BODIES: Simone Pérèle Reimagines Shapewear

By ELLEN LEWIS

Several months ago, I was introduced to the BODIES vision at Simone Pérèle. But it was during this year’s Curve show that I had the opportunity to see this shaping concept make a definitive statement.

Shapewear is having its lingerie moment. Simone Pérèle’s BODIES makes a compelling case for why the two categories were never meant to exist apart. Rather than beginning with control, BODIES begins with the body, and the French instinct to make function beautiful. The result is foundation wear that smooths, sculpts and supports with a lightness and sensuality more closely associated with lingerie.

The repertoire now spans four collections: PLUME, SUBTILE, STORY and ESSENTIALS, with DIVINE on the horizon, delivering in February.

PLUME is the newest and perhaps most significant addition. Its roots reach back to Simone Pérèle’s 1972 vision of airy lace, precise support and a “secret under clothing.” That legacy philosophy has been reinterpreted for today through a more transparent construction. Delicate floral lace combined with mesh creates a second-skin effect, an archival idea given a distinctly modern expression. We showcased it last month as the brand featured it at a star studded party in NYC.

PLUME also makes a significant statement about fit, extending the bra-size spectrum within BODIES from 30–42, B–H cups. That breadth matters in a category where engineering and inclusivity increasingly go hand in hand. Across the BODIES landscape, bottoms and bodywear range from XS through XXL.SUBTILE brings together French lace, European fabric and Italian microfiber, with a flat stretch graphic lace construction designed to lie smoothly against the body.

What interests me most about BODIES is the shift in attitude. This is not shapewear intended to dominate the silhouette. It is about precision without restriction, engineering without bulk and sensuality without compromise.

Simone Pérèle describes it as a couture approach to indelibly comfortable shapewear. In that sense, BODIES return to the original philosophy: the most successful foundation is the one you feel, but no one else sees, a new secret under clothing, quietly transforming the silhouette from within.

STORY and ESSENTIALS (below) anchor the BODIES collection with classic styles that deliver flexibility and ease, translating shaping into a highly wearable, adaptable layer

See More Simone Pérèle Collections in Their Spotlight on Lingerie Briefs