I'm going to toss out some serious TMI for the sake of this review: I don't wear full-coverage briefs, ever. I find them somewhat uncomfortable, and I hate panty lines. If I had reviewed a thong style of these panties, I believe the score would have been a "5" or "4.5."
Construction
Before I put these panties by Bali on, I took a look at how they were constructed. I am a lingerie enthusiast and know the warning signs of a poorly-constructed panty--these panties had no such signs. The body of the panty is smooth compression fabric, without any apparent bound elastic as in a traditional panty. The leg openings in the panties have an overlock seam, which will lie smoother against the body. In the waistband area, the seam is tiny and overlocked.
Fit
The Bali Comfort Shape is a medium-control panty, so it has light holding-in powers that don't stop you from putting it on comfortably. If you have a fleshier tummy, perhaps post-pregnancy or simply because of your natural shape, then you'll definitely appreciate the wider, higher waistband on these panties.
The leg openings are generous, but I wouldn't recommend these panties for a woman who is trying to avoid panty lines. I know that these are called "seamless" panties, but I find that more appropriate for the comfort factor than for the no-line factor. I would wear these panties underneath a nipped-waist dress with a full skirt or perhaps under a fully-lined skirt or winter trouser.
Affordability
These Bali Comfort Shape Panty (Style 8421) is priced at a MSRP of $20. This is a comfortable middle-of-the-road price for shapewear, and I think that it's fair pricing for the quality. Naturally, I would like to purchase my shapewear for as little as possible, so I might consider purchasing these online and applying a free shipping code from a vendor's site. However, the price is not prohibitive.
Size
The Bali Seamless Panty goes up to a size 2XL, or a size 9. Since it is constructed from compression fabric, it might look a little smaller when you take it out of the package.
