UNDERCOVER SECRETS: Hollywood stars like Beyonce Knowles and Katie Holmes have been known to use shapewear. Subscribe to Archivestuff Have your say Ever wonder how the stars cut such a smooth figure on the red carpet or lose their post-baby weight within weeks of giving birth? gets the low-down on the revamp of the old-fashioned girdle, and puts one to the test.
In pursuit of a trimmer and slimmer figure, New Zealand women are following the worldwide trend of squeezing their bodies into slimming shapewear the modern version of the girdle. Made of spandex, these new-age girdles cinch the waist, lift the butt and slim the hips. The mid-thigh body shaper shapes women all the way to the bra line flattening the tummy and trimming the hips and upper leg.
They are a style secret used by celebrities on the red carpet to smooth out any waistline spillage, visible panty line and cellulite. "The key is to be seamless and bumpless," says Belgium-born US celebrity stylist Inge Fonteyne. Beyonce Knowles and model Tyra Banks have recently flashed their shapewear in public, and new mum Katie Holmes was recently snapped by the paparazzi as she stepped out of a car, exposing her pant girdle.
It was even rumoured that her hubby, Tom Cruise, wore a girdle on their wedding day. Actress Gwyneth Paltrow and British model Nancy Sorrell both relied on Agent Provocateur's waist-cinching Postnatal Control Brief to help hide their post-pregnancy flab. And thanks to outspoken body camouflage gurus Trinny Woodall and Susannah Constantine, who recently launched their own line of slimmers, and celebrity stylists spilling their secrets, the word on slimming shapewear has spread.
Fashion trends are also to blame. As clothing has become more fitting, retailers have seen interest rise in this new generation of body slimmers. According to market research company NPD Group, sales of shapewear jumped 26 per cent from 2005 to 2006 alone, with sales reaching nearly US$740 million last year.
Wellington department store Kirkcaldie Stains is no exception. "Over the past 12 months it has become big business for us," Kirkcaldie Stains lingerie buyer Karin Russell says. When The Dominion Post ran a story on Trinny and Susannah's new line of bulge-busting "Original Magic Knickers" in February, Kirkcaldie Stains, which carries the brand, sold out of its stock in two days.
The brand has continued to be a bestseller, "because they work", Mrs Russell says. "Fashion wear has got a lot finer and sheerer with knits that really show off your body shape," she says. "It is about making the best of one's figure and that is where slimming shapewear comes into play.
" Trinny and Susannah's body shaping knickers come in three styles the bum lifter, the tummy flattener, and the bum, tum and thigh reducer. Priced from $124.95 to $139.
95, these are the most expensive slimmers on the rack. Kirkcaldie Stains also stocks a range of slimmers from Belgian company Cette, which manufacture Trinny and Susannah's brand, with full pant girdles priced from $75. There are underskirts, G-strings and pants with bellybands by Nancy Gantz, a strapless bodysuit by Miraclesuit suitable for wearing under a wedding dress or ball gown, as well as a range of shapewear by Jockey, recommended for those who hate anything tight around their waistline but want a smooth look.
As we enter the ball season, Mrs Russell expects an influx of teens 15 and 16-year-old girls upwards. Older clients are choosing styles that lift the buttocks and hold in the tummy. Many of the styles are also suitable for wearing under trousers.
Getting it on The new roll-ons are not like your grandma's girdles, which is probably why the industry is trying to distance itself from the "G" word. "We get customers coming back to tell us they can't believe how comfortable they are to wear," Mrs Russell says. "I have to agree.
Once on, these full-pant body shapers are surprisingly comfortable. It is getting into them that is unpleasant. Following the instructions, I rolled up the legs and rolled down the waistband before putting it on.
"The reason for this is to get a double grip on the garment. It is easier to put on while sitting. It must sit right under the bust or an unwanted muffin band will result.
"It is also important to get the right size. If it is too big, it won't do anything to enhance the figure. In my case the shapers added two muffins under my butt but these were removed when I went down a size.
Standing in front of the mirror, after much huffing and pufffing, I was red-faced but slimmer, even though I looked like I was wearing a sausage skin. "And for those worried about having a Bridget Jones moment, relax, they are much easier to take off! UNDERCOVER SECRETS: Hollywood stars like Beyonce Knowles and Katie Holmes have been known to use shapewear.
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