I have a love-hate relationship with Spanx. I can’t live without the brand’s Faux Leather Leggings, but the shapewear just doesn’t do it for me. I always felt like the Spanx Everyday Shaping Panties lacked the amount of support and compression I was hoping for (you know, the kind that sucks in your tummy in a comfortable but outwardly noticeable way). Not to mention, the waistband of these constantly rolls down, completely defeating the purpose of ironing out any lumps or bumps.
Which is why I was shocked to find my Spanx replacement in the form of Good American’s new workout underwear. The brand offers three different levels of compression, from low to medium to high impact. The lowest impact underwear resembles more of a typical seamless thong, while the high impact has the extra tummy-shaping power of actual shapewear. Because I was looking for something to help smooth out my waist without VPL, I went with the High Impact Compression Thong. It has a high-rise waistband that’s nearly as wide as some of those on my favorite workout leggings, so it sits just under the belly button (exactly where I want a little more reinforcement). The thong is made with maximum support that moves with you, so you’re getting all that sculpting with that highly sought after, barely-there feel. Plus, it’s antimicrobial and moisture wicking, which comes in handy whether you’re working out or not. I don’t typically wear underwear while exercising (I find that most leggings don’t require them), so I’ve been wearing these with my normal everyday outfits—from high-waisted jeans to skirts to jumpsuits that could benefit from a little extra smoothing.
At first glance, the sizing can be a bit confusing—it goes in order from 0 (XS) to 7 (4XL), but there’s a handy size chart right on the page to help with the conversion. It’s also worth noting that you can pick whether you want to see it modeled on a size 0 (XS) or size 3 (L) woman—major snaps, Good American.
The one downfall: The High Impact Compression Thong has to be hand-washed and line-dried thanks to the mix of nylon and elastine, which breaks down quickly in the high temperatures of standard washing machines and dryers. But I honestly have no qualms about buying a whole week’s worth of these babies, because their body-slimming, curve-hugging and stomach-flattening power is just that good.
