Bodysuits: how to choose

How to choose bodysuits

Start with the role the bodysuit will play. A shaping piece sits beneath a slip dress, a fine knit or tailored trousers and keeps waistbands flat; a lace or backless style may be the layer you see, worn under an open shirt or on its own with high-waisted denim. Decide whether you want coverage through the waist and seat, support below the bust, a rear-lift cut or an open back, because each changes how the piece sits under clothes.

Then look at the neckline and back. A deep V or a U-neck under the bust works with the bras you already own, while a high front gives a clean line under a crew-neck knit. Backless and open-back styles are best when the outfit has a reason to show them, such as a low-backed dress or a shirt left open. If you plan to wear the bodysuit under close-fitting tailoring, choose the smoothest finish you can and keep lace for occasions when texture is part of the look.

Fit comes down to measurements rather than dress size. Compare your waist, hip and bust with the size chart before ordering, and take the larger size if you fall between two. Some of our styles run one to two sizes smaller than US and EU sizing, so read the note on the product page; for underbust styles, choose your band by waist and hip measurement and take the larger band if you are between two.

Finally, think about how the piece will feel across a long day. A close fit is part of the design, but the fabric should still let you sit, walk and breathe as usual. Adjustable details, where a style lists them, help you set the line you want, and a smooth edge under clothing matters as much as the shaping itself.

Materials, details and fit

The bodysuits here use polyester, nylon, spandex, knit, lace and mesh. Polyester appears in smooth stretch jersey, fine mesh and lace; nylon gives a supple, close stretch in several shaping pieces; spandex is blended with nylon in a 90% nylon and 10% spandex style. Knit constructions range from firm to light, and lace brings texture and a sheer finish. These are close-fitting materials chosen to lie flat under clothes, so the fabric should skim rather than pull.

Look at the weight and hand of a piece as well as the fibre. A firm knit holds the middle gently and lifts at the hip, while a lighter nylon or mesh layer stays discreet under jersey, crepe and fine tailoring. Features to look for include stretch, a lightweight feel, tummy control, breathable fabric and adjustable elements where listed. Sheer lace is a finish to choose deliberately: it is beautiful on its own and best kept for outfits where the texture is meant to be seen.

Sizing details vary by style. One zip-front piece comes in sizes S to 6XL, and an underwired shaping style comes in S, M, L, XL and XXL; other pieces ask you to compare bust and waist measurements with the chart. A polyester style may have some stretch, but that does not replace measuring. If you are between sizes, take the larger one, especially in shaping cuts where a close fit is the point.

Construction matters at the edges. An underbust U-neck leaves your own bra in place, an underwired one-piece brings structure at the bust, and a lace brief softens the line where the piece meets the skin. Check where seams sit, how the neckline falls and whether the back is cut away. Those details decide whether the bodysuit disappears under an outfit or becomes part of it.

How to style them

For shaping pieces, let the bodysuit be the quiet layer. Wear a smooth-finish or one-piece shaper under a slip dress, a column dress, a bias-cut skirt or tailored trousers, and choose black under dark fabrics or apricot and skin tone under pale ones. The aim is a clean line: keep outer layers close but not tight, and let the bodysuit do the smoothing so the dress or trousers hang as intended.

Lace and mesh styles can stay hidden or come forward. A deep V lace bodysuit layers under a jacket or a loose shirt with the neckline just visible, or wears on its own with high-waisted trousers and an open overshirt. The seven colourways, from black and white to red, blue, purple, pink and dark green, make it easy to match a mood or pick up a colour from the rest of your outfit. An open-back lace piece works under a shirt worn open at the back or with a jacket that frames the bare line.

Backless and slim-fit styles need a little planning. Wear a backless bodysuit under a dress or top with a low back, or on its own with high-waisted denim and an open shirt. A zip-front shaping piece is useful under tailoring when you want a neat line and a simple way to step in and adjust. For evening, an open-back lace style under a loose shirt or a tailored jacket keeps the look considered without adding bulk.

Colour is part of the styling. Black reads as a base under most outfits, white and beige work under light layers, and red, wine, coffee, brown, green, blue, purple, pink or leopard can be the point of the look when the bodysuit is visible. If you are wearing a sheer or lace piece on its own, keep the rest of the outfit simple so the texture has room.

Care and storage

Always follow the care label on the piece, as instructions vary between lace, mesh, knit and shaping styles. As a general habit, fasten any zip before washing, turn lace and mesh pieces inside out and use a mesh laundry bag to reduce snagging. A cool, gentle wash and a short spin are kinder to stretch fabrics than a hot cycle, and leaving lace to dry flat helps it keep its shape.

For shaping bodysuits, fold rather than hang where possible. Hanging can stretch the shoulder line and distort the close fit you rely on under dresses. Keep the piece away from rough hooks, zips and Velcro in the drawer, and store lace separately from anything with a sharp edge. If a style has adjustable elements, set them back to a neutral position before storing so the fabric is not held under tension.

Between wears, air a bodysuit before putting it away, especially after a long evening. Spot-clean small marks with a damp cloth and mild soap rather than washing the whole piece, then let it dry fully before folding. Do not wring lace or mesh; press the water out gently in a towel and reshape it flat.

If you wear a shaping piece often, rotate it with another bodysuit so each one has time to settle between wears. Check the seams, the zip and the lace edges now and then, and repair loose threads before they become holes. Good storage is simple: cool, dry, out of direct sun and away from anything that can catch.

Standout pieces

• Smooth-Finish Shaping Bodysuit: A close nylon bodysuit that shapes the waist and seat and keeps a smooth, discreet finish under dresses and tailoring.
• Lace Deep V Bodysuit: Sheer lace and a deep V give this stretchy polyester mesh bodysuit quiet drama, with seven colourways from black and white to red, blue, purple, pink and dark green.
• Zip-Front Shaping Bodysuit: The front zip makes this polyester shaping bodysuit simple to step into and adjust, and it comes in black or skin tone in sizes S to 6XL.
• One-Piece Shaping Bodysuit, Firm Knit: A firm polyester knit smooths the abdomen and lifts at the hip, drawing a clean line from waist to hip under fitted dresses and fine knits.
• Underbust Tummy Control Shaping Bodysuit: An underbust U-neck leaves your own bra in place while the nylon knit skims from underbust to hip, with a lace brief softening the edge.