What you wear underneath an outfit is just as important as what’s on top, especially when you’re wearing something like a silk or satin skirt or dress. These styles can be tricky to wear because lightweight fabrics tend to show everything underneath, from seams and hemlines to the outline of a tucked-in top.

I wanted to find the best shapewear to wear under silk, so I rounded up five popular slips and shapewear shorts from Jockey, SPANX, and Commando to put to the test. I compared each one for comfort, compression, smoothing, and most importantly, whether or not you can see it underneath a silk skirt.

Shapewear is an important foundation under a silk dress or skirt, not just for smoothing, but also for styling with tops you want to wear tucked in. Tucking your top into the shapewear smooths everything out and prevents a bulky look with the skirt.

After trying all five, I found a clear favorite, along with a few options that work well for other outfits but aren’t necessarily the best choice for wearing underneath silk.

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My Sizing: I’m 4’10”, and my bust, waist, and hip measurements are 32″, 24″, and 36″. My inseam is 25″ (the measurement from the inside of my leg to my ankle bone). The clothes shown are unaltered and show how they fit me right from the store. I list my sizing beside each item to help you compare when shopping online. When referencing my true size, that is often the smallest option available at a brand or petite xxs/00/24. I wear a size 5 shoe.

Red Dress XS

Jockey Generation Ultralight Smoothing Half Slip

Starting with the most affordable option, I tried the Jockey Generation Ultralight Smoothing Half Slip. This slip is designed to be lightweight, cling-free, and comfortable without compression.

I’m wearing it in XS, and I found it to be a great fit for petites. The slip comes to about the middle of my thigh, and it fits me well overall. It’s lightweight and very comfortable to wear.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the best option underneath my silk skirt. Although it helped prevent the fabric from clinging, I could clearly see the outline of the slip underneath the skirt as I walked.

It also didn’t provide any smoothing. I could still see the outline of my tucked-in sweater, along with other details underneath the skirt.

My Verdict: Although I wouldn’t recommend this slip for wearing underneath a silk skirt, I still think it’s a great basic to have in your wardrobe. It’s comfortable, affordable, and has a great petite fit. If you’re simply looking for a slip to prevent clinging underneath dresses and skirts, this is a good option.

Slip XS | Skirt XS | Top XXS | Shoes tts

SPANXshape Invisible Supima Cotton Mid-Thigh Shorts

I’ve worn SPANX Power Shorts for years, but the brand has updated its shapewear styles since I purchased my original pair. I wanted to try a few of the newer options to see how they compare.

The first pair I tried was the SPANXshape Invisible Supima Cotton Mid-Thigh Shorts. These offer medium compression and are made with a blend of Supima cotton and Lycra. I liked finding an option with more cotton since many shapewear styles are made primarily from nylon and other synthetic fabrics.

I’m wearing the shorts in XS and chose a shade as close to my skin tone as possible to help minimize visibility underneath the skirt.

These fit me well overall. They have medium compression that I can feel from the waist down through my thighs. Lengthwise, they come to the lower portion of my thigh, making them a good option for longer skirts and dresses. They may be a little too long for shorter styles.

Underneath my silk skirt, these performed much better than the Jockey slip. The skirt didn’t cling to the shorts as I walked, and they smoothed everything underneath, including the outline of my tucked-in sweater.

The only drawback was that I could still see the bottom hem of the shorts if I looked closely. I don’t think it would necessarily be noticeable during everyday wear, but it’s something worth mentioning.

My Verdict: These are a great option if you want medium compression and smoothing without a lot of bulk. They fit well on my petite frame and performed well underneath the silk skirt, although the bottom hem was slightly visible.

Shapewear XS | Skirt XS | Top XXS | Shoes tts

SPANXsculpt Seamless Power Shorts

Next, I tried the SPANXsculpt Seamless Power Shorts. These are the most similar to the original SPANX Power Shorts I’ve worn and loved for years.

This pair offers higher compression than the Supima Cotton Shorts and has a thicker overall feel. The bands at the bottom of the shorts are also a little thicker, which made me curious about how they would look underneath the silk skirt.

The shorts are made from nylon and elastane, and I’m wearing a size Small, which was the smallest size available.

I could immediately feel the difference in compression. These shorts provide a lot of smoothing through the waist, hips, and thighs, along with noticeable lift through the backside. They also did a great job smoothing the outline of my tucked-in sweater.

Although the compression is stronger, I didn’t find them uncomfortable to wear.

