Shapewear has come a long way since it was first invented. It is far more comfortable, versatile, and effective than ever before, and truly is a girl’s best friend.
Summertime can be a problem. It’s easy to find yourself regretting that extra layer of shapewear under your clothes. The best breathable shapewear for summer incorporates breathable shapewear technology so you can keep your cool.
Whether you want a slip to smooth your silhouette, or a high-control body-suit to nip your waist, the right piece of summertime shapewear can make your outfit effortlessly beautiful.
Best Breathable Shapewear For Summer: Our Top 10 Picks
We have searched high and low to discover the best breathable shapewear for summer. Each of these 10 summer shapewear gems is perfect for those who like to make the most of their summer wardrobe without overheating.
1. Triumph Airy Sensation Shapewear Maxi
Review
Offering unprecedented comfort and temperature control, the Airy Sensation line from Triumph is perfect for summertime wear.
The panelled design of these high-waisted briefs offers medium control where needed (in this case the stomach area) while making use of light and airy fabric around the hips and rear.
The result is a lightweight, effective summer stomach control brief which doesn’t cut into your thighs and gives that seamless look with minimal change to your body temperature. In fact, the moisture control properties of the fabric, along with the silky finish make these a joy to wear.
Composition:
74% Polyamide, 26% Elastane
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Triumph:
2. Spanx Thinstincts Mid-Thigh Shorts
Review
Reformulated to provide superior control and sculpting, the Thinstincts mid-thigh shorts smooth your silhouette and provide targeted control. The fine-gauge fabric prevents bulges in the waist and thighs where the shorts end, and wicks away moisture for optimum comfort.
Perfect for wearing under mid to maxi dresses and shorts, these shorts are light, breathable, and soft to the touch (so you don’t need to worry about chafing or static buildup).
Composition:
57% Elastane, 43% Nylon
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Selfridges:
3. M & S Cool Comfort Anti-Chafing Shorts
Review
Using their Cool-Comfort technology, these soft, breathable, mid-thigh shorts are silky, smooth, and prevent chafing under those light summer dresses that we all look forward to wearing.
The fine-gauge material is perfectly comfortable on even the hottest days and wicks away sweat to keep you cool and dry. They also smooth the silhouette by removing visible panty lines.
However, these are very light shapewear shorts that do not necessarily exert noticeable control beyond a gentle smoothing.
Composition:
82% Polyamide, 18% Elastane
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Marks & Spencer:
4. Heist Studios Highlight High-Rise Microfibre Shorts
Review
Heist Studios has outdone themselves with these super sleek and comfortable high-rise shorts. The microfibre material with in-built HeroPanels is light but firm. They exert medium control while remaining comfortable and cool in all but the most humid climates.
Seamless and sleek they eliminate chafing, panty lines, and give a smooth, shapely silhouette. Perfect for wearing under tighter summer dresses, or even under mid-thigh length shorts.
Composition:
74% Polyamide, 26% Elastane
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Selfridges:
5. Wacoal Beyond Naked Firm Long Leg Shaper
Review
Ending about half a hand above the knee, these firm control leg and stomach shaping control shorts are best worn under tighter mid to maxi length dresses, skirts, and trousers.
As they provide firm control they are not as light as many of the other shapewear options on this list. Despite this, they offer good moisture and temperature control and remain comfortable, even in the summer heat.
By lifting and sculpting the rear and thighs, these shorts are really good for clingy outfits Furthermore, the broad, soft elastic at the edges means that you don’t end up with unsightly bulges.
Composition:
60% Polyamide, 40% Spandex
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Wacoal Lingerie:
6. Spanx Thinsticts Bodysuit
Review
This is arguably the ultimate piece of summer shapewear (unless you like to wear short shorts and mini-skirts). Sitting at mid-thigh with a neckline that dips below the bra and slim, adjustable straps this is one of the most versatile pieces in the Thinstincts line.
The lightweight microfibre material offers superior comfort and moisture control while exerting light to medium control on the stomach, The silky soft material also eliminates the likelihood of chafing and static build-up to ensure that you feel as good as you look at all times.
Top Notes:
57% Spandex, 43% Nylon
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Net-A-Porter:
7. Heist Studios The Outer Body V-Neck Microfibre Bodysuit
Review
This bodysuit from Heist Studios is without a doubt one of the best summertime shapewear pieces; if you buy only one of the items on this list make it this one.
The plunging neckline and high-leg mean that it suits almost every dress and shirt (excepting those with no straps at all). Light and soft, but firm this bodysuit smooths and sculpts the waist while the inbuilt cups shape and lift the breasts.
Designed to sit under the natural curve of your rear to prevent unsightly lines and bulges. Better still the material is incredibly breathable and adept at managing moisture and temperature levels. This means you can look and feel phenomenal in anything this summer.
