Shapewear has come a long way in the past 10 years. Luckily, there have been innovations in the market and an emphasis on feeling good about your body shape instead of trying to conceal it with restricting undergarments! With more inclusivity in the world of shapewear, you can now shop by shade, style, target areas, and more! If this type of underwear is what you’re looking for, we have you covered!
Here are the best sites to shop to purchase shapewear.
Knix
Founder, Joanna Griffiths has transformed the intimate apparel industry with Knix, a Toronto-based brand that’s designed to make women feel more comfortable in their own skin. The revolutionary Leakproof Underwear is what started it all, and now the company carries an amazing range of products, including fabulous shapewear.
Amazon
As always, Amazon offers a wide selection of shapewear for all your support needs. There are so many price points, colours, shapes, and fits to choose from you could seriously browse for hours. Be sure to read the reviews to decide what styles work for you.
Hudson’s Bay
Shop by category of Tummy & Torso, Thighs & Bum, and Full Body, to narrow down your search for the best shapewear. Hudson’s Bay carries a wide variety of these undergarments that will fit wonderfully under any outfit.
SPANX
The revolutionary brand SPANX offers a ton of shapewear solutions for every body type. There are a variety of colours available as well, so you can match the shades with your skin tone.
SKIMS
It is safe to say that Ms. Kardashian’s brand, SKIMS has taken over the shapewear market. This is the shapewear that broke the internet and for good reason. Customers swear by this line that offers a velvet feel paired with a comforting stretch and more styles than you could dream of.
Shapermint
Be confident and feel supported in Shapermint shapewear. The products are thoughtfully selected for your already-perfect body to provide on-demand-confidence…all on your terms. Best of all, the site typically has a great sale section to browse. celebrate their curves. Happy shopping!
La Vie En Rose
Mix and match different styles and sizes to get your perfect fit. From undergarments for dresses to pants, La Vie En Rose has your needs in mind.
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart has an abundance of very affordable shapewear online. Although some patience is required to browse through the pages and pages of affordable pieces, you’re likely to find something that you like.
Simons
Simons has a huge selection of control top pantyhose and support bottoms. The pantyhose come in a wide range of shades and the bottoms come in a nude or black.
Bare Necessities
Bare Necessities allows you to shop by area, style, or even by brand. With the huge assortment available, you’re sure to find pieces that fit perfectly with your lifestyle.
Zulily
Zulily is another online store that is not skimping on its options of shapewear. Plus, the site is very budget-friendly. Better yet, they even carry self-adhesive bras to cover all of your needs.
Nordstrom
Nordstrom carries a handful of brands for shapewear like SPANX, Commando, True & Co., and more. Browse through all of the different styles and colours to find your perfect match.
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It was a sad day back in early 2017, when iconic fashion brand American Apparel went bankrupt and announced it would shut down its stores. After all, it had become an effortless staple for basics, weekend wear, and costume parties.
Hot on the heels of a successful relaunch south of the border, the brand announced its plans for international e-commerce expansion earlier this year, setting its sights on Canada, home of its parent company Gildan Activewear Inc. (Gildan purchased American Apparel in 2016). Unbeknownst to some lovers of the brand, Canada is amongst the 200 countries that American Apparel will now ship to. So, you can easily freshen up your beloved basics with just a few clicks (good for your wardrobe; dangerous for your wallet).
The “new” American Apparel stays true to its tradition of classic, timeless fashion styles, but is more focused on body positivity and diversity than ever before, featuring a more inclusive range of sizes and fits. The global relaunch included the “Back to Basics” campaign, which was a fresh initiative for SS18. It featured real people who represent a diversity of body types, ages, and ethnicities but share a playful, confident, and honest spirit. The focus of this collection is on staple silhouettes.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BnZJxjgBvUi/?taken-by=americanapparel
Naturally, American Apparel still features core basics, along with all-time fan favourites like the iconic disco pants, bodysuits, metallic leggings, unisex hoodies, and fisherman pullovers. The brand also recently launched its first-ever outerwear collection for fall 2018, which features staples like a trench coat, a reversible bomber, a raincoat, fleece, and puffer jacket. Best of all, the pieces are available at more affordable prices.
