Style Matters on Shapewear

Judie: The other day Evelinda and I were on KOSI 101 FM radio with Denise Plante and Murphy. At a break, with no warning whatsoever, Evelinda hikes up her dress. "See what I’m wearing," she screams to everyone in the studio. What she was so demurely showing us was her new Spanx slip.

Evelinda: I thought Denise would want to see it and Murph had no problems. He has three daughters. What’s the big deal?

Judie: The big deal is I have to admit, you looked pretty svelte. What’s holding you in?

Evelinda: It takes a village to hold me in. I was testing body shapewear by three different companies: Spanx,Yummie Tummie and Lipo in a Box. I gave J some to test and here are our results:

Spanx

Spanx creator Sara Blakely, who vows to make the world a better place, "one butt at a time," has recently produced a new shapewear line called Assets (loveassets.com) available at Target. We smoothed our bulges with:

Control panty ($14)

Claim: "power mesh liner fabric provides control... The outer fabric keeps everything invisibly smooth under clothes."

Reality: It’s a comfortable panty with more control than a regular pair but the noticeable panty line under slacks makes it not worth the price.

Hide & Sleek Half Slip ($52)

Claim: "offers double-layer compression...slims and smooths tummy, hips, thighs, and rear."

Reality: Yes. Comfortable and lays flat; good for see-thru skirts.

Hide & Sleek Mid-Thigh Smoother ($56)

Claim: "perfect for a smooth, firm look under light or clingy fabrics."

Reality: Great under skirts; but check your butt out when wearing under slacks. E: I don’t like the wrinkling under the cheeks. J: Could just be her butt.

Yummie Tummie (yummietummie.com)

This company is the new kid on the shapewear block. Founder Heather Thomson, a former fashion director, invented her line to hide the last stubborn pounds of her pregnancy weight.

Tank Top ($62)

Claim: "Slims your midsection....extra long design does not roll up over your belly ...great for layering over or tucking into pants and skirts."

Reality: Layers nicely, but too comfortable to make a noticeable difference.

Lipo in a Box

lipoinabox.com

Invented in 2002 by Connie Elder, who started her career in the medical field, she swears Lipo in a Box "is not Grandma's girdle; it can be a surgery-free solution to your figure problems."

Thong Body Suit ($74)

Claim: This one-piece nude cami, thong-cut, with underwire support ,"is excellent when you want no lines and minimal undergarments."

Reality: Liked wearing it, but here’s the problem: How do you tinkle? You have to pull the gusset to one side or completely undress. Plan on not drinking when wearing.

Long Leg Brief ($36)

Claim: "Instant tummy and back support ...Lifts and shapes the derriere."

Reality: It does what it says.

Evelinda: I tried to wear the XS size of the Long Leg Brief. First of all, if you are an extra small, do you really need shapewear? Secondly, as I was contorting my body to try and fit into the shorts, Miss Style Matters, Jr. walked in on me. "Mommy," she said, "It doesn’t fit. Why don’t you just exercise?" 

Style Matters:  blog with us at www.stylematters.us.

Judie Schwartz and Evelinda Urman are the "Style Matters Gals,"  authors, keynote speakers, and seminar presenters on fashion and professional image.

stylematters@comcast.net