Rago 1294 | Open Bottom Girdle Extra Firm Shaping | Sizes M–8X | Zipper + Hook Closure | Classic Vintage Control | USA MADE

I love this body shaper! I bought it to wear under a formal dress for my daughter’s wedding, and it works great to hold and smooth my tummy and hips. Also it is fun to feel so sexy underneath my dress! My husband loves it, but I told him he can’t muss me up in this one ;). I think I’ll order the black and red one just for fun time. If I do, I’ll probably go up a size just for a little more freedom of movement. The white one I ordered to go under my mother of the bride dress is a perfect fit though for smoothing and shaping, and it gives me the freedom of being able to wear the correct bra size. Shapers with a built in bra don’t usually fit me correctly. I do suggest that if you have to wear a bra with it to get a slightly long line bra so that the shaper overlaps the band of the bra. Use some fashion tape to keep everything in place. That way, you don’t get a line of back bulge between your bra and the shaper.

From the moment I put this on, I knew this would be a comfortable girdle. Even though it is very high-waist-ed, it was UN-noticeable throughout the day. The material is a little different than most girdles made today, e.g., Spanks, etc. It is also not like the materials used in older girdles, e.g., rubber, Elastine, all spandex, etc. This girdle is an even-fitting combination of nylon and Lycra Spandex.The boning reinforcement keeps the girdle from "rolling" down during the day. While I thought the supporters/garters at the sides and back seemed a little on the long side, and not adjustable, when bending over, this additional length "gives" so your nylon stockings don't "pull" the welt to the point that would normally cause stress on your thigh-highs. The fact that there are three garters on each leg make stockings stay in position so they won't "wrinkle" through all-day wearing. I didn't experience any problems with the zipper coming down, unlike many of others' criticism of this finely make foundation garment. It also seemed to offer better "coverage" on the behind, unlike many other open bottom girdles, still, I would recommend wearing panties underneath, even though this makes using "the facilities" a little more inconvenient. My only criticism concerns the garters. Adding satin ribbon to cover the garters in the front and side to cover the rubber nub holding up your stockings would have added some protection should one wear something that was very form-fitting. The sizing was "spot on." It held me in quite well. That being said, if you want even more slimming, consider going down one size, but I don't think this girdle would have been as comfortable to wear all day, i.e., eight hours or more. Overall, a beautiful garment, extremely well-made, and very, very comfortable. For the quality of the girdle, the price was very reasonable.

This is fantastic - after striking out finding the Spanx I needed, I thought I'd try a Real Girdle. The sizing is odd but just follow the chart and don't think too hard about it. I have 50" hips and got a size 40. I had NO IDEA how great these are! The boning is comfortable but also effective in preventing ANY roll-down. The front panel flattens the belly, the rear does not flatten the back. People have said it's scratchy but I didn't experience that. I was wearing high waist underwear, so I had fabric between me and much of the girdle, and I noticed the zipper has some soft fabric under it to keep it off the skin. So I'm not sure what part was scratchy, or maybe they changed something. It has a zipper on the side and some hook and eyes to help the poor zipper along haha. This zipper was doing yeoman's work, but it worked fine and this is EASY to get on and off compared to jumping around the room yanking up spandex shorts. Plus I love having it skirt-style to wear with dresses. It's not "cute" but it is sexy in a retro kind of way I guess. But that's not the point - I am not going back to struggling with stretchy bike shorts things, it's girdles all the way!

