In winter, many of us put on a pound or two: At the latest when our favorite jeans no longer fit, we know that the kilo fee has struck. But instead of not putting on the pants or even throwing them away, you can use a simple fashion trick.
The idea is not new, but it is effective: figure-shaping underwear – also known as shapewear – is the corset of the 21st century. As the name suggests, it’s all about cheating away unwanted love handles. And in such a way that you can continue to move normally. The following is a summary of what distinguishes abdominal pants from normal underwear and why they make the silhouette of women and men appear slimmer.
This is what distinguishes abdominal pants
In contrast to ordinary underwear, which is mostly made of cotton, shapewear is made from different materials: The combination of high-quality polyester, nylon and elastane means that the abdominal pants are particularly (tear-)resistant, but also stretchy. When worn, this inevitably leads to the upper body being tightened and the silhouette automatically appearing slimmer. The strong compression therefore helps the fabric to cling very tightly to your tummy and cheat it smaller as if by magic. This applies not only to women, but also to men.
You should pay attention to this when buying
- In order to increase the desired shaping effect, the abdominal pants are often ordered one size smaller – but that is a big mistake. The fact is that shapewear that is too tight can cause skin irritation and leave uncomfortable pressure points. So make sure you order your usual size when you buy it.
- Depending on whether you just want to cover up your stomach or your thighs as well, you can choose between different models: there are waist shapers and panties, bodices and hot pants, biker and cycling pants with a shaping effect. If you want to tighten the entire upper body, you can also wear a biker body (with leg attachments).
- Abdominal pants can have different levels of shaping. Translated, this means: the higher the number, the lower the elasticity. In other words, the shaping effect increases with each level – and vice versa. You should therefore consider before buying how tight the figure-shaping underwear should fit (if the manufacturer specifies different levels).
Important:
If you have circulatory problems or suffer from a vascular disease such as thrombosis, abdominal pants are not recommended.
The abdominal pants for self-confident men
As mentioned at the beginning, there is not only for women: The fashion industry has long recognized that there is also a great need for figure-shaping underwear in the men’s world. Due to the close-fitting materials and thin seams, the shapewear is easily worn under clothing. This means that you can easily wear your abdominal pants because they are not visible to anyone – not even bulky. And the best thing about it is: There are also different models for men to choose from!
And a final note: Due to the combination of different materials, belly pants can lose their shape if washed too hot. Therefore, a gentle cycle at a maximum of 30 degrees Celsius is the best way to clean the shapewear. Do not use fabric softener, as it reduces the tightening effect.
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Source: Stern

I am a 24-year-old writer and journalist who has been working in the news industry for the past two years. I write primarily about market news, so if you’re looking for insights into what’s going on in the stock market or economic indicators, you’ve come to the right place. I also dabble in writing articles on lifestyle trends and pop culture news.