Shapewear

@lauradevon I am quite the fan of this. There are various knicker options you can look at, either with built in pads (butt lifters) or removable hip and butt pads. A good place to look is TK Maxx, they often have them. You can add to the effect with a waist clincher or corset. You can also find it via Shein or Amazon.

These are better options than some shapewear which is designed to flatten and reduce shape rather than add shape. 

Also, there's the option of a flared dress or skirt with petticoats.

Anna x

@lauradevon

Greetings Laura; I did a photoshoot in 2020 and being a plus sized "girl" with no hips per say, I started looking for shapewear. Same as you, I did not want to wear multiple pieces or anything made of course material that would trap heat.

At a Wal-Mart, I found a Maidenform Flexees SHAPES Firm control waist "slimmer"; item number (80452 or W0452) or (02188A). My best description is that the "slimmer" is a "tube top" made of soft breathable nylon/spandex. I "rolled" it up and stepped into it, pulling the top band to just under my bra and then pulling the bottom band down to my waist. You can see the results in my Public Photo "Brittney's Vision"; for the first time, I felt that I had curves to my waist and hips.

I agree with both Anna; for the padded knicker brief and Wendy; for silicone hip and butt pads, as options that would fit your criteria. A couple of years later, also at Wal-Mart; I got 2 Cupid Shape It Up Firm control Waistline Short "buttlifter" (Style# 5408). They are made of the same material as tights/pantyhose; very breathable. I have not had the chance to wear them yet. However until I get a pair of silicone butt pads, I thought they would be a good start; I will most likely use the Cupid short to hold the butt pads in place.

@lauradevon 

Diet, exercise and estradiol valerate.  That last one might have more 'permanence' than you're looking for!  But it's cheap!

/LK

@lauradevon If you want the shape, then you need to either squish and pad parts or add in some deception.

Corsets can pinch your waist and are effective. You do get used to the feeling. A soft corset may tighten up unevenly, though, squishing under your ribs which makes for a pretty narrow waistline.

Pads either up top or around your bottom really do make things bigger. The problem with pads, especially the heavier ones, is keeping them in place. If they are not held in place with appropriate under garments with pockets, you run the risk of having one of them flop out in public. Been there, done that.

However, you know they are working when you can barely get a snug pair of shorts on. I have caught myself a few times wiggling to get in some tight shorts as you may have seen in some movies. I think that is pretty cool.

I wear hip and butt pads as often as possible. So far, I haven't been bothered by them being hot, or too heavy. They are just there, a part of me. Maybe I have been lucky.

The deception comes from what you put over top of your hips. The right shape skirt or dress will mask or accentuate what you are doing.

@lauradevon Now you see where the quotation comes from that 'Crossdressing is a winter sport'!

I similarly wear two pairs of cheapy Chinese shorts made from that stretchy material, both pocketed, one with hip pads and the other with butt pads. The important thing I think, is that I buy both of them deliberately two sizes too small for me according to the measurement chart. 

I pull up the hip shorts as high as can, over my navel, which puts the hips in the right place, gives me a reasonable tuck and also holds my tummy in to an extent.  I then add the butt shorts over the top at a height to enhance my rear in the right places.  Now you see why buying small is required - so that they hold themselves and everything under them fairly well in place! 

Being that light material and foam pads I don't find it's too hot, although I'll not bother with them if I'm just round the house in the height of summer.  

If I really need a flat tummy for an outfit, I also have a latex waist cincher from Esbelt that does the job, and holds the hip and butt shorts absolutely in place under it into the bargain.  But that certainly does start getting warm.  Lovely in the winter, but too much at any more than low 20's Celsius, when you consider that you're already going to be getting quite warm under your breastforms at that sort of temperature.

@lauradevon 

So, I have two pair of shapewear panties that I really like. I have another pair that's fair. I found them just by doing a search on amazon for something like "high waist hip padded panties." Lots of options will come up. I always go for the high waist models because they smooth out the line between legs and torso. If I wear shapewear that sits at the regular waist height, I find it tends to slide down or dig in. The high waist option smooths things out better (since I don't have the proper figure without help). I also like that I can put the waist cincher over the top of the panties, making the cincher more comfortable. You can find some with slots that make going to the bathroom easier, but I've had to carefully cut a slits in some of mine.

One pair I own is a thin mesh with nice lace accents on the bottom, they are breathable and comfortable. The other pair is a bit thicker, but still nice. They are certainly hotter than just wearing regular panties, but I personally feel that getting a good shape is worth the trade. If I go with a light blouse on top, I can keep my temperature comfortable. Here's how I get dressed.

1. gaff and tuck

2. shape wear panties with hip pads

3. waist cincher

4. bra and forms

5. Then I really like a body suit over the top to smooth everything out. Search for something like "shapewear body suit" and you'll get lots of options. My favorite one right now has a built in bra that makes it super comfy and cute (nice lace under a white blouse). Brief style ones are fun (look like a one piece swimsuit) but thigh length ones look better.

6. Then whatever outfit you want. For me, this is a sure fire way to look good in a pencil skirt or pencil dress. I've worn leggins and jeans with this too, with good results.

7. Enjoy the look (I always get good results this way)

Most of my cross dressing is indoors, in an air conditioned office environment, so I'm usually glad of the extra warmth. If I'm outside in the heat and still hoping for some curves, I go with a "fit and flare" style dress, and just the waist cincher that brings the sides in and the dress helps create the wider silhouette where hips should be. With a more airy dress style I don't need the extra layer from the body suit. The pads that are mesh with lace are quite airy, and still create a great look.

As far as cost, thirty or forty dollars is as much as I've ever spent on any single shapewear piece. You can see my pics and decide for yourself if I should have spent any more.

One other thing I have found, is that different clothing pieces work better/worse with different shapewear combinations. My best results are always with clothing pieces that are also fitted. Some skirts and dresses, for example are tight fitting and meant to show off natural curves. Often, they're basically just a tube of fabric. It's really hard to get these to work for me. Usually, they just highlight all the seems in the shapewear. A skirt that doesn't fit quite as tightly (though you can still go pretty tight) but has thicker fabric and is tailored to fit curves will be much better. If you lay the skirt flat on the bed and you can see curves, it will be your best friend as long as you get the right size. I also find that I usually get a better shape if I go longer. I think all of us have a place in our hearts where we'd like to wear a micro mini, but when I'm honest with myself, I know I always look better  with a knee length or longer skirt.

There's one exception I found last winter though. You've probably seen those tights that are fleece on the inside but designed to look like pantyhose? I had to buy a few pair before I found ones that had the right color for me (the first three pair I bought and returned made me look like I had muppet legs) but they slide over the shapewear, hide all the seems, and allow me to wear shorter skirts or do the shorts with tights look. I've also done the same thing with thick black tights/leggings in the winter and I am delighted by the look I can get this way. It is warm of course, but it's perfect in the winter. I was at a store one day during a snow storm and the clerk looked at me and said, "you're brave to wear that skirt in this weather," and I said, "the tights are fleece and really warm, " but I thought, "I didn't think that was the bravest thing about it."

I can dig up links to the different things I've bought and give you more details and experiences with individual pieces if you want via private messaging. I think we're not really supposed to post links to products here.

hope that helps, though I'm sure it's similar to what everyone else here is doing and knows.

@chrisfp99 Taxi for Chrissie!!

@chrisfp99