Let's just get it out there: I'm not a shrinking violet who is short and skinny. I'm not sure how people who have never met me get that idea. In fact, I'm 5'10", size 18, and proudly sport double Gs. I'm not exactly happy about any of this, but it's who I currently am. I also wear shapewear almost every day, for so many reasons:
1. I feel supported. Carrying double Gs isn't easy and I'll take all of the lift I can get. A properly fitted bra with the right shapewear can take pounds off of your appearance and help your clothes wear better.
2. I don't feel sloppy. I hate my back fat. In fact, if you poke said back fat unexpectedly, there is a 99% chance I might turn around and sock you in the kisser. It's been my gut reaction since I was 10 (which could explain why I was punished so often). When I wear shapewear, I feel pulled together and tight, not worried about my muffin top going rogue over the top of my jeans.
3. I feel confident. I stand up straighter. My clothes look better.
But bad shapewear is uncomfortable, rides up, pinches, makes it hard to breathe and makes me cranky. Sure, it needs to be constrictive, but you shouldn't feel like one of the upstairs residents at Downton Abbey. You should be comfortable. I'm not exaggerating when I say that when shapewear fits correctly, it makes even sleeping easier and more comfortable. But finding high-quality shapewear that won't break the bank can be much more difficult than you may think. If you're a plus size like me, it can be even harder.

When Jockey and super-stylist Rachel Zoe announced they were coming out with Rachel Zoe's "Major Must Haves" from Jockey, I couldn't have been more excited. When I was told they had plus sizes up to 2X I was even more excited.
I was given the opportunity to check out three pieces from the line: the Strappy Tank, the Tummy Short and the Slip Shaper. Now that I've had a chance to road test them, I will give you the lowdown on what works, what doesn't work and how to tell if it's right for you.

(The top shows the middle panel, made of thicker, waist-nipping material. The bottom shows a cotton panel.)
The Strappy Tank ($38) is a patented 3-panel design with wide straps. The top panel is mainly cotton, to accommodate the bust. The middle panel gives support and nips in your waist, all without pinching or binding. The third panel is another cotton panel that resembles a tank top. It not only gives you an hourglass shape but can also pop out of the bottom of your shirt and still look good. Because the tank is longer than most, it's not as likely to ride up. It's also made of really comfortable, non-binding material. I've worn shapewear tanks that were stronger and I've worn tanks that were not quite as strong. This one falls in the middle. It's strong enough to give some shape and support and not too strong to become annoying.
The Slip Shaper ($57) also features a cotton tank-style top that allows for comfortable bust coverage without smushing your shape. The rest of the slip is made of body-shaping magic. It hugs your curves and never rides up, giving you an attractive, smoother shape that looks wonderful in a dress. I am very self-conscious in dresses, especially those with belts. I always feel like my shape isn't hourglass enough to pull it off. However, all of my worries disappear when wearing this slip. The material feels slightly hardier than the tank material, and the wide plastic grip at the bottom means it will never ride up. And I mean never.
The Tummy Short ($32) gives nice tush lift while extending high enough on the waist to help contain that lower-belly jiggle. The entire short is made of the same slimming material as the Slip, so it holds you in and raises you up. This short works great under jeans, skirts, even loose yoga pants. Just make sure your pants are not too tight or you will be able to see a slight line where the shorts end. I find that the shorts come down only a few inches onto the thigh and only roll up over several hours of wear. Considering most shorts like this roll up within minutes, I was really pleased!
Overall, I'm really, really happy and comfortable wearing this shapewear; it helps me feel more comfortable and confident in my own skin. Rachel Zoe’s “Major Must Haves” from Jockey are available now in major retailers, Jockey outlet stores, and on Jockey.com.
Ever wish you had been wearing shapewear? Tell me about a time this happened to you and you will be automatically entered for a chance to win a $100 Jockey gift card!
Rules: Nor Purchase Necessary. No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: (a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post, (b) Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: "#SweepstakesEntry"; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post, (c) Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post,(d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
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Last year I was at a baby shower at a restaurant. I wore a new dark blue stretchy dress. I "thought" I looked good. Then I saw the photos on Facebook! OMG! Tummy and fat middle mess....lol If I wore shapewear I would have had a smooth look. Never again will I go without shapewear to any event.
ReplyDeletevac 924 at gmail dot com
My tweet:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/dragonfly777/status/266254154199093248
Thanks!
vac 924 at gmail dot com
I wish I was wearing shapewear the year after giving birth. I didn't lose the weight very easily. Looking back at pictures of me is hard
ReplyDeleteI so could have used this at a wedding I went to last month. ugh
ReplyDeleteI wish I had been wearing shapewear on a night out in the city I had with friends recently. It would have made my outfit more flattering.