I had MANY disappointing shapewear experiences (which were costly) before I found Rago stuff. This girdle, and many other shaping products in the Rago line, are perfect for people who are hunting for proper, 'old fashioned' girdles. I found Rago shapewear popping up highly rated on multiple corsetry blogs and review sites during my extensive research for the 'perfect' item which would give me what I want. Personally, I want something (preferably a one-piece garment) that is going to make me look visibly thinner, provide compression to produce an hourglass shape, and have a longer leg which firms the thighs/perks up the derriere. I am looking for a superduper iron clad squeeze-me-into-it-until-I-barf type garment; comfort optional. FYI, for comparison purposes: I am 38, 5'6, weigh 170 lbs, take a size 10/12 and pear shaped. This particular girdle is for women looking for MAXIMUM, heavy-duty shaping/compression. The quality of the girdle construction unparalleled. It's made of robust materials, the stitching is reinforced upon reinforced. I'm sure if you invest in this girdle, it won't need replacing for a long time. I got a size L, which I believe was the correct choice (shapewear sizes are always hit-and-miss). It fit as I had hoped and expected; very tight and rigid. It pushed my hips, derriere, thighs and waist into that pin-up hour glass shape - yay! Somehow it is designed not to be as super-tight at the top of the high waistline, so you don't get flab spill-over while you're standing up; expect to get a small fat roll at the waist when you sit or bend. This just can't be helped or prevented in any tight girdle. You can also walk and sit in it, and it won't ride up. It has kind of large stocking clips which could be annoying if you are not using them, as they are not detachable and would show under clothes; you can either push them up/under but that wouldn't be too comfortable, or cut them off if you don't plan to use stockings much. The rest of the girdle shouldn't be apparent under clothes, unless you plan to wear something ultra clingy made from that really cheap thin super-stretchy fabric. Unless you are really skinny from the waist upwards, this girdle really needs to be worn with a slightly longer line bra with firm control that lifts the breasts to even the look out and minimize the bending/sitting waist-fat-roll. Is it comfortable? As far as maximum-security girdles go, yes, I think its comfortable; but saying that, I am realistic and don't expect that a tight girdle is going to feel like a shroud of feathers either. I would certainly recommend this girdle more as a special-occasion undergarment. Most folk probably wouldn't want to feel quite so constricted daily for work, unless you have a bad back which distresses you more than wearing this girdle would; in which case I would say 'try it', because there is no doubt it would correct posture and make you sit up straight. I would also recommend this girdle for drag queens, transvestites and female impersonators for that hourglass appearance, and anyone who is into the vintage pin-up girl style. I would hesitate to recommend this girdle to apple-shaped women. If you carry most of your weight on your top half, you are bound to get significant fat spill-over at the waist. Go for a higher-backed one-piece corselette instead. Try and read between the lines when it comes to buying shapewear based on customer reviews. Know what YOU want and how you want it to feel. Based entirely on researching customer reviews from several sites I have tried: Slim Me by MeMoi underwire full bodysuit with thigh shaper ($65), Spanx Super-Control mid thigh shaper ($24), Va Bien Classic Firm control bodysuit #1292 ($62), Wacol Firm control hidden underwire bodyshaper #801165 ($85), The Unbelieveabra $85, Solidea Silver Wave Anti-Cellulite Legging with Compression ($128), CASS Wear Repair Shaper Leggings ($78), F.I.X. Shapewear Under-Bust Full Body Shaper ($19.99) and Fajas Colombianas post-surgery shaper #9152 ($85) All these shapewear garments had excellent reviews and all raved about the firm control. TWO of them (Fajas Colombianas post-surgery shaper #9152 and the F.I.X shaper) offered anything even CLOSE to the kind of control I was looking for. The others ranged from no-support to smoothing effect support. I hope this has been a helpful review.

After I had baby #4, I wasn't happy with the way my stomach felt, so I wanted something that would feel firm and I could comfortably wear all day while taking care of four kids. This *sort of* hits the mark. It feels snug without crushing my midsection and flattens out my stomach slightly, but it doesn't do much for my stretched out muscles -- so no instant hourglass figure for me. I do really like the whole vintage lingerie feeling it gives. However, I'm giving it three stars because I HATE the zipper. There's some plastic boning that runs along half of the length of it, but as soon as that stops at the bend in my hips, the zipper buckles, bulges, digs in, and looks awful under clothing. I have to wear fairly loose clothing to keep it hidden, and it's such a huge inconvenience. Without the zipper, I'd give it five stars, but the zipper is just all around horrible. Hate, hate, hate it.

I DO like this product, it is so sexy on-think pin-up. I showed my husband and he loved it. However, I do think that this item does run a little large. According to the measurements I am a size Large, so I orignially ordered the Large but it was too loose, it did nothing to shape me, granted it was comfortable but it was useless at this size. I returned the large and ordered a Medium which fit much better in that it was tighter and actually flattened my stomach and shaped my waist a bit. I probably could even go to a small if I wanted even more of the cinching affect. The only minor problem with this item is that it tends to ride up on the legs when you sit down and then when you get back up you have to tug it down back in to place. Just a minor adjustment. Overall, I like the product and will try other Rago shapewear mostly because they are super sexy looking once you put them on.

You have to measure the inches around the thinnest part of your waist to select your size. I erroneously purchased a 3X first (for a 36" waist) and had to return it. I just had a baby & wow, I mean WOW, my middle sure did expand. I have been lucky enough to lose all the weight I put on but my waist is 3 1/2 inches larger than it was so I barely fit into my old clothes and those I do fit into I just don't look the same in. I cannot afford to purchase new clothes. Just trying to pay for the basic expenses associated with my precious little fella is stretching my income to the brink of collapse so I needed another fix for my expanded belly region. Thank heavens for this girdle! I just received the 6X (I currently measure 41" waist but decided to go for the 42" so I can wear it all day & not feel like an overstuffed uncomfortable sausage. I can attest that I do not feel uncomfortable. I will be able to wear it all day long. It is easy to sit in, visit the ladies room and most importantly, breathe! I'm glad I bit the bullet and finally decided to spend the $ to get this. It will allow me to wear some of my old things again and ultimately pay for itself. I hope that it will also help to draw in my middle a bit more so that I don't continue to look pregnant. I would eagerly recommend this product. Also, the shipping was super fast! Great job seller!

If you are new to high compression shape wear you can't go wrong with Rago. These garments are still made in America. Some ladies have complained that items "run small" but for me the sizing is spot on. 5'7", 128lbs, waist 29"= large. With gentle laundering (no dryer) they last me 5 years. Do not use chlorine bleach it yellows the white lace. After all the pluses this did not work for me. Too short through the body. Sigh. If they offered a long for more money I would buy it, no can do.