I have tucked this stomach into plenty of shapewear throughout my teenage and adult years. A high waist brief girdle was my go-to, and they had me and my pockets in a CHOKEHOLD! However, do you know what the craziest thing is? My best girdle came from JCPenney for less than $30 (I can no longer find that particular girdle), not a fancy $80-something garment from known plus-size retailers. I know what works for my body, but what about other shapes?
As we all know, all shapewear is not created equally, which is a shame. One brand can make an excellent product for hourglass shapes and something subpar for girlies who carry their weight in the middle (me, I am the apple-shaped girlie). And let’s not even get me started on brands not catering enough to plus-size women; they believe all bellies are the same – tuck the same way, move the same way, and are shaped the same way. Therefore, finding shapewear can be a difficult task.
The first step is determining your body shape to choose the right shapewear. If you’re unsure of your body shape, then you can check out this chart via Healthline to give you an idea.
- Apple-shaped bodies have broad, rounded shoulders and full breasts and carry most of their weight on the tummy. Your arms and legs are usually slim and slender, and your hips and booty are average size.
- Pear-shaped bodies have petite breast sizes, narrow shoulders, and tiny waists. Most of this person’s weight is in their hips, booty, and legs, and sometimes on the lower abdomen.
- Hourglass-shaped bodies have a naturally slim waist, proportioned hip and bust area, and an overall balanced figure.
- Rectangle-shaped bodies usually have little to no waist definition, small breasts, and hips, and the weight is distributed evenly on the arms, legs, and torso.
- Inverted triangle-shaped bodies tend to gain more weight in the upper part of their body and have broad shoulders and large breasts combined with narrow hips. This body type is also often called “athletic.”
- Diamond-shaped bodies have a lot in common with apple shapes. This person holds most of their weight in the midsection, bust, hips, and thighs. Their calves and arms are also slimmer.
So, what is the best shapewear for plus-size women to invest in? It honestly depends on your desired look. Do you want a more cinched waist, a smoother finish, etc.? The shapewear industry is booming, primarily because of the beloved Faja. Talk about being snatched to the GAWDS in one of those things, but a snatched with a lifted booty may not be your desired look. Below, I have listed the best shapewear that we curvy girls cannot get enough of this year.
Level 3 Contouring Open-Bust Thigh Shaper
Lane Bryant
The Level 3 Contouring Open-Bust Thigh Shaper will not disappoint! The firm control smooths and shapes your body. I love this one because it gives full coverage, and you can pair it with your favorite bra. Perfect for a pear-shaped body and because of the level of tummy control, it is also great for apple-shaped and diamond-shaped bodies. This bodysuit is a little more noticeable in terms of comfort, but it definitely does its job.
SKIMS Sculpting Bodysuit with Snaps
SKIMS
I first came across this bodysuit thanks to a friend. She allowed me to see the full power of this baby and admitted it was comfortable to wear all day. So, of course, I bought myself one. I was thoroughly concerned when I initially saw it from the packaging because “WHAT IN THE ENTIRE…?” If you have never seen a review on the SKIMS Sculpting Bodysuit and just trusted word of mouth like me, then you will know it doesn’t even feel like enough fabric to cover an inch of anything.
This bodysuit has a stronghold in the core, while it shapes and it lifts our butts. It also provides support for your chest. I love this shaper because it also has one in a thong version and many colors. A popular Amazon dupe is going around TikTok, but the material ripped from my long nails, unlike the SKIMS one. Also, it doesn’t suck my stomach in like this one. The Sculpting Bodysuit is perfect for rectangle-shaped, apple-shaped, and diamond-shaped bodies.
AirSlim 2-In-1 High-Waisted Booty Lift Shaper Shorts
Shapellx
How many of us love a snatched waist? If you said “me,” the AirSlim 2-in-1 High-Waisted Booty Lift Shaper Shorts is the right shapewear for you. Stomach and back control while bringing you in two sizes. And for us “little booty gang” people, this piece gives you an instant butt lift. Thanks to the soft-flex boning, you will not have to worry about it rolling down. I think the reason why I love this one is that it is suitable for multiple body shapes. Shapellx also has a new shaper dress I cannot wait to try!
Shapermint Essentials All Day Every Day High-Waisted Shaper Panty
Shapermint
Remember how I stated my favorite piece came from JCPenney? It was a high waist brief with the best tummy control a girl could ask for in shapewear and as an apple shape. Unfortunately, I can no longer find the item. Not too long ago, plus-size clothing, including shapewear, would be tucked in a dark corner or hidden in the area with the regular-sized items on their way out. Therefore, it was a true gem when I dug through the limited options! Things have since changed, and the options are much more plentiful.
I quickly had to find a replacement for my beloved girdle and was introduced to the Shapermint Essentials All Day Every Day High-Waisted Shaper Panty. It is a chef’s kiss in terms of comfortability. Not as much compression compared to the JCPenney piece, but the best way I handled that was by sizing down; it gives better control in the midsection area.
