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My experience seems to be different than many of the other reviewers' experiences
I saw the inventor of this line of undergarments, Sara B., profiled on CNBC on Christmas Day. I was impressed with her story and with the claims made for these undergarments. (I have lived outside of the US for 10 years, so I had not followed the raves about Spanx in the press.) I thought I'd try some.
I prefer to try this kind of garment on at home rather than in a dreary, poorly-lighted dressing room, and I don't live near many adequate department stores anyway, so I decided to order them online.
I read all the reviews I could on Amazon about Spanx, particularly the power panty. The reviews seemed really positive.
I was not sure about which size I would take, because a lot of reviews said if you were nearly between-sizes on the size chart, to order a size up. I am 5'5" and from 125 to 130 pounds, and am a current size 4 in the US and size 8 in the UK. (I have not changed shape since high school, but back then I was a size 10 in the US -- sizes have gotten so much bigger in the intervening years!)
I bought the power panty, hide and sleek thigh-length shorts, and slim cognito thigh-length shorts in the 2 smallest sizes each, planning to return the sizes and styles which didn't fit so well. I received them today, and this is what I found:
1. power panty:
-feels nice and stretchy.
-there is no tell-tale around-the-thigh seam, at least under the trousers that I tried on with them to get an idea.
-seems to provide some light control, but no more than a pair of (even non-control) pantyhose would do for me.
-i have sat in them for 5 minutes to write this review, not moving, and the waist is rolling down already.
-the smallest size still doesn't feel like it's constricting me much.
-this doesn't do anything for my tummy. i can put both hands under the waistband comfortably.
-the only plus is that these would allow me to wear clothing without having a visible pantyline on my behind.
-i am disappointed, but probably will keep one pair.
2. Hide and Sleek
-fabric seems thicker and stiffer than power panty.
-i can't tell if this is supposed to provide more control or not than the power panty.
-even in the smallest size, they don't do much for me, especially for my stomach.
-i can also put two hands under this waistband comfortably.
-i am not a small woman (maybe in the US of 2008 I am on the smaller side compared to a lot of american women, but I'm certainly an "average" bodytype if compared world-wide, and 25-plus years ago in the US I would have been average) and I am surprised that even the smallest size of these don't feel that they control me like the girdles I remember briefly trying in high school did, many moons ago.
-nothing special - I'm going to send both the S and M back.
3. Slim Cognito
-I had high hopes for these as I tried them on last and they seemed the most girdle-like -- thicker material and more compressing. They did compress me the most of the 3, but even in the smallest size they were not great.
-They have a special butt seam/shaper thing that is meant to avoid a uni-buttock sort of look, but this made my butt look weird! Even my friend said it made my butt look wider and fatter -- which it did. Strange.
-I was tired by then and did not try them on with trousers, but I think the thick material would more than outweigh any compression effect and would make my trousers/jeans feel tighter, not looser.
-I will not keep the S or the M of this.
In conclusion,
-I was disappointed - these did not have the great effects for me that they seem to have for many other women.
-It's too bad they don't offer a smaller size than they do. Being 5'5" and 125-to-130 pounds is pretty ordinary, and there are many women shorter and smaller than I am.
-The waist is too loose on all the styles I tried - disappointing, as I have a little tummy "pooch" that I wanted to be pulled in.
-It didn't do anything great for my butt.
-The one plus is the elimination of visible panty lines, so that's why I'll keep one, the smallest power panty.
-Definitely order from a seller which allows you to return for a full refund if the garments are not right for you.
[Tuesday, December 30, 2008]
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Don't waste your money!
Bought a pair of these after reading all the "rave reviews" on Amazon. What a waste of $30! First of all, these things are no more than glorified control top nylons. Secondly, was a little unsure about the size, so did my best guess. I'm assuming I need a size smaller, but won't waste anymore money. In The Mood Intimates, the company these shipped from, refused any refund or exchange because the packaging was disturbed, well DUH, had to try them on. Was really unhappy with their services. The legs of these rolled up. They were tight and uncomfortable. They did tuck my tummy in SLIGHTLY, but because they are an extra layer of fabric, made my favorite jeans TIGHTER. Don't listen to these reviews. Wearing these for more than 2 hours is torture, and mine were even a little BIG. Can't imagine squeezing into anything smaller........
[Sunday, December 28, 2008]
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What tummy control
