A mom’s guide to body shapers

Having kids isn’t exactly kind on the body. Luckily, there’s shapewear on the market that offers a quick fix for the poochy bellies and jiggly bits we’re often left with — and it’s a lot cheaper than getting a tummy tuck.
 
Fashion stylist and mother Rachel Matthews Burton, says that while you should only count on a body shaper to reduce your girth by half a dress size, a shaper that fits well pushes everything proportionately to where it’s supposed to be — creating confidence-boosting curves.
 
The shaper undergarments that work best are those with the highest Lycra content, Matthews Burton says, so you probably won’t want to wear them all day. “By definition, Lycra isn’t breathable, so you can get very hot and uncomfortable,” she warns.
 
Keeping that in mind, we tried and tested a stack of shapewear to find out which are comfy enough for a casual outing, which make you look great at work, and which will help you make a “wow” party appearance.