bra.

Shapewear tights

Opaque tights are back for fall/winter, and those with targeted compression at tummy and thighs offer cozy support under dresses and airy midi skirts. Opaques such as the Shapermint Essentials Ultra-Resistant Shaping Tights in Black or Chocolate ($20, shapermint.com) provide coverage for discolorations and extra warmth. Or try control-top sheers in nude or black to add polish to a bare leg with classic tailored dresses. Control hose eliminate the need for additional shapewear — it’s a good thing too because pulling on shapewear over tights is no easy feat.

Victoria’s SecretBody by Victoria Smoothing Shimmer Brief Panty in Ganache (left) and Black (middle)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Victoria's Secret (5))

2. Focus on everyday smoothing, not a makeover

I find even women with a positive attitude toward wrinkles and incoming grays worry about their increasing jeans size and additional pounds on the scale. Hormonal shifts at menopause cause body changes. Your metabolism slows down, and you gain body fat and lose muscle and bone. Body proportions seem to shift, and a belly bulge may show up. Many clients tell me, “It’s like aliens have taken over my body.” The good news is that shapewear includes a “lite” everyday wear category, which is something like the bra industry’s shift to wire-free bras. These pieces deliver a comforting baseline layer that calms ripples and bulges and provides a little support. You won’t look smaller, just allover smoother. Opt for shapewear that emphasizes low compression with the words light, smooth and comfy in the name or description. Examples include the Yummie Ultralight Shaping Slip Short in Almond or Black ($24, yummie.com), the Victoria’s SecretBody by Victoria Smoothing Shimmer Brief Panty in Ganache, Toffee, Praline, Black ($25, victoriassecret.com/us) and the Vanity Fair Seamless Smoothing Spin Tank in Damask Neutral or Midnight Black ($17, herroom.com) — which cleverly reverses from a scoop to a V to accommodate a range of necklines. All layer under clothes for a natural you-but-better look.

Torrid Microfiber High-Rise Short 360 Smoothing Panty in Rose Dust (left) or Black (right)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Torrid (2))

3. Choose the right fit and comfort for your real 50-plus body

So you and shapewear had a relationship in the early 2000s and it didn’t end well? Many women still have flashbacks of being squeezed and pinched into a tighter, tauter, more specific shape. I urge you to give shapewear another try. You’ll find lighter, more flexible fabrics and improved seamless designs that make your clothes look better and let you relax. Shapewear is not a magic wand. If you’re a size 16 and trying to fit into a size 14 dress, shapewear is not going to do it. I see women making three major shapewear mistakes. One is sizing down; the second is opting for too high a level of compression. Both actions trick women into thinking they’ll get more body reduction when all they do is create overhang at the borders (I compare it to squeezing a tube of toothpaste) and a very restrictive feeling. Shapewear that’s too tight can even cause digestive issues such as acid reflux or irritate skin due to excess pressure and friction. Although there is no standard sizing in shapewear, it tends to run small. If you’re on the fence, size up. The third mistake: choosing shapewear bottoms that extend too high on the midriff … in some cases up to the bra band. In my experience, very high waists still flip over, roll down and are a real pain. Instead, choose a shaper that sits at the waist or extends just above it such as the Torrid Microfiber High-Rise Short 360 Smoothing Panty in Black or Rose Dust ($18, torrid.com), Commando Control High Waist Shaping Shorts in Black ($58, nordstrom.com) or the Skims High-Waisted Mid Thigh Short in Onyx ($36, skims.com). If you want extra torso help, opt for a bodysuit (see tip number 6).

4. Get a tummy tuck, thigh tightening … and a butt lift

No, I’m not suggesting cosmetic surgery, CoolSculpting or liposuction — just control panties and shaper shorts. They’re all you need to feel trim and toned below the waist. Some women don’t get dressed without a shapewear pantie. They tell me, “Not wearing one would feel like going braless.” Longer shorts firm your belly and thighs, but briefs and shorts do all that and target flat and saggy rear ends. For example, the Maidenform Tame Your Tummy Bottom Lift Shapewear Shorts DMS090 in Transparent or Black ($47, macys.com) have a back seam for extra butt definition, and the Leonisa Seamless Butt Lifter Shaper Shorts in Golden Beige or Black ($60, leonisa.com) use invisible “bands” in the design to lift cheeks.

Consider length. Do you want a mid-thigh or longer shaper? Remember that the same length biker shorts are meant to work if you’re 5’2” or 5’9”. One brand that has solved this concern is the Knix High Rise Shaper Shorts in Sola, Warm Sand or Black ($55,  knix.com), which offer extra rows of flocking at the leg openings so you can cut them to a shorter personalized length without worrying about edges rolling or unraveling (don’t snip just any shapewear shorter.) Increased levels of elastane, Lycra and spandex have eliminated the old “sausage casing” feel at the thighs, though some slip-on/slip-off resistance is normal. Always check the side and rear views of your shaper briefs and shorts, not just the front.