Seamless 360° Smoothing Slip Dress
Torrid
Torrid’s Seamless 360 Smoothing Slip Dress is the perfect smoothing shapewear. If you have an hourglass-shaped body, it is perfect for you. Hourglass shapes should use the light to medium compression option in their shapewear. I’ve worn this slip over other girdles to have a smooth effect and the tummy control I needed. It conforms to my body under my dresses and doesn’t ride up, which is a plus.
Finding the right shapewear to go under your garments is trial and error, but hopefully, this list makes finding one much more effortless. In addition, our options are no longer limited in style, color/tone, and compression. Happy shopping!
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for daily love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image by LanaStock/ Getty Images
- 30 Closet Staples Every Curvy Woman Needs In Their Wardrobe ›
- Why I'll Never Wear A Dress Without Shapewear Again ›
RELATED
While an evolution is a natural progression that happens as businesses grow, a rebrand is a total change. Lola tells xoNecole, "A total rebrand is necessary when a business’s current reputation/what it’s known for is at odds with the business’s vision or direction.
"For example, if you’ve fundamentally changed what your product is and does, it’s likely that your brand is out of alignment with the business. Or, if you find your company is developing a reputation that doesn’t serve it, it might be time to pump the brakes and figure out what needs to change.
She continues, "Sometimes you’ll see companies (especially startups) announce a name change that comes with updated messaging, visuals, etc. That usually means their vision has changed or expanded, and their previous branding was too narrow/couldn’t encompass everything they planned to do."
Feature image courtesy
The Brand Doula was born in 2019, and its focus is on putting "the experiences, goals, and needs of women of color founders first," as well as brands with "culture-shifting missions."
According to Lola, culture-shifting is "the act of influencing dominant behavior, beliefs, or experiences in a community or group (ideally, for the better)."
"At The Brand Doula, we work with companies and leaders that set out to challenge the status quo in their industries and communities. They’re here to make an impact that sends ripples across the market," she says.
"We help the problem solvers of the world — the ones who aren't satisfied with 'this is how it's always been' and instead ask 'how could this be better?' Our clients build for impact, reimagining tools, systems, and ways of living to move cultures forward."
The Brand Doula has worked with many brands, including Too Collective, to assist with their collaboration with Selena Gomez's Rare Beauty and Balanced Black Girl for a "refresh," aka rebrand. For businesses looking to rebrand, Lola shares four essential steps.
1. Do an audit of your current brand experience — what’s still relevant and what needs to change? Reflect on why you’re doing the rebrand in the first place and what success would look like after relaunching.
2. Tackle the overall strategy first — before you start redesigning logos and websites, align on a new vision for your brand. How do you want your company to be positioned moving forward? Has your audience changed at all? Will your company have a fresh personality and voice?
3. Bring your audience along the journey — there’s no need to move in secret. Inviting your current audience into the journey can actually help them feel more connected to and invested in your story, enough to stick around as changes are being made.
4. Keep business moving — one of my biggest pet peeves is when companies take down their websites as soon as they have the idea to rebrand, then have a Coming Soon page up for months! You lose a lot of momentum and interest by doing that. If you’re still in business and generating income, continue to operate while you work on your rebrand behind the scenes. You don’t want to cut existing customers off out of the blue, and you also don’t want so much downtime that folks forget your business exists or start looking for other solutions.
While determining whether the rebrand was successful may take a few months, Lola says a clear sign that it is unsuccessful is negative feedback from your target audience. "Customers are typically more vocal about what they don’t like more than what they do like," she says.
But some good signs to look out for are improvements in engagement with your marketing, positive reviews, press and increase in retention, and overall feeling aligned with the new branding.
For more information about Lola and The Brand Doula, visit her website, thebranddoula.com.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Feature image courtesy
Now, while it’s another message for another time that if this type of sex-related craving feels impulsive or out of one’s control, it could be a sign of someone who is leaning into some level of sex addiction; however, that is not what we’re going to unpack today. Today, we’re going to look into what could be going on with you if it seems like, lately, you’ve been having a greater desire for sex, and you can’t quite pinpoint why.
Because, just like, say, a craving for a particular type of food oftentimes reveals something that is going on with you physically or mentally — sex cravings tend to bring certain things to light in those same areas, too.
Let’s dig in…
Hormonal Shifts
GiphyAlthough I don’t have social media accounts, I do tiptoe out there to see what’s going on — and boy, do I roll my eyes whenever I hear folks act like being over 40 is old. SMDH. It’s especially annoying when I hear about it in the context of sex because, believe it or not, there are a lot of late perimenopausal and menopausal women who are “gettin’ theirs” more than some of these 20 and 30-year-olds are (just ask them).
One reason is that the fear of experiencing an unplanned pregnancy, for many, is now in their rearview mirror. Another is because some are taking a form of hormone therapy to treat the changes that their system is going through — and when you’re getting more estrogen, progesterone, and/or testosterone into your body (in order to level things out) — HUNNAY.
