Though most of my stuff comes from sample sales, vintage repro shops and rummaging around in thrift stores, I'm not above a bit of high street shopping, especially when there's a bargain to be had - and while it's a very occasional experience, you do sometimes strike gold, especially in end-of-season clearances. A trip to H&M recently yielded this little red wiggle number reduced to £10 - ok, so it was a little on the small size, but as it was the last one I thought 'to hell with it' and sized down.
As I was giving it the once over in the changing room (of course I tried it on first - a tenner's a tenner!) I realised it was crying out for some shapewear underneath to really give it that Mad Men vibe. So I thought, what better way to demonstrate the difference in shapewear styles than trying a 'compare and contrast' with a few different KMD pieces? These were taken on my phone, so the quality's not great, but you get the picture. I'm usually roughly a size 12 - all of these garments are medium, on the smallest hook and eye setting. Which one do you think works best?
First up: The Peacock Sirena Waspie. This was great for nipping in my waistline without too much hassle and I definitely found it the most comfortable and easy to get in and out of. It's quite easy to disguise under the dress too.
Next: The Blue Tempest Cincher. This is the one if you want to make the conversation about your HIPS. Absolutely great for adding curves! I felt like a real bombshell in this. I previously thought the only way to accentuate one's figure like this was with a corset.
Next up: The Jacquotte Longline Girdle. This piece was great for all-in-one shaping and made me feel lightly pulled in and neatly smoothed over, from tummy to waist to hips. Not as dramatic as the Tempest but a great confidence-booster.
Finally the Cupless Vargas dress. With the double layer of powermesh across the tum, this is the one for flattening the belly - I wish I'd taken some side shots, but honestly the before-and-after with my flabby stomach hanging out, and then neatly tucked away into this figure-smoothing piece was so satisfying. Nice to have a bit of bum lift too.
Hope some of you find this helpful in your quest for the perfect curve!
Lydia x
