Ekouaer - Page 2

Men's Contour Briefs
My husband is very particular about his underwear as he dislikes binding, restrictive garments. His favourite style is brief or short-boxer, but he has a number of longer-cut styles as well. His main considerations are cut and comfort, and that depends a lot on the fabric. Out of the range offered to us for evaluation and review, we chose the smallest model of briefs, in a size Medium, to fit a 33 inch waist.

After a suitable testing period, my husband's view is that these are extremely comfortable, and the quality is excellent. The combination of 95% cotton and 5% Spandex is pretty standard and in this brand, it is very well executed, resulting in a breathable garment with enough stretch to fit closely to the body without being restrictive.
The waistband elastic is supremely comfortable. The closed style at the front gives just the right amount of support. Sometimes what feels good standing up is not so comfy sitting down or when activity causes the skin to warm up and sweat. Today our outdoor temperature is 99 degrees F (36 degrees C) and the briefs feel great. One tricky area with briefs is the fit around the upper thigh. No problem here, the design allows movement while still remaining close-fitting, in fact these look and feel like a well-cut racing swimsuit more than bulky undergarments. Regarding size and fit, these briefs are on the small side, so if in doubt, you might want to try the next size up.

Regarding the colour, we chose the Blue and it looks just like in the photo, a dark midnight blue. The cut, however, is a little narrower; the picture of the white briefs is more representative. As for price, these compare very favourably with the brands we normally buy and, in particular, the pack of 3 represents great value for money.

Long Body Shaper / Corset
In my quest to regain the small waist I used to have when younger, I have tested a number of corsets, waist cinchers and what is euphemistically called shapewear. When I was offered this body shaper to try out, I noticed immediately that it had a full length back and over-the-shoulder straps which promised to address another little problem I have. Since developing a mild case of scoliosis as a fast-growing teen, I have retained a tendency to slouch, made worse by sitting at a desk working on a computer. So I agreed to test this undergarment with the view of perhaps improving my posture.

Right out of the box, this corset impressed me with its sleek, athletic look. No lace or frilly bits, it is made like a diving suit. I received the blue version, a bright electric blue which contrasts nicely with the black accents. The material is quite stiff and has very little give, so correct sizing is paramount. This was no time to delude myself. I took a deep breath, read what the tape measure said and ordered accordingly. For me, with a 29 ½ inch waist (75 cm), it was a Large and, although my ego was dented, the corset fits me perfectly. I should mention here that the vendor made a point of checking this measurement with me before shipping. I was impressed by their customer care.
There are three rows of hooks, solidly attached and quite easy to engage. I started on the loosest setting and it seemed comfortable while still fairly effective. The other day, I tried the middle row, and to my delight, I was able to wear the corset for over 7 hours without feeling any undue constraint. I can confirm that, after several hours, my torso was warmer than the rest of me, and slightly sweaty. This is supposed to help me refine my figure. I cannot comment on the long-terms effects because I have never had the patience to wear a corset every day, but there are people who swear that it works.

The other most obvious reason to use shapewear is to smooth your outline when wearing figure-revealing clothes. In this regard, this corset works beautifully and, paired with an appropriate bra, even helps lift my bust.

So, my assessment of this corset's action is:
  1. It does improve my posture, reducing lower back pain and reminding me to open up my shoulders.
  2. It does warm the area and induce a degree of sweating which is comfortable because it is only noticeable when I remove the garment.
  3. It most certainly improves my shape under tight-fitting clothes. The only consideration here is that the colours offered are all dark, or vivid (black, electric blue, purple, and fuchsia pink). So this would work best under dark or non-sheer fabrics.
Quality-wise, this garment is very sturdy, the stitching is tight, the hooks hold solidly under pressure and the best feature is, undoubtedly, that it is very easy to put on. Unlike most other types I have tried, this one fastens at the front, so you can do it up yourself without assistance from another person, or contortions to turn it around, once fastened. This feature alone would be a deal-breaker for me.

There is one aspect where the fit was not ideal for me. I have an unusually short upper body, and the straps were too long at the front. I have since solved this by removing a section of the straps and resewing. I reported this to the vendor, and was told that they are discontinuing this particular model in favour of a very similar one with adjustable straps. This improved model is already on sale in the US and will be available in Europe very soon. Since the only fault I found is one which has now been addressed, I am happy to give this corset a full 5-star rating, based on all its other advantages. The front closure alone makes it a winner in my book.

Tummy Control Panty
I think the best way to describe this undergarment is smoothwear. I thought for a moment that I had coined a new word, but no. It appears that someone else got there before me, but with reference to lipstick. Anyway, the reason I make the distinction is that shapewear, to me, implies something which effectively alters your shape, like a corset which can carve out a smaller waist, temporarily at least.

This beautifully silky panty, which I accepted for review just in time for summer, is too soft to alter one's shape but it certainly smooths out the contours of one's mid-section while avoiding the elastic lines that stick out so obviously when wearing clingy fabrics and tight-fitting clothes. Even the slimmest woman cannot avoid the dreaded panty lines with certain revealing clothes, like leggings or bandage dresses. And who cannot use a little shape enhancing when it comes to the derriere?
Very comfortable to wear, there is no sense of pressure or restriction even after several hours. The fabric is the very softest and most elastic blend I've ever seen but the remarkable thing is that by varying the weave and thickness, different effects are achieved. For example, the section over the tummy features a wavy pattern which exactly mirrors the native shape of the stomach, essentially a round shape, and allows a certain natural movement, while containing any wayward bulge. The sides are woven in a straight up-and-down set of narrow lines and at the back, a clever pair of round pockets suggests a rather uplifting treatment for your buttocks.

I put this garment to the test by wearing it under my tightest dress, made of a lightweight jersey material that, I swear, creates bulges out of thin air. It was still me inside, looking the same size as I normally do, but somehow every contour was smoother, slinkier and more elongated. My husband (always very attentive to these things) asked if I had lost weight. Job done!
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