Most recently, American Apparel sought out musician, actor, activist, and successful albino model Shaun Ross to curate a capsule collection, ‘NUDE,’ with a central theme of inclusivity and body positivity. The accompanying campaign features a limited edition selection of brown, white, and nude tees that are designed to highlight the beauty of diverse skin types. The tees reflect abstract images of models with what have been historically referred to as “imperfections”: things like stretch marks, freckles, and vitiligo.
Refreshingly, the recent campaigns are less sexual in nature than before; the company has found itself in hot water over its racier ads in the past and has been called out for sexualizing extremely young-looking models. Though the road has been a rocky one for the brand, from the sexual harassment allegations former CEO Dov Charney, to rapidly declining sales, things are looking as positive for the brand as its new messaging is.
American Apparel will have one bricks and mortar shop, located on Melrose in Los Angeles, the place where the once thriving brand rose to success. But hopes for locations returning to Yonge Street or Queen West, sadly, aren’t likely.
Featured image: Instagram/ @americanapparel
The ever-growing body positivity movement has fuelled and overdue shift when it comes to fashion design, allowing women of all shapes and sizes to look just as editorial-worthy as their hearts desire.
Everyone from mainstream affordable brands like Joe Fresh, H&M, and Old Navy, to Nike, and high-end brands like Nordstrom have announced extended sizing as of late.
Naturally, designers in our home and native land have also helped the cause of countless women with their realistic sizing and design. Here are 5 Toronto-based brands that design for women’s bodies in all of their unique and curve-filled glory.
Lesley Hampton
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Designer Lesley Hampton has been making headlines as of late by redefining the women who grace runways. During recent fashion shows, she has cast models based on personality as opposed to physical appearance and partnered with the Be Body Aware Project, which advocates diversity and inclusion in the fashion industry. Her recent Toronto Women’s Fashion Week show featured Boston bombing victim-turned amputee rights activist, amputee Adrianne Haslet, and models of all sizes (including one who proudly rocks a size 22), who hit the runway in the Toronto-based designer stunning eveningwear.
Ninety-Eight
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Toronto-based brand Ninety-Eight designs their clothes for the 98 per cent of women who don’t fit into sample sizes, not – as the Ninety Eight website states – “women who could wear a burlap sack and get away with it” (though I am sure they could find a few fabulous finds in the collection as well). This means that owners Maggie Murphy and Michelle Germain design for women with hips, no hips, no waist, wide shoulders, etc. Their pieces lean on the more mature side are perfect workplace staples, with things like blazers, blouses, and dresses. You’ll also find comfy weekend wear, like oversized tees and tunics.
Miriam Baker
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Toronto’s Miriam Baker is a godsend to the bustier set of fashion-lovers who are sick and tired of calling dress-shopping a chore. The entire collection of her timeless line is dedicated to women with fuller chests, designed using a different waist-chest ratio than found in typical sizing, and incorporating seams and details that flatter such a silhouette. Her collection is full of the types of dresses that become versatile wardrobe staples (the type that takes you from the boardroom to the bar), full of varying lengths and styles.
Mary Young
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Toronto designer Mary Young offers an incredibly comfortable line of ethically Canadian-made lingerie and loungewear that is designed to embrace a woman’s natural body, yet still look effortlessly stylish. Helping your lazy Sunday cause (and every other day of the week), the pieces – a selection of bras, panties, bodysuits, and loungewear – is made with jerseys, knits, and soft elastics to offer restriction-free comfort in a garment that literally moves with your body.
Hilary MacMillan
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Popular designer Hilary MacMillan sends strong messages down the runway and in press coverage with her cruelty-conscious collection of contemporary womenswear that steers clear of leathers, furs, exotic skins, or feathers. Offering a more inclusive line than some designers when it comes to catering to the curvier set, her sizes now go up to an XL, fitting up to size 14/16. MacMillan’s elegant creations have graced some of Canada’s most recognizable faces.
Do you know any other Canadian labels that design for real bodies? Let us know in the comments.
Featured image: Instagram/ @miriam_baker
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