ReplyDeletekellywcuATyahooDOTcom
tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/kellysaver/status/266599049279442944
kellywcuATyahooDOTcom
I can definitely use some shapewear these days. I've had too much Halloween candy and hearty food. That tank would be great under my everyday tops to smooth out any awkward bulges.
ReplyDeleteEVERYDAY
ReplyDeleteWhen I was the matron of honor at my friends' vows, I wish I'd had these shapers to help. I remember I picked something frumpy and over-sized because I didn't feel I looked good in my 'nice' clothes due to pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteI could use shapewear under all my clothes post pregnancy now that nothing seems to fit right!
ReplyDeleteI have a shapewear slip that is really good. Some of the underwear makes me look like a huge round ball but the slip is great under skirts and dresses
ReplyDeleteI went to a business dinner a few years back and the dress I wore, definitely needed shapewear.
ReplyDeleteDidn't look too bad, but I was not comfortable the entire night. jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/267334480845500416\
ReplyDeletejslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
Since losing 90+ lbs after WLS I would use the Jockey shapewear every day! I have tried others and it's just too uncomfortable for me.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had been wearing shapewear the other day when I went to a happy hour! It would have made me eat a lot less!!
ReplyDeleteI recently started wearing shapewear under dresses at work; I don't know why it took me so long to start doing that! I feel much more confident and pulled together, especially when I'm meeting with potential students (I'm an admissions advisor).
ReplyDeleteI wish I had been wearing shapewear on my last job interview so I wouldn't have been so self-conscious.
ReplyDeleteThis is the first I've heard of Jockey's line of shapewear. Can't wait to try something comfortable for a change. Rarely do I leave home without shapewear, but I was running messy errands one Saturday and decided to go without. Yup! That's when I ran into HIM. I wanted to hide. Carried my purse and things I was buying right up front to hide the jiggle. New rule: absolutely never leave the house without shapewear, preferably Jockey!
ReplyDeleteI could have used the Shapewear slip earlier this past summer. I wore a lovely dress to a wedding but the slip was visible under the dress, not bad, but would have looked much nicer with a form fitting nude slip
ReplyDeleteThanks for this opportunity to try one!!
Sharon
lunrei@yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/drexelmom/status/267743628284268544
ReplyDeleteohhh!! I so need to try this, I keep looking for shapewear that works & is comfortable!! I had 2 spanx's tanks & fight them all day- the worst was when I did not tuck in the pants- left over the waist under a sweater and while I was in a meeting and leaned over the conference table to point to a form & the tank just rolled up to the bra in 2 seconds flat!!!!! eek not sure how it looked but felt so freaky!
ReplyDeleteI wish I would have been wearing shapewear last November at my niece's wedding! After seeing the pictures I certainly need it!
ReplyDeletetreneebarker at hotmail dot com
tweet: https://twitter.com/warp65/status/267752315488985088
ReplyDeletei absolutely avoid jersey or anything clingy unless i'm wearing shapewear cuz it seems like you never look as good as you think, unless the night involves drinking. lol.
ReplyDeleteladyboarder9669@yahoo.com
I could have used some shPewear the last time I wore a knit top. Too many rolls!
ReplyDeleteAbout five years ago I wore a dress to a special event. I really thought I was looking amazing, but looking at the pictures afterwards was horrible! I really needed a full body shaper to smooth things out. Isn't that the worst?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great giveaway!
katygmorris at gmail dot com
I just Tweeted about the giveaway here: https://twitter.com/katygmorris/status/267852614270590976
ReplyDeleteThanks!
katygmorris at gmail dot com
I had a dress on..thought I looked fine until I saw a picture taken of me from the back. OMG. Lumps and bumps galore! I really, really could have used tank shapewear that day!
ReplyDelete~Jen B
jlb262 at gmail
i need this now when i'm in that weird stage of pregnancy where people cant tell if im chubby or pregnant!
ReplyDeletevanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
tweet
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/267994694217236481
vanitizebaby at yahoo dot com
I could have used it under my bridesmaid's dress for my brother's wedding. Just so it would have flowed better.
ReplyDeleteI found out after the fact that I should have used shapewear for my sister's wedding. I thought I looked fine, but in the pictures all you see is my stomach.
ReplyDeletetwotil at yahoo dot com
https://twitter.com/twotil/status/268095089526599681
ReplyDeletetweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/thismomwins2/status/268125134408253440
thismomwins@gmail.com
shapewear would have been great for post-baby date nights
ReplyDeletethismomwins@gmail.com
I pretty much wish I was wearing shape wear all of the time!!! I think I will want to wear it on my first cruise this December. Thanks for a chance to win and have a great day!
ReplyDeletekmassmanATgmailDOTcom
Wish I would've worn shapewear on my wedding day. Granted I had just given birth a mere 8 weeks prior, I still should've thought to buy some, now I look back Nd hate all my pictures.
ReplyDeleteNikki
nikki.s.retherford@gmail.com
I wore no shape wear at my wedding, DUH!
