The other day I went to put on a cotton body-hugging midi dress to run some errands in. I put on my usual Natori underwear and as I was about to head out of the house, realized there were SERIOUS panty lines. Fun fact, I love a good pair of granny panties. No shame. And I usually don’t give a shit about panty lines. But this was too obvious.
I didn’t want to put on my serious SPANX since I only wear those for special occasions. So Instead I threw on my SPANX Thinstincts. They’re slightly smoothing, super comfortable and aren’t constricting like classic SPANX shapewear. I call them my lazy SPANX.
These SPANX I could actually take a nap in they’re that comfortable. But at over $50 a pair, I wanted to find more options that were affordable. And also ones that weren’t mid-thigh. With so many mini dresses and short skirts for summer, it’s nice to have something underneath your outfit to make you feel comfortable, confident and somewhat covered.
Plus, it also helps with thigh chafing. I decided to dive headfirst into some hard-hitting journalism and I researched nearly a dozen options.
The requirements to make the cut for this post included a few things. First and foremost, they had to be comfortable. This isn’t a post on the best slimming shapewear. Approved pieces also had to not roll up, or down, on you.
There’s nothing worse than going from sitting to standing and still having to adjust your SPANX. I also wanted a range of price points. From $12 to $58, I’m covering all the best options for every price point.
The Best Undergarments For Summer Dresses
The Best Comfortable Shapewear To Wear Under Dresses & Skirts
Assets By SPANX Thintuition Shaping Mid-Thigh Short
I feel like this is basically my SPANX Thinstincts 1.0 but half the price from Target. I took a medium, but the small would fit just fine. However, I think a small would’ve made it feel more like sculpting shapewear. They’re slightly smoothing so they’re perfect for wearing under more body-hugging dresses. Also, super comfortable. I found these did not roll up or down while moving around.
Spanx Thinstincts 1.0
The pair that sparked this blog post. I call these my lazy SPANX because they definitely aren’t sucking you in all over. However, they do smooth you out allowing you to wear more fitted pieces, or slinky pieces if you need to. They don’t roll much either. I have a few issues with them since they have a sticky edge on the thigh to keep them in place. I find that actually causes them to roll. These are insanely comfortable though and I could take a nap in them.
*This style has been discontinued but you may be able to find them at small boutiques still. Thinstincts 2.0 is their new updated version and my new go-to.
Spanx Thinstincts 2.0 Mid Thigh Short
These are definitely a little more shaping and smoothing than the Thinstincts 1.0. These are the ones I’m wearing in the above photos. I did a medium in them and they fit perfectly. These do not roll at all. I think these are great if you just want to invest in one pair of universal shapewear. They could honestly be decent enough for true shapewear, and also good as a comfortable pair under casual dresses to have coverage. I totally see why they’re the 2.0 version. They’re a total upgrade to 1.0.
These come in 4 shades and from size XS to 3X.
Spanx Thinstincts 2.0 Girl Short
For your mini skirts and dresses, try the girl short fit that is a little shorter. These have a 4 inch inseam making them ideal under all your favorite minis. This is part of the Level 2 support level at SPANX, “smooth”.
If you need more Thinstincts options, there are also higher rises to choose from as well. Thinstincts 2.0 has become an entire collection at SPANX and for good reason. Shop it all here →
These come in 4 shades and from size XS to 3X.
Jockey Skimmie Short
This was the most recommended pair from readers. I had heard about these skimmies from everyone and their mom it seemed. Here’s the thing about these. They are not shapewear at all. they’re basically shorts underwear in shapewear-like fabric. They’re something to wear under dresses and skirts so you feel covered. No need to worry about flashing someone if you’re wearing these.
Jockey Skimmies don’t do any smoothing so I would only recommend wearing under looser fitting pieces. I would not wear these with anything body-hugging as they would 100% show lines (at least on me they did).
At $12 and two color options, they’re great for having a few on hand to wear under pieces for more confidence. I personally took a medium solely for fitting my thighs.
Jockey Cooling Mid-Thigh Short
I also tried a few other of Jockey’s options and was intrigued by these “cooling” claims. They really are cooling believe it or not! They offered slight smoothing and were very very comfortable. These hit mid-thigh so if you’re torn between SPANX or these, you really can’t go wrong. Plus, they come in 2 colorways, sizes XS to 3X and are super affordable.
My Favorite Summer Bras
I also can’t finish this post without mentioning a few of my favorite bras to wear in the summertime. With the heat, I tend to like swapping my usual lined bras for something more breathable.
From v-neck bralettes that allow you to wear low-cut tops and dresses, to just easy comfortable bras that let the girls breathe a little more, these are my go-to summer bras that don’t have any underwire.
And if you’re wearing something that no bra will work with, you have to try boob tape. It’s an incredibly helpful product to have on hand for all those deep V and strapless and backless pieces.
You can learn more on how to use boob tape here. I am also never without nipple pasties for those days you want to go completely braless!
Slips To Wear Under Your Dresses
Another spring and summer essential for undergarments are slips. I especially love a slip for those more sheer dresses or skirts like white linen. It simply helps to conceal and give you an added layer of protection.
You can do a full slip, but personally, I just prefer a half slip. It’s basically a little mini skirt. They’re great!
