Which sexy party undies REALLY banish wobbly bits?

With stretchy lace and secret panels, they claim to create a seductively smooth silhouette. But...

Anyone who’s spent an evening barely able to move, eat or breathe properly because of the vicious cling of control underwear can let out a

sigh of relief. Those big, fleshcoloured passion killers, made famous by Bridget Jones, have now been replaced by control underwear that’s so pretty, colourful and featherlight, it won’t leave you gasping for air or send men running for the hills.

‘Thankfully, we’ve moved on a long way from 1999 when Spanx first hit the market,’ says Kelly Dunmore, chief lingerie stylist for Rigby & Peller. ‘In fact we don’t like to use the terms

shapewear or control underwear any more, we prefer the term “contouring”.’

The new generation of ‘ contour lingerie’ uses lighter and softer fabric mixes and stretch lace and mesh panels to smooth over (rather than squash down) lumps. So it is not only more comfy, but does away with that dreaded fat roll at the waist and thighs.

Many knickers now come with a thick polymide and elastane mix ‘control’ panel only where you need it — across the tummy or bottom — while bras have control contouring at the sides rather than digging-in wiring.

one of the most popular innovations is the all-in-one shapewear body. ‘Wear it as a top under jackets or dresses with plunging necklines,’ says Jenni Burt,

head of buying at Figleaves.