Review: Spanx Higher Power Briefs

Spanx Higher Power Brief

Alright. Let's talk about our unmentionables. Well, they're not so unmentionable anymore - we see bras and panties everywhere: on mannequins, hanging in store windows, on TV, and in catalogues. But we don't see shape wear hanging around. There's some sort of stigma attached to trying to look 10 lbs thinner - you just don't want people to know your secret. Spanx is #1 on the market in shape wear. They have an array of products from leggings to briefs and full-body shapers. They're designed to be durable and comfortable for everyday wear and most importantly, invisible. They come in different shades, like nude and black, to be camouflaged underneath whatever you're wearing. 

Most of my friends wear shape wear on special occasions only: when they squeeze into their little black dresses. Most of my friends are also of average weight and height and have maybe a bit of a tummy they don't want poking out of their evening wear. I'm more than your average weight for my height and my tummy pokes out of everything I wear. Short of actually losing 10 lbs, I felt like it was high time to do something to look a bit more sleek and shapely.

I bought my first shaper panty at Penningtons. It was $30 and served me well for 2 years. It gave me a smooth figure, but the nude colour got discoloured from my favourite dark wash jeans. It also rolled down in the back and I was constantly hiking it up. I tried to tuck it under my bra, but it would just slide down. However, it allowed me to wear pants one size smaller and that felt good.

I got sick of always fussing around with it, so I decided to ditch it for a couple of years . When I met my boyfriend, I was embarrassed wearing it. I had someone once mention it after a hug because they could feel it under my shirt. I was mortified.

Fast forward a year and a half. I was shopping at London Drugs with my Mom and we found a display rack of Spanx products next to the pharmacy. My Mom picked up a pair and I thought, "why not?". I had heard good reviews of the Higher Power panty and had specifically read a story in a magazine about a woman who felt more confident and sexy wearing it under her clothes. It was $50 - $20 more than the generic Penningtons brand. It promised not to roll down and to be comfortable and invisible. They only had black, but I decided to give them a try.

I wear them every day (with panties underneath) under my work clothes and I no longer have a roll over my jeans. My blouse that was pulling on the bottom button now fits smoothly. The bottom part is cotton and very comfortable. Panty lines are non-existent. The elastic top has a thick band around the top that fits under my bra and doesn't roll down. I hand wash them several times a week and they have held up great and have no runs or tears.

Overall, I give this product a great rating. It was well worth the $50. I feel more confident and sleek. I also feel more professional at work - not sloppy with my un-tucked blouse pulling at the bottom.

I thought long and hard about my motives for wearing Spanx. And I've basically come to the conclusion that I don't know if it's not feminist to wear them. I think whatever makes you comfortable is okay. I'm not wearing them to impress the patriarchy or my boyfriend or my boss or anyone else. I wear them to feel comfortable and confident. My pants fit better and I can breathe easier. That's worth $50 in my opinion.