The biggest drawback was visibility. The shorts are thicker, and I could clearly see the bottom bands underneath my silk skirt. I had the same issue with my older Power Shorts, which I had previously been wearing underneath this skirt with another slip layered over them.

After testing these options, I realized I would be better off finding a different pair of shapewear for this particular skirt rather than layering another slip over my Power Shorts.

My Verdict: I still think SPANX Power Shorts are a great option for shaping and smoothing. They fit well on a petite frame and are comfortable despite the higher compression. However, I wouldn’t choose them for a lightweight silk skirt because the bottom bands are visible through the fabric.

Shapewear Small | Skirt XS | Top XXS | Shoes tts

SPANXshape Suit Your Fancy Half Slip

Since I tend to prefer shapewear shorts, I wanted to give a more supportive half slip a try to see if it would work better underneath a silk skirt.

The SPANXshape Suit Your Fancy Half Slip is made from nylon and elastane and offers medium compression. It’s designed to be lightweight, breathable, and quick-drying, with a thinner hem at the bottom.

I’m wearing it in Small, the smallest size available.

Unfortunately, this was my least favorite option in the entire roundup.

Although the slip offered medium compression through my hips and thighs, I found it uncomfortable to walk in. The compression held my thighs together, making my legs feel restricted as I moved.

The fit wasn’t ideal for my shape either. It was snug across my hips and backside but a little loose at the waist.

It also didn’t solve the visibility issue. I could still see the bottom of the slip underneath my silk skirt, particularly as I walked, when the fabric caught against the hem.

My Verdict: This one is a skip for me. I didn’t find it comfortable, the fit wasn’t ideal, and it was still visible underneath my silk skirt. I much prefer the comfort and versatility of shapewear shorts.

Slip Small | Skirt XS | Top XXS | Shoes tts

Commando Zone Sculpting Shorts — My Top Pick

Last, I tried the Commando Zone Sculpting Shorts. These appeared at the top of several recommendation lists I came across. They are the most expensive of all of the options – but they’re the best.

These shorts are made from nylon and elastane with a cotton gusset. They’re lightweight, have medium compression, and don’t have the thick bottom seams that I noticed on some of the other shapewear styles.

Of all five options I tested, these were definitely the most comfortable.

I could feel the medium compression, but the shorts still felt lightweight and easy to wear. They provided smoothing without feeling restrictive, and the silk skirt didn’t cling or catch against them as I walked.

Most importantly, the bottom hem was very difficult to see underneath my skirt.

As far as petite fit goes, the shorts come to about my belly button at the waist and hit around the middle of my thigh. I found the overall fit to be comfortable and well proportioned for my frame.

I also love the versatility of these shorts. They’re long enough to wear underneath midi and maxi skirts, but I think they could also work underneath shorter skirts and dresses. Since they’re thinner than the other shapewear shorts I tested, they’re also easy to wear underneath pants.

My Verdict: These are my top pick for wearing underneath a silk skirt. They offer the best combination of comfort, smoothing, and minimal visibility. They’re more expensive than the other options I tried, but I think the lightweight fabric and versatility make them worth considering.

Shapewear XS | Skirt XS | Top XXS | Shoes tts

Comparing the Best Shapewear for Silk Skirts

Here’s a quick look at how all five options performed in my test.

Shapewear	Compression	Visibility Under Silk	My Verdict
Jockey Ultralight Half Slip	None	Visible	Best basic slip
SPANX Supima Cotton Shorts	Medium	Slightly visible	Good smoothing
SPANX Seamless Power Shorts	High	Visible bottom bands	Best for stronger shaping
SPANX Suit Your Fancy Slip	Medium	Visible	Wouldn’t recommend
Commando Zone Sculpting Shorts	Medium	Minimal	Best overall

Which Shapewear Is Best Under a Silk Skirt?

After testing all five styles, my favorite is the Commando Zone Sculpting Shorts. They offered the best balance of comfort, compression, and smoothing while being the least visible underneath my silk skirt.

I also liked the SPANX Supima Cotton Shorts. They provided good smoothing and were comfortable to wear, but the bottom hem was a little more noticeable.

For stronger compression, I still think the SPANX Power Shorts are a great option, especially underneath pants or thicker fabrics. They’re just not my first choice for a lightweight silk skirt.

And although the Jockey Ultralight Half Slip didn’t work well for this particular outfit, I would still recommend it as a basic slip for preventing clinging underneath other dresses and skirts. It’s affordable, comfortable, and has a great petite fit.

I hope this comparison helps you find the right foundation for your silk skirts and dressy outfits!