Guides

White and light-coloured dresses are where most shapewear choices go visibly wrong. The fabric that looks opaque on a hanger becomes semi-transparent in sunlight or flash photography, and black or white shapewear both show through in different ways. Here is exactly how to solve this.Why White Shapewear Does Not Work Under White DressesThis is the most counterintuitive part of this problem. White shapewear under a white dress creates more visible contrast than skin-toned shapewear, because white fabric against skin reads differently through a white dress than the natural skin tone does. Your skin tone creates a neutral shadow. White fabric creates a bright, reflective surface that shows through as a slightly brighter patch.What Actually Works: Nude Matches Your Skin, Not the DressThe correct choice is always shapewear that matches your skin tone as closely as possible. For lighter skin tones, a light beige works. For medium skin tones, a medium nude. For darker skin tones, a deeper brown. The goal is for the shapewear to be invisible against your skin so the dress sees only you, not an additional layer.The Brief Bodysuit in Beige or the Snatched Bodysuit in Beige are the options to look at for under white dresses.Test Before the DayPut on your shapewear, put on the white dress, and take a photo of yourself with a flash. This simulates what wedding or event photography will show. If the shapewear is visible in the photo, it will be visible in every photo taken that day. Adjust your shapewear choice before the event, not after you see the photos.Fabric ConsiderationsLace, chiffon, and thin satin all have different transparency levels. Lace is the trickiest because the pattern of the lace means any solid shapewear underneath will show through the gaps. For lace dresses, a smooth skin-tone bodysuit is essential. For chiffon, the same rule applies. For thicker satin, almost any nude shapewear works without showing.Find your shade using the Shapies size guide and the bodysuit collection.