NULAYER › Occasions › Shapewear for a holiday party
Yes, wear itA holiday party in the US runs from the first week of December to New Year's Eve: the office party, the family dinner, the midnight countdown. Each one is a coat on at the door, a coat off inside, a glass in one hand, a plate in the other, a seat at a table for an hour, then standing again, then dancing, then the coat back on. The garment under the dress has to go through all of it unnoticed, and do it again next weekend.
That is what the NULAYER bodysuit is built for. The medium-firm panel smooths the midsection and waist and is comfortable to sit and eat in, which matters at a party with a buffet. The hook-and-eye crotch closure means a bathroom trip is unhook, go, hook back, with the dress on. The panels are breathable mesh, which matters in a crowded room with the heating on.
December dresses are heavier than summer dresses. Sequins have a base cloth and a lining; velvet has pile and weight. Both hide small edges better than satin or a thin knit, so the bodysuit's job under them is the waist line and, under a fitted skirt, no panty line at the back. The thong cut covers both. Under velvet, which shows every press mark, the bonded edges lie flat where a stitched waistband would print.
Party necklines are low: a V, a plunge, a wide scoop or a wrap front. The bodysuit's deep V sits under low-cut dresses; set the straps so its point is below the dress's neckline, and check from the side in the mirror, because a plunge shows more from the side than the front. The built-in bra has no compression on the bust, so wear your own bra under the bodysuit if the dress wants more lift, with its straps inside the bodysuit's.
Shade is easy in December: Black. Most party dresses are black, navy, emerald, wine or a metallic over a dark lining, and the Black bodysuit disappears under all of them. Beige is for the rare pale or champagne party dress, and our Beige is a light beige, so check that one in daylight.
Before the first party, put the dress on over the bodysuit, sit for five minutes, stand, and put the coat on and take it off. A coat sliding on and off is the moment a strap set too short shows at the neckline. If anything moved, lengthen the straps; if the straps at their longest still pull, the size is one band too small. Then machine wash it cold and hang it dry between parties, and it is ready for the next one.
Which size: Size by bust and waist from the chart. A month of parties with buffets and a coat on and off is a case for the larger band if you are between sizes.
| Band | US | Bust (in) | Waist (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XXS–XS | 0–2 | 30–33.5 | 23–26 |
| S–M | 4–10 | 34–38.5 | 26.5–31 |
| L–XL | 12–14 | 39–41 | 31.5–34.5 |
| 2XL–3XL | 16–20 | 41.5–48 | 35–41.5 |
True to size for most wearers.
Between sizes: the smaller band for maximum smoothing, the larger for all-evening comfort.
Yes. Machine wash cold and hang dry between parties. Set the straps once for your torso; check them again only if the next dress has a lower neckline than the last.
Black. Red velvet is deep and usually lined, and Black disappears under it. Beige is only for a pale or champagne dress that would show a dark shape through the fabric.
It is a single layer of 78% nylon, 22% spandex with breathable mesh panels, not a padded or lined garment. Most of the warmth at a party is the coat and the room, so check the coat at the door.
Written by the NULAYER team and checked against the garment's tech pack. Last reviewed 2026-09-15. Facts on this page: 78% nylon, 22% spandex; machine wash cold, hang dry; designed and made in our own factory in zhejiang, china.