Rago Women's Plus-Size High Waist Open Bottom Girdle with Zipper - Shapewear for Tummy Control & Posture Support - Perfect for Dresses, Workwear & Special Occasions

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.