First off, let me say these shorts are *powerful*. I wore them under a bodycon dress for a night out, and the waist-cinching effect was instant. The three flexible boning kept everything locked in place—no rolling down, even after hours of dancing.

The butt-lifting design is subtle but effective. It’s not that aggressive pancake-flattening some shapewear does; instead, it gave me a natural-looking lift. The pleated detail is genius—no awkward squishing.

Now, the zipper. BLESS. No more wrestling with shapewear in public restrooms. The lace trim on the thighs didn’t dig in, which is rare for me (hello, thunder thighs).

Warning though: If you’re tall or long-torsoed like me (5’9”), the waistband might hit at a weird spot—just below my ribs. It works, but I wish it came 2 inches higher.

Size tip: I’m usually an XL but sized up after reading reviews. Smart move—the compression is still intense without cutting off circulation. Would 100% repurchase for special occasions, but not for all-day Netflix marathons.