Shapewear is a type of apparel that helps smooth out the curves of the body. The garment holds in the excess fat that you have, and shapes the body, depending on how it is worn. It also hides fabric lines while wearing undergarments. (ie. bras, panties, etc.) Many women use this as a post or pre-pregnancy girdle to help with back pain and stretch marks. Some specialized types even reduce cellulite.

Shapewear comes in different shapes and sizes, depending on its use. Some types go around like underwear for firming up your bottom. There are also some variants that are a little longer, in order to trim the thighs’ appearance. Those that go over the abdomen aim for giving the appearance of a flat stomach. There are also tank top-like shapewear that balances the proportion of the chest and abdomen.

These kinds of shapewear are generally good for people who are on a budget, or for people who want to focus on trimming down the appearance of one area of their body. For those who want to tone their body completely, body suits are also available. However while shopping for shapewear, it is important to have a mental note that this does not give you long-term slimming, and will only work while it is worn.

One of the most popular types of shapewear on the market is Spanx. This line of body shaping apparel was self funded, created and founded by Sara T. Blakely during the late 1990s. Her story started when she failed to find a footless pantyhose to help her shape her body. The then-27 year-old entrepreneur then set out with her savings to help create this type of commodity, and to make it available to the public.

It was only after a couple of years that Blakely was able to set up a patent with her first footless pantyhose. She was able to successfully land a spot in a top retail store, and was able to sell over 50,000 pairs within three months. Her Spanx footless pantyhose soon rose into more popularity when she caught the attention of Oprah, and was listed in the show host’s “Favorite Things” list in 2000.

However, Blakely’s revolutionary product didn’t stop there. She started hiring designers, and joined with like-minded entrepreneurs in order to add more products to her line. By the mid 2000s, she had created more than sixty comfortable, slimming garments that can hide  figure flaws. She later renovated Spanx by releasing shapewear with innovative and practical,  yet stylish, designs.