Soma Enbliss Tank With Built-In Bra in White (left) and Warm Amber (right)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Soma (2))

5. Shaper tanks make back fat and muffin tops vanish

Separate shapewear for the torso is something many women forget exists. The right bra can solve some concerns, but a shapewear tank or cami (the terms are interchangeable) provides a smooth base under light or sheer fabrics and fitted or semifitted tops and sweaters. This means any ripples, back fat, muffin tops or fleshy ridges around the bra band vanish. Some tanks have a built-in “bra” that varies in degree of support but makes wearing an actual bra unnecessary. Those with bra structure and removable cups include the Soma Enbliss Tank With Built-In Bra in Warm Amber, Bright White or Black ($54, soma.com), the Maidenform Power Players Shaping Camisole DMS086 in Black, White or Beige ($37, herroom.com) and the Miraclesuit Shapewear Extra Firm Sexy Sheer Shaping Underwire Camisole in Black or Nude ($42, zappos.com), which comes in sizes for fuller busts from 34B to 42DD. If you prefer wearing a regular bra under your shaping tank, opt for a wide-strap tank in a supple nylon/Lycra spandex such as the SPANXShape Invisible Tank in Chestnut Brown, Cafe Au Lait, Very Black or Champagne Beige ($68, spanx.com). And let’s not ignore winter body skin sensitivity — these pieces provide excellent itch and flake control under sweaters. Who couldn’t use that?

(Left to right) Maidenform Shapewear Women’s Wear Your Own Bra Firm-Control Body Shaper 2556 in Black; Bali Lace ’N Smooth Built-in Bra Body Shaper in Rose

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Kohl's; Bali Bras)

6. Try a bodysuit or control slip for allover smoothing

Though individual shapewear pieces for top and bottom that focus on a specific body zone are terrific, a bodysuit is a one-and-done item that contours your shape from bra to thighs. A flab-foiler, it slurps up bulges and every ounce of loose, untoned skin and gives you an allover firmer look. Choose a short swimsuit style or a longer one for extra thigh toning. That’s not the only difference. Some bodysuits have a built-in bra, including the Bali Lace ’N Smooth Built-in Bra Body Shaper in Black or Rose ($30, balibras.com) and the ​Wacoal Visual Effects Body Briefer with Minimizer Bra in Black or Sand ($110, wacoal-america.com) — amazingly sized for larger 34C to 40DDD busts. Others are open-bust styles such as the MeMoi Women’s Braless Smoothing High Back Shaping Bodysuit in Black or Nude ($55, macys.com) and the Maidenform Shapewear Women’s Wear Your Own Bra Firm-Control Body Shaper 2556 in Black or Body Beige ($54, kohls.com) that work with your own bra while getting trimming benefits at the belly and sides, back and front of the torso. There are lightweight nylon and spandex smoothers such as the Joyspun Women’s Seamless Slimming High Neck Bodysuit in Winter White or Black Soot ($10, walmart.com) to wear over your own bra as a layering piece. For those who hate the confined feeling of shapewear but want the confident hug of a smoothing long-line base layer under dresses, the Commando Two-Faced Tech Control Full Slip in Black or Beige ($128, wearcommando.com) glides over curves, prevents cling in all the wrong places and buffers sensitive skin. Yes, this one is pricey, but it’s a worthwhile splurge that pays off if you wear dresses almost daily.

Lane Bryant Level 3 Contouring Open-Bust Thigh Shaper in Black (left and right)

Photo Collage: AARP; (Source: Lane Bryant (2))

7. Count on sculpting bodysuits for special occasions

There’s a major category of bodysuits designed for intense firming. They securely but safely manipulate your body into a more defined and streamlined silhouette and offer transformative results. Reserve them for a day or evening when you need ultimate sculpting power, such as a wedding or a special party. They’re modern versions of girdles and spin their magic with a combo of lightweight stretchy ingredients such as Lycra/spandex, elastane, nylon (also known as polyamide on some labels) and innovative designs. There are still choices to make. If you’re wearing an A-line or fit-and-flare dress, the short Miraclesuit Women’s Extra Firm Tummy-Control Sheer Trim Bodysuit 2783 in Black, Nude or Stucco Nude ($53, macys.com) may make more sense than a thigh-length version. For versatility, you want a bodysuit that comes with a range of styling options and straps: The TC Fine Intimates Extra Firm Control Convertible Bodysuit in Black or Nude ($88, barenecessities.com) makes even a last-minute switch from a sleeved dress to a one-shoulder style easy. There are sexy versions, including the Lane Bryant Level 3 Contouring Open-Bust Thigh Shaper in Black ($75, lanebryant.com), which is a wear-your-own-bra type that offers total support, or the Honeylove Mid-Thigh Bodysuit in Over Bust in Runway or Sand ($129, bloomingdales.com) with a built-in bra … both with sheer panels. Let’s be honest, these are challenging to slip on, but you’ll be so glad you did. And, yes, all have restroom-friendly gussets. Be sure to try on shapewear, whether at home or in the store, under the dress you will wear before removing any tags or hygiene strips from the gusset. Test your mobility by sitting, turning, dancing and walking before giving it a thumbs-up.