ReplyDeleteshannoncarman at yahoo dot com
I wish I had been wearing shapewear at my brother's wedding. I never even thought of it!
ReplyDeletesephyrra at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/channynn/status/269144365698543616
ReplyDeleteshannoncarman at yahoo dot com
I was ironing curtains one weekend and my daughter walked over and hugged my leg. She started rubbing my leg wuth her hand and saud "Mommy you neex to iron your legs!" *mortified!
ReplyDeleteI once went to a wedding and wore a very slinky dress. I was pretty young and fit at the time but shapewear certainly would have enhanced my assets.
ReplyDeleteonefrugalgirl at gmail dot com
At my high school reunion!
ReplyDeletenuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/269992408459145216
ReplyDeletenuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net
When I had to go to a friend's wedding after having a baby.
ReplyDeletemom22girlz at ymail dot com
tweeted https://twitter.com/mom22girlz/status/270369389616979969
ReplyDeleteMy Hubby’s Company Christmas Party
ReplyDeletemerleandtina@Yahoo.com
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/270577698097754113
ReplyDeletemerleandtina@Yahoo.com
Anytime there are/were pictures involved!
ReplyDeletetweet https://twitter.com/BBirdie2/status/271114133049589760
ReplyDeleteIn my favorite dress attending our 1st grandchild's High School Graduation. Menopause is taking over the tummy area.
ReplyDeleteI know I will be needing shapewear after my baby is born! :)
ReplyDeletechambanachik at gmail dot com
I wish I had been wearing shapewear, post-baby at my son's Kindergarten Graduation. I was wearing this really cute jersey wrap-dress, but when I passed a window at the school I realized that I looked like a Shar-pei in a dress.
ReplyDeleteI wish I would have had some with a dress I wore last month
ReplyDeletefamily74014 at gmail dot com
When we baptized my son in 1991.
ReplyDeleteMCantu1019 at aol dot com
i wish i had wore some when i went to a wedding recently
ReplyDeletedebbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
i tweeted here:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/bellows22/status/272918575654785024
debbiebellows (at) gmail (dot) com
When I attend the highschool reunion party with a tight dress! How I wish to go back in time!
ReplyDeleteamy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted: https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/272981653251579905
ReplyDeleteamy [at] utry [dot] it
tweet--https://twitter.com/CrazyItalian0/status/273435407901917185
ReplyDeleteThanks for the cool giveaway!
wildorchid985 @ gmail dot com
I wish I wore shapewear when I returned to work after having my son!
ReplyDeletewildorchid985 @ gmail dot com
Around the holiday season when it's tough to keep my weight down.
ReplyDeleteeugeniewu at gmail dot com
tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/wizardewu/status/274824899841904640
eugeniewu at gmail dot com
I wish I would of know of Jockey every time I got married.
ReplyDeletegmissycat at yahoo dot com
Tweeted
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/275264788177776641
gmissycat at yahoo dot com
I went to a church activity and thought I was looking pretty good...till I saw pictures that had been taken and posted on FB! Then I was just embarrassed to see all the lumps and not sexy curves. I wish I had smoothed out all that lumpy fat!!!
ReplyDeleteI tweeted:
ReplyDeletehttp://twitter.com/sassycat88/statuses/275457009246171138
whitneybellows88 (at) gmail (dot) com
I received a surprise award at work recently. I wish I had been wearing shapewear so I would have looked decent instead of frumpy.
ReplyDeletewillitara [at] gmail [dot] com
Tweet - https://twitter.com/willitara/status/276219400875556864
ReplyDeletewillitara [at] gmail [dot] com
As a tween, I was a tad chubby and my breasts had not formed yet, so I looked like I had a pot belly. LOL Shapewear would have been nice to wear under my dance costumes! LOL
ReplyDeleteAngie
14earth at gmail dot com
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/276339694051147778
ReplyDeleteAngie
14earth at gmail dot com
Ya know, Halloween costumes seem to be getting smaller every year... had I some shapewear, I may have been able to fit into mine this last year.
ReplyDeletekytah00@yahoo.com
Tweet https://twitter.com/kytah00/status/276542635743780866
ReplyDeletekytah00 AT yahoo DOT com
I wish I had been wearing shapewear at my daughters' weddings. so I wouldn't have looked so lumpy.
ReplyDeleteI wish I had shapewear our last family photos I was a lumpy bumpy mess- and yes I will punch someone for the same reason you do :)
ReplyDeletetannawings at gmail dot com
https://twitter.com/tannawings/status/276566144855453696
ReplyDeletetweet
tannawings at gmail dot com
i wish I was wearing shapewear when I was just getting to know my husband! Thanks for a super giveaway!
ReplyDeleteMy email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com
Tweeted:
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/anashct3/status/276738706013028352
Thanks for the chance to win!
email: anashct1 [at] yahoo [dot] com