Gender Fluid Body Contouring with Shapewear

According to Psychology Today, everyone is gender-fluid to a degree. Traditionally, people have expected to behave or look a certain way based on their biological sex. These days, people are becoming more aware of challenging modes of thinking that make it harder for people to express themselves through dress, style, and other personal choices.

To be clear, gender-fluid people generally don’t have a solid attachment to any gender and may feel more traditionally masculine or feminine depending on the day. Though the phrase gender-fluid is often used interchangeably with nonbinary—not associating with any gender—people who are gender-fluid may or not be nonbinary.

Depending on how they wish to express themselves, shape-wear may help certain people feel more comfortable.

• It may enable people to express themselves more fully and affirm their gender or wear drag.

• It’s less invasive and risky than surgery and involves less commitment.

• It allowed people to feel more comfortable in their bodies on any given day and accomplished for a prolonged period.

Though shape-wear such as chest binders and other items are temporary, there are a few things to remember.

• Make sure to use the correct size. Loose garments won’t pose many problems, but they’ll be uncomfortable.

• Tight garments or chest binders can be painful to wear for long periods and can eventually cause breathing issues or skin scarring if worn for days on end.

Here are some compression garments or shape-wear you can use to change your appearance without surgery.

Chest Binders

There are many reasons why some people consider a chest binder. Often, they will help you present as male by making the chest look flatter, though they’re a familiar drag, cosplay, and role-play. Wearing a chest binder can also be helpful for people who have chest dysphoria.

Layering shirts, kinetic tape, and wearing sports bras are common ways to bind one’s chest, but commercial chest binders come in many sizes, colors, and designs. The most common you will find anywhere include:

• Tops that look like sports bras

• Compression chest binders cut off at the belly button

• Binders that go all the way down to your waist

Girdles

Girdles were traditionally a women’s only item and often worn to cinch one’s waist and change one’s shape. They’re often associated with people who want to present as female, as girdles flatten the belly and accentuate hips. Some can even help you reduce the appearance of back fat, and love handles, depending on how high up they go.

Girdles are still a handy item to keep around if you’re an agender, as they are generally easy to remove depending on the kind you buy.

Common types include:

• Slimmer thongs

• Boy short girdles

• Shape-wear bras (commonly used to smooth out back fat)

• Mid-thing shapers (scuba suits)

Full Body Compression Suits

These compression suits often reach from your shoulders to the bottom of your thighs to make you look leaner overall. They come in a variety of materials and designs. Some of these have openings in the fly area to help better go to the bathroom and resemble the look of rompers. Others look almost like dresses.

Safety Tips for Choosing a Girdle or Full-body Shape-wear when selecting Gender Fluid Body Shapewear

Shape-wear can better help you feel more authentic in your gender expression and can help you accentuate or diminish the appearance of some of your features. You must find one that fits you just right so you can avoid some of the common risks associated with them, such as:

• Skin irritation is caused by the chemicals used to make materials so stretchy or by wearing the shape-wear for too long.

• Constriction of blood. Shape-wear won’t cause permanent damage to your body, but it can cut off your blood circulation and even cause acid reflux if it’s too tight. Make sure your shape-wear isn’t leaving any marks on your skin. If it is, choose the next bigger size.

Finding the right shape-wear will take a few tries regardless of which is right for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or experiment, and as always, please reach out to us with any questions, and we’ll help you find your perfect fit.