For other women, even consuming phytoestrogens (plant-based estrogen) like peaches, garlic, berries, spinach, and cabbage can make them want sex more than when those aren’t a part of their diet. Bottom line here, a shift in your sexual hormones can definitely cause you to desire sex more than you have before (or have in a while).
Ovulation
GiphyBack when I was a teen mom director for the local chapter of a national non-profit, something that I used to tell “my daughters” all of the time is when you know that you’re ovulating, that’s when you need to be hypervigilant about using wisdom when it comes to the sex-related decisions that you make. I’m thinking that most of you get why: your body was designed to feel its horniest when you’re able to get pregnant — and that is during your time of ovulation.
That’s why it really is a good idea to keep up with your cycle and, if a baby is not something that is on your priority list right now, you either avoid having sex during that time of the month or make sure to use some form of birth control. Chile, even women with low libidos can find themselves wanting to hang off of a chandelier or two when they are ovulating. It’s nature’s way.
A Healthy Diet
GiphyIf you happen to be someone with a sluggish sex drive and you know that you spend most of your time in a drive-thru, there is probably a direct correlation there. No joke. There is plenty of research out in cyberspace to support the fact that a wack diet and low sex drive have a lot in common. While processed foods and unhealthy fats can throw your (sex) hormones off, foods that are filled with zinc, vitamins B12 and D, and iron can ramp up your desire for intimacy.
This is why many people who decide to make a lifestyle change as far as their eating habits are concerned are oftentimes surprised by how much sex is on their minds and how much easier it is for them to orgasm because of it. While a part of it can be due to a boost in their sexual confidence, a lot of it has to do with consuming foods that will literally feed their libido (in a healthy way).
More Exercise
GiphyPlainly put, exercise makes you hornier. Not only does it boost your testosterone levels, (consistently) working out also lowers your stress levels and gives you a boost in the self-esteem department. On top of that, exercise makes you more flexible, builds up endurance, and increases blood circulation which can turn around and intensify your climaxes as a direct result. In fact, this is oftentimes why people will want to have sex right after a workout session.
While we’re here, let me also share that too much of a good thing can end up being counterproductive. What I mean by that is, that although it is wise to exercise on a regular basis, make sure to not overdo it. Something known as overtraining syndrome can result in fatigue, insomnia, and irritability; no one can really have amazing sex when all of that is going on.
Being a Certain Age
GiphyWhile it used to be said that the sexual peak for men is in their teens and for women, it’s in their 30s (some believe it’s because after 35, it’s more challenging for women to get pregnant and so our biological clock plays a role in it all), some research believes that coming to that conclusion isn’t fair because aging affects people differently. For instance, while on one hand, people in their 40s tend to see a dip in their sex hormones, as we’ve already discussed, hormone therapy (for both men and women) can level some of those issues out, if not increase some people’s sex drives altogether.
Adding to that, it should also go on record that some studies indicate that women between the ages of 27-45 actually have a stronger desire — or craving — for sex than women between the ages of 18-26. So honestly, there goes the myth that being younger (automatically) means that you’re hornier. #Elmoshrug
Certain Medications
GiphyIf you used to have a higher sex drive and you’re currently on an antidepressant, that could be why your desire for copulation has decreased. Some studies say that as much as 40 percent of people who are on these types of medication end up having a lower libido (by the way, antihistamines and beta-blockers can have this effect, too).
On the other hand, if you’ve been taking a prescribed drug to increase your sex drive (perhaps like Vyleesi or Addyi), then it would make sense that you may have an increased libido level. Other meds that may have a similar effect include birth control pills (since they alter your hormones), medications that help to treat Parkinson’s disease, along with dopamine-related drugs.
Less Stress
GiphyIf, on the days when you don’t seem to have a care in the world, you also desire sex more than usual, that’s not a coincidence either. Thing is, when you’re all stressed out, that can cause the stress hormone known as cortisol to work overtime and, when that happens, that can end up suppressing your sex hormones which can deplete you of sexual urges. Ironically, there is a flip side to this because when you engage in sexual activity, that actually elevates feel-good (and bonding) hormones like dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins, which can also de-stress you.
So basically, if you’re craving sex, you probably aren’t very stressed out (right now), and if you want to stop being stressed out, you probably should have some sex (some protected sex, if you don’t want to be stressed later up the road…if you know what I mean).
Having an Amazing Sex Life
GiphyTo me, this one right here should be a given because when something is both good to and for you, why wouldn’t you want more of it? So yeah, if you have a great sex life with someone, it’s common sense that you’d want to engage in that act with them as much as possible. Hey, not to mention the fact that orgasms activate your brain in a way similar to a drug high does.
So, if while reading this, you’re thinking about sexting your bae to make arrangements to — eh hem — satisfy your craving, I say go for it! To “greatly want” to connect with your partner in order to have some fulfilling and satisfying sex? What in the world could possibly be wrong with that?! Not a damn thing.
Let’s make things inbox official! Sign up for the xoNecole newsletter for love, wellness, career, and exclusive content delivered straight to your inbox.
Featured image by Giphy