The darker days and Arctic temperatures mean layering season is well and truly here.
For those of us without the luxury of a distinctive summer and winter wardrobe, base items are the ultimate investment to give our warm weather wares more seasonal longevity. We’re talking tights to wear under dresses, turtlenecks under short sleeves, and bodysuits that can sit under any sheer or semi-sheer style.
This is just one of the many purposes that bodysuits will take in your wardrobe. While they can be worn as an undergarment to bring a thermal addition, they can be styled as the top in a ‘jeans and a nice top’ combination – a favourite style among fashion content creators. The onesie silhouettes enhance the physique without riding up.
Pair with jeans, heeled boots and an oversized blazer and you have an office-ready ensemble where denim can be replaced with cigarette or suit trousers for more formal dress codes. Leather trousers, heels and a bodysuit combine to create a look ready for a night on the tiles, while with a tracksuit and trainers, the style brings polish to a casual look.
Bridging the elusive gap between athleticism, function and fashion, bodysuits are a derivative of the leotard that has roots in fitness wear for gymnastics and dance. It was first worn in the 19th century by French trapeze gymnast Jules Leotard and was typically made from wool or silk.
Nowadays, we opt for stretchy spandex-like materials to optimise comfort and fit. For the latter, you want a style that will lie flat against the body to appear smooth without digging in or making it challenging to breathe, especially when you sit down. It’s a fine balance as they don’t look quite right if they’re baggy or folding.
Shop the best bodysuits below
Best luxury silk pyjamas for women
Best split hem trousers and leggings for women
Best winter boots for women 23/24
Best leather and faux leather trousers from designer chic to high street style
Best wedding guest dresses: The stylish wedding guest dresses and outfits to shop now
Best winter coats for women for 23/24 that will keep you feeling warm and looking stylish
Good American U Ring Bodysuit
The Scuba Modern Tank Bodysuit was the first piece that we tried from Khloe Kardashian’s Good American range and we were immediately hooked. This is no ordinary celebrity label, each construction is well thought-out to become staple parts of your wardrobe no matter your shape or size.
The bodysuit is no different with a layered, compressive style that brings you confidence as soon as you slip it on. The quality fabric is entirely opaque and with the Scuba, there’s an internal bra too. While we could wax lyrical about this timeless must-have, it is the U Ring Bodysuit that has recently caught our eye.
The flattering design is not made for the office but instead for those after-hours events where you can flash a bit of skin. The attention-grabbing silhouette has a U-shaped bar (hence the name), a long sleeve and a thong fastening that is surprisingly comfortable and undetectable. Bravo Khloe.
Buy now £115.00, Good American
SKIMS Fits Everybody stretch-satin jersey thong bodysuit
From one Kardashian-owned brand to another, the sisters are killing it in the shapewear game. SKIMS is Kim’s label and is lauded for her lounge and underwear pieces with shades to suit many different skin tones. That is what drew us to this bodysuit.
If you want a barely-three base-layer garment, you can opt for the colour to match your complexion or, as is more desirable, you get one in every hue. From the high neckline to the sculpted construction, this is one of those figure-flattering designs you’ll miss when waiting for your next laundry day. It has a good amount of stretch and a double-layered construction to ensure that it sits flat and is entirely opaque.
Buy now £56.00, Net-A-Porter
Wolford Colorado Thong Body
When the temperature drops, look to Wolford to give your wardrobe all-season appeal. The brand specialises in tights and undergarments that will keep you warm through the British winter. One such favourite is the bodysuits, impressively sculpting pieces that will become foundational in your rotation. We are particularly enamoured with this roll-neck style that can be worn alone or underneath your favourite floral frock.
If the fuschia colour is too flamingo for you, there are eight different shades to choose from. It has a shimmer finish.
Buy now £240.00, Wolford
Commando Ballet stretch-jersey turtleneck thong bodysuit
Balletcore is the latest TikTok obsession and to go alongside the revival of pumps and tulle, you’ll need the bodysuit to match. Commando is on hand with its ‘Ballet’ bodysuit and it is one of the softest clothing items you’ll ever own. The brand excels in its silky fashion and this stretch jersey is a treat to the skin. It’s also a fantastic layering piece whether it’s under a denim jumpsuit, sweater vest or under a blazer with leather trousers.
Buy now £90.00, Net-A-Porter
Everlane The Long-Sleeve Supima Square-Neck Bodysuit
From the fit to the feel, Everlane is the brand to know for your basics. Its bodysuit collection is large and varied with sumptuously soft constructions made from sustainable fabrics like Supima cotton. The latter ensures visibility across the supply chain and is locally sourced. It is the fabric that makes up the bodysuit pictured that, alongside its cool blue colourways and flattering square neckline, will become an instant solve to those days when you just don’t know what to wear.
Buy now £34.00, Everlane
New Look Black Slinky Racer Bodysuit
Much like the hunt for that elusive perfect white t-shirt, a well-fitted tank isn’t the easiest to find. Yet this silhouette has had a massive renaissance in the fashion world, no doubt in part due to the Prada and Loewe iterations that made their way down the respective houses’ runways. To aid your search, look to this bodysuit from New Look that has a racer back and goes up to size 22.
Buy now £14.99, New Look
M&S Smoothing Cool Comfort Shaping Body
Forgot suffocating shapewear, M&S has incorporated sculpting technology into this bodysuit so that you can feel confident and secure without being confined to a corset-like design. The flattering piece comes in two shades; black and beige as well as in sizes small to extra large.
Buy now £15.40, M&S
Intimissimi Supima Cotton Scoop Neck Bodysuit
This is a fitted design from the undergarment experts at Intimissimi that will stand the test of time in your outfit rotation for its sheer versatility and hard-wearing composition. It is made from a stretch-cotton blend and the brand has paid attention to every step in the production chain to ensure that it is sustainable and ethical.
Buy now £24.00, Intimissimi
Ninety Percent Jade Body in Whisper White
This bodysuit, black jeans and a pair of boots are all you need when sartorial indecision arises. Whether you’re going on a date, meeting up with friends or heading to the office, it’s an easy win with its soft and breathable design, high neck and renewable eucalyptus wood pulp-based material. Plus it comes from sustainable Ninety Percent, a brand that donates 90 per cent of its profits to charity.
Buy now £50.00, Ninety Percent
