Tune in to any Hollywood red-carpet event and you’ll hear the usual names of celebrities and top designers, as well as, increasingly, body shapers like SPANX and Body Wrap, which merge the two seamlessly and glamorously—sans Photoshop. Sure, celebrities are beautiful to begin with, but sometimes even the beautiful need a little help.

Despite all the celebrity testimonials (from Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah, and Jessica Alba, to name a few), many are still confused about what body shapers look like and what they can do for the average person. “A lot of women come in and are really curious, but they don’t know much about SPANX except they’ve heard a lot of great things about them,” says Atsuko Ohara, owner of Scarlet (460 Granville Street).

With over a hundred styles of SPANX available, it can be daunting to figure out what you need. Made of nylon and Lycra, all are soft, comfortable, and available in nude or black (and white in the bridal line). Different products achieve different effects, so think about what areas of the body you want to target. Don’t think about losing pounds or inches, advises Ohara; body shapers aren’t meant to cinch you in or drop you a few dress sizes. They will smooth out the lines and bumps to create a seamless, toned look, and through that you’ll look slimmer and more polished. Buh-bye, VPL!

With cheeky names like Hide & Sleek, Bra-llelujah, and Slim Cognito, SPANX makes support wear a lot more tolerable. Top sellers at Scarlet include the Higher Power panty ($44.95), a garment resembling bicycle shorts that comes up to just under the bra line, and the Power Panty ($37.95), which also looks like bicycle shorts and sits high on the waist. The leg bands are soft, and are knitted directly into the legs, so (as with the waistband) there’s no elastic digging into you.

If it’s pretty you want, your timing couldn’t be better. Diane’s Lingerie (2950 Granville Street) recently started carrying Iridesscent, a new line of body shapers from Body Wrap. These body shapers are black with shimmery gold thread, making them as pretty as they are functional.

Body Wrap is a Montreal-based company that specializes in body shapers. Made of Lycra and Tactel, not only are they soft, durable, and comfortable, they’re entirely seamless. If you have a clingy jersey-knit dress that’s been relegated to the when-I-lose-a-few-pounds section of your closet, this is your salvation.

And because the pieces are so beautiful on their own, many customers who buy Iridesscent items are actually buying them as outerwear, says store owner Diane Thomson. “This is new for fashion,” she enthuses. “You could wear the camisole on its own for partying, or with a jacket”¦and it’d be perfect for evening.”

The camisole ($78) and slip ($80) are bustier-style, with underwire support and removable clear straps. The boy shorts ($38) are truly adorable and are great as sleepwear, suggests Thomson. The high-waisted panty ($58) comes up under the bra line and will obliterate any sign of a muffin.

If you think a body shaper is for you, here are a few tips:

› Always go to a boutique that lets you try one on first. Both Scarlet and Diane’s have samples for you to wiggle into so you can figure out the best fit and form.

› Don’t be tempted to buy a size smaller than you need. If a body shaper is too tight it’ll bulge, which defeats the purpose.

› Make sure your skin is completely dry before attempting to pull one on.

› Always put the garment on feet first, even camisoles and slips.

› Treat your body shaper with love (like all your lingerie); wash it in cool water with a gentle detergent and let it dry on the line.