Shapewear can be any form of compression garment used to smooth and shape the body. When talking about shapewear offerings at Brava, we are usually referring to high waist briefs or shorts, made from a stretchy yet rigid fabric to smooth the hips and tummy under clothes. Anyone can wear shapewear and we often fit women for shapewear when they are going to a formal event or a wedding. The customer’s comfort and confidence is paramount when considering the right garment as they are often using shapewear as a way to feel more confident in a certain outfit. Therefore it is very important for us to keep a positive attitude in the fitting room to help them feel assured throughout the process.
Comparison of our shapewear offerings
Light Support –
Strong Support –
Fitting Shapewear
Firstly ask the customer what size they would usually wear for underwear. They will most likely need to try at least two sizes of shapewear to get the fit and feel right. Some people may want a looser fit for comfort while others don’t see the point in wearing it unless it’s SUPER tight! Manage your customer’s expectations by letting them know that shapewear is made to smooth the lumps and bumps and will not have a cinching effect. Most shapewear has a cotton gusset so that they can be worn without underwear underneath to eliminate that extra line under clothes.
Let the customer try the shapewear on over her underwear. Leave the fitting room for a moment to give her some privacy as pulling up tight shapewear is not something that anyone wants to be watched while doing! However, an elderly customer may appreciate the help to get their feet into the shapewear. Then as soon as you think they have the shapewear on, ask to come back into the fitting room as you will need to help them adjust it properly. The shapewear needs to ideally meet the band of the customer’s bra so that it doesn’t roll down. You need to pull the fabric up at the back as high as you can for them and encourage them to do the same at the front. Then ‘lock it in’ by tucking it under their bra band. This ensures the top of the shapewear stays in the customer’s narrowest part and therefore lessens the risk of it rolling down. Make sure to convey this information to your customer so they can put it on properly when they get home and aren’t left disappointed!
Talk through the pros and cons of the specific shapewear and how it would work under her outfit to help her make a decision. Keep the conversation positive and jovial where possible as many women can get disheartened after trying on tight shapewear!