Composition:
74% Polyamide, 26% Elastane
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Selfridges:
8. Heist Studios The Outer shaping bodysuit
Review
This lighter version of the sculpted v-neck bodysuit offered by Heist Studios has all of the benefits but offers superior temperature management thanks to its light and flexible design.
Less restrictive than the sculpted gusset-style option, it nonetheless smoothes and slims through the inbuilt HeroPanels which lift the rear and flatten the stomach. Perfect for wearing under light and airy summer dresses and skirts.
Composition:
74% Polyamide, 26% Elastane
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Net-A-Porter:
9. M & S Firm Control Wear Your Own Bra Bodysuit
Review
Fitted with Cool Comfort technology fabric and varying levels of control, this is the ultimate figure-framing shapewear for summer. The mirrored low v-neck at the front and back makes it suitable for almost any neckline.
Provides support to your bra for a more defined shape. The breathable microfibre and mesh make temperature control a breeze, so to speak, and control moisture very well to provide comfort as well as control.
The only downside to this bodysuit is that it does nothing to prevent thigh chafing… and this is hardly a huge flaw as it’s a general problem with the style as a whole.
Composition:
61% Polyamide, 39% Elastane
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Marks & Spencer:
10. Triumph Airy Sensation Wired Bodysuit
Review
An undeniably beautiful medium control bodysuit which uses mesh and microfibre materials to smooth and shape the stomach and rear. The discreet, shimmering jersey fabric is soft and silky as well as beautiful; it wicks away moisture and lets air circulate well, preventing overheating.
The sculpted cups are made with spacers technology to ensure breathable padding and support while the wide, shaping edges at the legs prevent unsightly lines and bulges. More than this, however, this bodysuit makes you feel beautiful in the way that only gorgeous lingerie can.
Composition:
59% Polyamide, 15% Polyester, 26% Elastane
Price & Reviews
You can check the latest pricing, see customer reviews and shop online at Triumph:
Breathable Shapewear Technology
Simply put, breathable shapewear is a smoothing, slimming undergarment which makes use of light, modern fabrics in order to wick away sweat and manage body temperature.
The result is comfort and confidence for those who like to maintain a smooth silhouette in the summer months when the heat makes wearing multiple layers less practical. Certain brands have already started to pioneer breathable materials that make wearing shapewear in summer more comfortable than ever before.
The most notable of these are Spanx and their Thinstincts range, Heist with their HeroPanels range, and Marks & Spencers with their Cool Comfort range.
Spanx – Thinstincts
The Thinstincts range is one of Spanx’s most popular, and this has a lot to do with the material itself. In order to find this material they tested over 100 options – so you know it’s good. The silky, light and uniquely breathable material makes shapewear a viable option in the heat of summer.
Heist – HeroPanels
Summer heat can be a pain when you like to wear high control shapewear, but Heist offers a unique and innovative solution. By combining light, breathable ‘second-skin’ fabric with their strategically placed ‘HeroPanels’ they offer high control right where you need it. This is where comfort meets optimum control.
M & S – Cool Comfort
Marks & Spencer are a British institution renowned for quality and elegant style. Their range of shapewear now comes with High IQ Cool Comfort technology; this lightweight fabric adeptly manages moisture levels for optimum comfort and temperature control while providing a smoother silhouette.
What Makes Good Summer Shapewear?
The simplest answer, of course, is that good summer shapewear is shapewear which helps you to feel and look good. Of course, it’s a little more complicated than that.
Good summer shapewear is light and comfortable, has the right cut to complement your clothing, and employs the best technology to keep you dry and cool in even the most humid weather.
Which is why its not easy to find. Thankfully, we have a top 10 list of breathable summer shapewear that will help you to rock your whole wardrobe with a smile, no matter the temperature.
Conclusion
Choosing the best breathable shapewear for summer need not be a chore. Each of these breathable and beautiful shapewear offerings has it’s strengths and weaknesses; choosing the right summer shapewear isn’t always as easy as we would like it to be. That is why it is important that you take your time when making a choice.
Consider the clothes you most often wear. The style and colour palette of your wardrobe is as important as your desired level of control. By considering all of this you can choose one or two high-quality pieces which you will be able to use repeatedly.
Shapewear has come a long way since it was first invented; these days it is more comfortable, effective, and openly acknowledged than ever before. Shapewear is no longer the shameful secret of the fashionista, so don’t be afraid to ask for recommendations!
Before you go, I have put together a review of the most elegant perfumes ranging from timeless classics to modern-day sophistication that I think you will enjoy.
Why not take a moment to browse a curated selection of what I feel are some of the worlds finest lingerie ranges available today.
Discovering Your Perfect Lingerie
Please take a moment to browse through my hand-picked collection of exquisite lingerie sets.
There may just be the perfect item waiting there for you!
Further Reading
Below are some additional articles from Viora London’s blog. We write articles on a number of interesting lifestyle topics from Fragrance to Lingerie and everything in between.