Slips!! I still own a couple half-slips, which are sometimes handy for making a knit skirt less clingy, but yeah – what an idea. I remember being taught to stand in front of the light, then bend over to look and see if anyone could see your legs. I don’t know what we were thinking…
I personally haven’t heard men talking about undergarments or foundation garments like women do. I also don’t believe they are nearly as popular, at least in the circles I travel in.
Dudes rarely talk about clothes in general. Just look how many guys posted in our “dressing young” thread. 
The Spanx undies for men sold at Nordstrom do have a few reviews; the reviews are predominantly positive, and some are written by men in addition to a handful of reviews written by the wives who bought it for their halves in the hopes of smoothing their beer bellies. 
I too used to have a variety of slips, mostly half-slips (in 1980s with one and two slips). Few of my dresses are sheer enough to need them. When I did go to use a half slip last year, it turned out the elastic was no longer stretchy.
@HImom - Men’s clothes are MUCH more forgiving then womens clothes and bumps and bulges can be easily hidden. The dress up style for women almost requires form fitting clothes. I find that really irritating, especially in the winter months where men wear suit jackets but women are expected to wear thin and sleeveless dresses. I always have a sweater or a wrap but I always envy my husband his suit jacket.
And men have to sweat buckets in their suits in the summer heat. We got them.
winter: " women are expected to wear thin and sleeveless dresses. " - I ignore those expectations… though admittedly being fashionable has never been all that important to me . I also (gasp) sometimes wear nude pantyhose in the winter, but more usually black tight/pantyhose which seem to be more “allowed”. Hmm… fashion pendulums tend to swing, so someday we may be discussing control top pantyhose (which I also avoid) instead of spanx.
I have several half slips and almost always wear one under a skirt or dress. I didn’t think that was unusual- I see slips for sale at Target and figured they were still common place!
I recently tried on a skirt that went right back on the rack when I saw my legs clearly back-lit in the mirror. I had a flash of that famous Princess (to be) Diana photo. I haven’t worn a slip in decades.
My daughters always wear shorts under their dresses and skirts. I alternate between bike shorts and shapewear, depending on the situation.
check out shapermint.
@colorado_mom - But where to find semi-formal dresses that are warm and look nice? That’s my challenge. The selection in petites is usually limited to start with so I often end up choosing something that “will do” instead of something that I actually like. I too am not very aware of what the current fashion is, and wear nude pantyhose routinely for the warmth (once or twice a year), but that doesn’t mean that I can FIND dresses that are 1) warm 2)fit and 3) look nice. I have worn pants and a dressy top but have felt underdressed. I’m thinking of annual winter events that I have to figure out every year.
So I bought Spanx higher power short, and the Simon Perele that @BunsenBurner linked to. Tried them both with both dresses. The Spanx was $38, the SP was, yikes , $74.
The Spanx was so hard to get on, and get the fabric distributed around (I am easily an 8 on top, more like a 10 on the bottom) . But it stayed up, and wasn’t too uncomfortable but rather felt like neoprene shorts. And the gusset would be hilarious to actually attempt, I think.
The SP slid right up, is lovely and seamless so there was less arranging to work on. No gusset. I suspect it might not stay up quite as long as the Spanx, but that’s bc it wasn’t trying to smush me quite as much. But I am embarassed that it cost more than my dress (navy blue dept store sale + coupon).
In other news, the dress has a deep V back. Today I got an envelope from son/FDIL with a temporary tattoo “to go with your dress”. It’s a line from a song I sang him when he was hospitalized as a child, he knows I always wanted a tattoo, he said at the reception he’ll help me stick it on before we dance. sniff
Having tried on a dozen dresses in the past week, it is clear I’ll need this too. This thread has been so helpful. For the record, where did Simon Peale? A department store?
Sadly, I’ve never had to wear a girdle.
@walkinghome - I admittedly don’t have many winter dress-up occassions (other than church). Usually I wear black dress pants with heels (instead of my normal flats).
But… while shopping for DD’s wedding I did find a short navy short-ish sleeve dress at Kohls dress that I just love. Although it was not dressy enough for the wedding, I bought it anyway. I’ve worn it with pearls to hubbie’s Christmas work party (2 years, I think) and 2 funerals. ( LOL - had I known I’d be substitute pall bearer at one of the funerals, I might have opted for pants. ) It was NOT this dress (mine is closer to black and longer sleeves ) … but waistline similar - https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3646640/womens-dana-buchman-shirred-wrap-dress.jsp?prdPV=37
This link has a few Petite dresses that I like which would look ok w/o shapeware for me … https://www.kohls.com/catalog/womens-blue-petite-long-sleeve-dresses-clothing.jsp?CN=Gender:Womens+Color:Blue+SizeRange:Petite+SleeveLength:3~4%20Sleeve+SleeveLength:Short%20Sleeve+SleeveLength:Long%20Sleeve+Category:Dresses+Department:Clothing&BL=y&S=1&PPP=60&pfm=browse-pdp-breadcrumb%20refine&kls_sbp=69803890367413184104135031918394998111 (my favorite is the 89.99 R&M RIchards jacketed dress)
@colorado_mom - We have similar tastes! I have this dress in long sleeves https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-3637370/chaps-v-neck-flutter-short-sleeve-dress.jsp?color=Merlot&prdPV=1 It’s not bad, but I wouldn’t consider it warm -not with the deep neckline and thin material. It works well enough though with a wrap.
If you don’t find Spanx comfortable, try another brand! I’m short, can’t stand being uncomfortable, and have never had any Spanx that worked for me. The brand that has worked best for me is TC Fine Intimates, both a high-waisted boy short and a “romper.”
I have a cashmere pashmina that I wear in the winter although I have managed to find two long sleeved, semi-formal black dresses over the years. They are still winter staples for me.
Bought a new (to me) gently shaping thingy today while waking through Nordstrom. Called Body Base by Wacoal. Tried it on. Wow. So comfy!!
https://m.shop.nordstrom.com/s/wacoal-body-base-smoothing-shorts-any-2-for-48/4436464/full
I am fairly in shape, as are many of you, but i do own shapewear. The thing i wear most is actually from Talbots (their brand). It doesn’t roll or practically cut off my circulation like the Spanx one I have. I also have another one that has a pink apple on it, but I don’t know what brand that is.
Looks like the shapewear from Talbots is all spanx. Which item did you buy?