STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

rar210 · Marc Jacobs

Spanx

Elle · Hermes

I got the regular kind to wear for my wedding (and after!). They're okay I guess - better for wearing under clingy things than for taking off inches, but they don't work as well for people who fall on the smaller side of the sizing IMO. I would have preferred to be able to size down, so if you're between sizes go with the smaller of the two. The regular style also barely make it up to my natural waistline, so if I had it to do over again I'd go with the Higher Power style for more waist-smoothing and less roll-down.

HTH!

greendiamond · Marc Jacobs

I have the higher power style and like them. A friend of mine tried the Target ones and says they aren't as good as the actual Spanx, if that helps.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

I got a pair of the DKNY ones from Nord. It works for smoothing and holding in under clingy clothes. I haven't worn it in a while, but there might have been some roll-down.

Mitz · BCBG

I have the power panty, which goes all the way up to your bra. I really like them...they stays put very well and do not slide down. However, I really work up a sweat putting them on but once they're on they're great!

Kelly · Hermes

greendiamond wrote:

A friend of mine tried the Target ones and says they aren't as good as the actual Spanx, if that helps.

The Target ones are baloney. I bought them thinking that they'd shape me up, and they didn't do anything. I'll probably wear them in the winter to have another layer under dresses, but that's about it.

sydney · Kate Spade

I bought the dress version in my normal size and it rides up all day, drives me nuts!

subwolley · Kate Spade

I have the Spanx Hide and Sleek Girl Short, and I also have problems with it riding up. It's so annoying! However, they are probably better than something you would get at Target or Walmart. The material is nice and light, but the riding up is ridiculous. If you sit down, you have to adjust when you stand up again. I guess I have mixed feelings about them.

subwolley · Kate Spade

Oh, and the girl short doesn't flatten a tummy as nice as I would have liked, and I don't have much of a tummy. But they did smooth out my thighs and behind nicely. I usually wear the short under my jersey dresses and would have liked to see more tummy concealing in the girl short .

XtinaStyles · Marc Jacobs

I bought the Target version of "higher power" and was in between sizes. I bought the larger size and found that they didn't do much "controlling" so I then bought the smaller size, which sorta looks like it will come apart at the seams any moment. For $40 I could have bought a better solution!

Anyway, I wear them under jersey dresses for a smooth line, they do their job but no miracles. They smooth out lines, don't really reduce bulk, I tuck the line under my bra so there is no "rolling".

I bought a control slip (no idea what brand) and wore it yesterday... when I walked 20 feet, it rolled up to my waistline!

Maven · BCBG

I bought some Spanx to wear under a bias cut silk dress. I'd never worn them before, but I was wearing open-toed shoes and didn't want to wear the dreaded pantyhose anyway. In the hotel room, as I bent over to pick up my shoes, the Spanx rolled down from my waist (which is were the excess stuff is.) No problem, I thought, I won't be bending over any more after we leave here.

So we left to pick up DH's cousin and head for the wedding. The Spanx kept rolling down as I sat in the car, so finally I just wiggled out of them, explaining the problem to poor hubby who was driving. I was fine without them--the dress was a little loose and two layers and didn't cling anyway. My biggest worry was that I would forget to take the rolled up Spanx out of the glove compartment before we turned in the rental car the next day.

I've tried on body shapers, but never bought any because they seem to take the excess flesh and push it to places I don't need it.

pollyjean23 · Marc Jacobs

This thread reminds me of something else shaper-related. The basic stretch camis carried by the Limited are cut longer than most. When I bought one earlier in the year to wear under a low-cut top, the sales rep noted that she really liked them because they "held her in." I scoffed about it at first, but she's right. Of course, we're not talking power shapers here, but the cami I got really does hold things in enough for everyday wear. The length is great because I can tuck in the cami and attack the problem from above! I hope to go pick up some more in some fun colors to wear under things.

Kelly · Hermes

thanks for the tip, pollyjean! I wear camis almost every single day, so of course I'd love some that hold me in

-- Edited by ttara123 at 20:28, 2007-10-17

Marg · Kenneth Cole

I am a fan of the Donna Karan body perfect Level I. The Level II seemed too 'tight' and looked very difficult to get into (and maybe out of!). I wear them under dresses. They do roll a bit at the waist, but give you a nice smooth line. I haven't tried the longer ones since I'm not a fan of tights/hosiery under pants/jeans. The feel of the Spanx made my skin crawl, and the Donna Karan ones are really smooth. They also wash nicely.

BargainQueen · Marc Jacobs

If you want it just to control the softness of your tummy, I think you should try the Higher Power Panty. I bought it for the same purpose after DD was born and works great for that. If you want it to "hide" inches, it doesn't work well.

erin · Chanel

i agree with what bargain queen said. i love higher power to make me look smoother under jersey dresses, but to actually make me look smaller i have to wear a girdle.

i have something like this:

and it works wonders when a dress/pants whatever is too tight, but i still want to be able to breathe. i cannot however, wear it under very clingy items because you can see the boning.

the power panties rolled down on me so i can't deal with them at all.