Throwing shapes

MEN, it is not often that I encourage you to contravene a women’s privacy, but I do urge you all, when the moment arises, to have a sneaky peek into your other half’s top drawer.

Contained within, you will no doubt find lacy Elle Macpherson underwear sets, slinky g-strings and maybe even an itchy looking Ann Summers diamante thong, but amongst all those ‘good’ panties and bras you will also find some mammoth garments known as ‘shapewear’.

Once upon a time women relied on trusty Spanx alone, but now there are brands like BodyWrap, Maidenform’s Control It! and Flexees, Miraclesuits, Yummie Tummies, the iPant (I jest not); even the groping gruesome twosome Trinny and Susannah have their own range, and of course the ever-patronising, annoyingly omnipresent Gok Wan has his own range of Paparazzi Pants, Banger Boosters and Slicker Knickers.