Skims cotton rib tank, skims.com, $34
From being celebrities’ secret red-carpet weapon to serving as a symbol of the women’s rights movement, undergarments have come a long way since they came on the scene in 500 B.C. It’s crazy to think about how they have evolved into what they are today!
I can vividly remember wearing slips with my church dresses each Sunday, as undergarments used to be a major part of everyday wear. We gradually moved away from covering up toward showing more skin and being freer with what we wear, especially underneath our clothes. It’s funny, because now undergarments are surging back into popularity. The compression wear and shapewear market is expected to grow to $5.75 billion in 2026 from $4.42 billion this year, according to Yahoo Finance.
Brands like Skims and Yitty are changing how we think about shapewear. Tight, body-hugging pieces are now considered stylish and “cool” — enjoying a comeback I don’t think we expected. Undergarments are now a fashion necessity. From wearing a Skims sculpting bodysuit with jeans to rocking Lizzo’s bright activewear styles, we simply can’t get enough. Plus, many of the biggest shapewear brands are size inclusive, allowing everyone to feel comfortable and supported. The only problem is how can you choose when there are so many incredible options for shapewear, underwear, bras and more.
The quality materials used, and the thought given to how these pieces make women around the world feel, is very encouraging. Something that was once always hidden is now worn loudly and proudly out in the open.
