Shapewear Size Guide: How to Find Your Perfect Fit

Shapewear only works when it fits. Too small and it digs, rolls and leaves you counting the minutes until you can take it off. Too big and it wrinkles, slides and does very little at all. This shapewear size guide walks you through how to find your perfect fit, from measuring yourself at home to reading a size chart and spotting the signs that you need to size up or down.

We'll use our Contour™ Body Camisole as a worked example throughout, but most of these tips apply to any shaping cami, bodysuit or brief you're shopping for in Australia.

Why shapewear sizing is different from your clothing size

Your dress size is a useful starting point, but it isn't always the best guide for shapewear. Here's why:

• Clothing sizes vary between brands. A size 12 in one Australian label can fit like a 10 or 14 in another, so your usual size doesn't translate neatly.
• Shapewear is designed to stretch. It's meant to sit close to the body with some compression, so the right size often looks smaller off the body than you expect.
• Brands size in different ways. Some use waist and hip measurements, some use dress sizes, and some use body weight. Always check the chart for the exact piece you're buying.

The takeaway: ignore the letter on the tag until you've checked the brand's own size chart against your own numbers.

How to measure yourself for shapewear

You only need a soft tape measure, a mirror and a few minutes. Measure over bare skin or a thin, non-padded bra, and keep the tape snug but not tight.

1. Bust

Wrap the tape around the fullest part of your bust, keeping it level across your back.

2. Natural waist

Find the narrowest part of your torso, usually a little above your belly button. Breathe out normally and measure without pulling the tape in.

3. Hips

Stand with your feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips and bottom.

4. Torso length (for camis and bodysuits)

For a cami, measure from the top of your shoulder down to where you'd like the hem to sit. This helps you picture where a longline piece will finish on your body.

5. Your current weight

Some shapewear, including ours, is sized by body weight rather than tape measurements. If that's the case, use a recent reading from your bathroom scales so you can match it to the chart.

Write your numbers down and keep them handy. They're useful for every online shapewear purchase, not just this one.

How to read a shapewear size chart

Once you have your measurements, find the chart for the specific product. The Contour™ Body Camisole is sized by body weight, which takes some of the guesswork out of choosing:

You'll find these details on the product page and on our full size chart.

A few rules of thumb when reading any chart:

• If you sit on the line between two sizes, size up. This is our recommendation for the Contour™ Body Camisole, and it's a good default for most shapewear, especially for everyday wear.
• Go with your largest relevant measurement. If a chart uses waist and hips and you fall into two different sizes, choose the bigger one so the garment isn't straining anywhere.
• Think about how you'll wear it. For a long workday or a full day of events, comfort matters more than maximum firmness.

Signs your shapewear is the wrong size

Even with careful measuring, it's worth checking the fit once it arrives. Try it on and move around: sit, bend, reach up and walk about the house for a few minutes.

Signs it's too small

• The hem or band rolls up or down as you move
• Straps or edges dig in and leave deep marks
• It creates bulges above or below the fabric
• It feels hard to take a full, comfortable breath
• You're desperate to take it off within the hour

Signs it's too big

• The fabric wrinkles or bunches at the waist
• Straps keep slipping even after adjusting
• The hem rides up because there's nothing holding it in place
• You can't feel any gentle hold at all

Signs it's just right

• It feels like a firm, comfortable hug rather than a squeeze
• It stays put when you sit and stand
• The edges lie flat under fitted clothes
• You can wear it for hours and mostly forget it's there

Fit tips for a shaping camisole

Camis have a few fit details of their own. Here's what to look for with the Contour™ Body Camisole:

• Adjust the straps first. The straps are adjustable, so set them so the neckline sits where you want it and the straps don't slip off your shoulders or dig in.
• Check the bottom band. The wide bottom band is designed to stay in place. If it rolls, the cami may be too small; if it slides up loosely, it may be too big.
• Consider the length. The cami is approximately 38 cm long from shoulder to hem, so think about where that lands on your torso and what you'll wear over it.
• Pick your colour for the outfit. It comes in Beige and Black. Beige is usually the safer choice under light or white tops, while black works under darker clothes.

The cami is made from a stretchy, breathable cotton and polyester blend with moderate compression through the tummy and waist. That makes it a comfortable smoothing base layer under blouses, T-shirts, work tops and dresses. If you'd like to know more about how different shapewear fabrics feel and behave, read our shapewear materials guide.

Common shapewear sizing mistakes to avoid

1. Sizing down for "more control". It's tempting, but a too-small piece usually rolls, pinches and shows lines. The right size gives a smoother look than a smaller one.
2. Guessing instead of measuring. Five minutes with a tape measure (or a quick check on the scales for weight-based sizing) can save you a return.
3. Using another brand's size. Always check the chart for the exact product.
4. Judging fit while standing still. Sit down, stretch and move. That's how you'll be wearing it in real life.
5. Forgetting about care. Heat can affect stretch fabric over time. For the Contour™ Body Camisole, hand wash or machine wash on a gentle cycle in cold water, then lay flat to dry to keep its stretch.

Making shapewear part of your everyday wardrobe

When your shapewear fits well, it stops feeling like a special-occasion item and becomes a basic you reach for, just like a good bra. A seamless shaping cami can sit under your work outfits, a fitted dress for a Christmas party or a simple tee on the weekend. For more ideas on wearing it day to day, see why shapewear belongs in your everyday routine.

The goal isn't to change your body. It's to feel smooth, supported and comfortable in the clothes you already love.

Shop the products in this guide

• Contour™ Body Camisole – a seamless shaping cami in Beige and Black, sizes M–3XL

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