How to Stretch Shapewear

Co-authored by Rani Gorgis and Hannah Madden

Last Updated: February 1, 2023

Shapewear is a smoothing and and slimming undergarment that can be worn under your clothes to create a nice hourglass body shape. If your shapewear is too small, it might feel uncomfortable or even painful. You can loosen your shapewear slightly by stretching it, but the best way to ensure your shapewear works effectively is to purchase it in your correct size since the tight nylon and spandex fabric can’t be stretched out much.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Stretching Shapewear to Fit Your Body

1
Put your garment on slowly and stretch it as you go. Stretch your garment out between both of your hands by pushing it outward from the inside. Slowly roll the garment into place on your body, using your hands to stretch it out over your skin until it sits correctly.^{[1]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- This movement stretches the shapewear to fit your body and helps it to smooth out your skin.
2
Wear your shapewear 2 to 3 times. Put on your shapewear and wear it like you normally would. Throughout the course of your day, your shapewear will stretch and adhere to your body. After you wear your shapewear 2 to 3 times, you may notice it adhering to your body more.^{[2]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Warning: Avoid wearing your shapewear for longer than 8 hours at a time. You can disrupt your blood flow or cause digestion issues.^{[3]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

Advertisement
3
Do some light stretches in your shapewear. If your shapewear is super uncomfortable, put it on and do some stretches with your body to move the material. Squats, lunges, and butterfly stretches can all help shapewear adhere to your lower body.^{[4]
X
Research source}
- Don’t stretch for longer than 30 minutes in your shapewear and avoid working up a sweat. Shapewear is not good activewear since it compresses your breathing.
- To do a butterfly stretch, sit with your knees facing outward and pull your feet in towards your body. Bend your torso forward slightly to feel a stretch in your hips and groin.
4
Wash your shapewear in cold water and hang it to dry. Put your dirty shapewear in the washing machine in cold water on a low spin cycle. Hang it up to dry on a clothesline or clothes rack. Hot water in a washing machine and hot air in the dryer can both cause your shapewear to shrink and become too tight.
- Never twist or wring out your shapewear, or you could damage the fibers.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Buying the Right Size

1
Know your height, weight, and dress size. Most shapewear is measured by either your height and weight measurements or your dress size. Before you purchase shapewear, have these measurements handy to grab your size instead of one way too big or too small.^{[5]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}
- Some retail stores have sales representatives who can help you pick out your size if you aren’t sure.
2
Try on your shapewear before you purchase it. If you are buying your shapewear in person, try it on at least once before you buy it. If it pinches or squeezes you uncomfortably tight, consider buying a size up. Something slightly uncomfortable in the fitting room can feel like torture after hours of wear.^{[6]
X
Research source}
- Shapewear is designed to feel slightly uncomfortable, but if it is unbearably tight, it is probably too small.
Tip: If you are buying your shapewear online, consider purchasing 2 sizes and returning the one that is too small. Make sure to check the store's return policy to find out if you can.
3
Avoid buying shapewear that rolls down or is uncomfortable. If your shapewear squeezes you to the point that you feel sick or is constantly rolling down, you are probably wearing the wrong size. Shapewear that is too tight can have long term consequences on your body, like skin issues, digestive problems, and acid reflux.^{[7]
X
Research source}
- Shapewear that is uncomfortably tight doesn’t smooth as well and won’t shape your body correctly.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Wearing Shapewear Effectively

1
Wear shapewear on special occasions, not every day. Even if your shapewear fits perfectly, it is still compressing your body each time that you wear it. Try not to put on your shapewear every day, and instead, save it for special occasions like parities, weddings, or family reunions.^{[8]
X
Research source}
- Wearing shapewear every day can lead to digestive issues and breathing difficulties.
2
Smooth your body out completely by not wearing underwear. Since shapewear is so tight, any underwear you put on will create visible lines that stretch and warp your shapewear over time. Use your shapewear like underwear to achieve your perfect smoothing effect.^{[9]
X
Research source}

Tip: Make sure you wash your shapewear after every use to keep them hygienic.
3
Avoid exercising or sweating in shapewear. The thick material of shapewear is bad for breathability. If it’s a hot day or you will be exercising, do not wear your shapewear so that you can avoid getting overheated.^{[10]
X
Research source}
- Stay hydrated when you wear shapewear by drinking plenty of water whenever you feel thirsty.

Warnings

Avoid wearing shapewear for longer than 8 hours at a time so you don’t disrupt blood circulation or cause digestion issues in your body.^{[11]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Never exercise in your shapewear to avoid breathing problems.^{[12]
X
Trustworthy Source
Cleveland Clinic
Educational website from one of the world's leading hospitals
Go to source}

⧼thumbs_response⧽
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0