The Best Spanx We Tested Goes Beyond Shapewear — Shop Our Favorite Lounge Pants, Jeans, Bras, and More
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10/25/2024 07:15 AM
Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Garner have worn these styles, too
People / Alyssa Brascia / Jennifer Maldonado / Erin Johnson
Spanx may be best-known for their shapewear, but our editors' closets are full of the brand's loungewear, sports bras, and jeans. And we're not the only ones: Oprah, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Garner are just some of the stars known to wear the brand.
We dug into our own closets to compile a list of the best Spanx products. These styles are soft, stylish, and oh-so cozy. Here are the best Spanx styles, spotted on celebrities and worn by our editors.
Best Wide-Leg Pants: Spanx AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant
If you haven't jumped on the wide-leg bandwagon yet, it's probably time you do. These wide-leg pants are so comfortable, thanks to their silky-soft fabric and drapey fit. Even though they feel like sweatpants, they have a classic look that can be dressed up, too.
Editors Say
"I wear these buttery lounge pants more than any other bottoms I own. They're beyond comfortable in almost all temperatures, have the most flattering shape, and have stood up to countless washes. I've influenced so many friends and family members to buy these pants, and their lives have been forever changed, too."—Alyssa Brascia, shopping writer
Size Range: XS–3X, petite and tall sizes available | Fit: Runs slightly large| Color Options: 11
People / Alyssa Brascia
Shopping writer Alyssa Brascia wears the Spanx AirEssentials Half Zip and Wide Leg PantBest Half-Zip: Spanx AirEssentials Half Zip
This half-zip was featured on Oprah's Favorite Things list in 2022, and so many celebrities have worn it since (including Karlie Kloss and Gwyneth Paltrow). We love it, too. The slouchy fit is effortlessly cool, and the luxurious fabric will keep you cozy all day long.
Editors Say
"Okay, so you've added the sweatpants to your cart — now all that there's left to do is complete the look with this half zip. It's made from the same silky-soft material and has a clean silhouette that makes this lounge set look smart. Ever since this set came into my life, my lazy days and errand runs have never looked so good."—Alyssa Brascia
Size Range: XS–3X | Fit: Runs slightly small| Color Options: 12
Best Yoga Pants: Spanx Booty Boost Flare Pant
The Booty Boost pants are designed to lift and sculpt the booty, and these flare pants also deliver a confidence boost. They're designed with real bodies in mind, so they're sweat-wicking, breathable, and camel-toe-proof (there's no center seam in the front). Plus, we love that they come in petite and tall sizes.
Editors Say
"Spanx's entire BootyBoost line is miracle-working as far as lifting, shaping, and sculpting goes. I've been singing the praises of BootyBoost leggings for years, but I just got these yoga pants in petite sizing (!!), and I've never felt better in a pair of workout leggings."—Erin Johnson, associate editorial director
Size Range: XS–3X, petite and tall sizes available | Fit: Runs slightly small| Color Options: 4
People / Erin Johnson
Best Jeans: Spanx Spanxshape EveryWear Flare Jeans
When we tested 42 pairs of jeans, these stretchy flares earned their spot on our list of favorites. The fabric is compressive, so it sculpts the legs and booty while smoothing the tummy. Somehow, though, these jeans still wowed us with their comfort, thanks in part to the pull-on elastic waistband that never dug into our skin. We recommend them for curvy women, too, just note that they run long.
Size Range: XS–3X | Fit: True to size, available in petite and tall| Color Options: 5
People / Lee Hubilla
Best Crewneck: Spanx AirEssentials Crew
This crewneck is luxuriously soft and so airy. One shopper even called it "the softest sweatshirt you will ever wear!" While the relaxed fit maintains a super casual look, the crewneck's unique pleated detailing adds style.
Editors Say
"I love these crewnecks so much that I have four of them: maroon, olive green, black, and white. They are so comfortable, durable, and easy to style for fall. I wear them over a button-up for a dressy look or pair with leggings or jeans for casual wear."—Madison Yauger, shopping editor
Size Range: XS–3X | Fit: Oversized| Color Options: 6
People / Madison Yauger
Related: The 17 Best Shapewear of 2024, Tested by Real Women
Best Sports Bra: Spanx Spanxshape Get Moving Longline Sports Bra
If you're not shopping for activewear from Spanx, you're missing out. This medium-support sports bra is sweat-wicking, quick-drying, and slightly compressive. We love that it provides UPF 50 sun protection, too. This bra has become our go-to sports bra.
Editors Say
"This is my absolute favorite sports bra. It's supportive, soft, and flattering. When paired with high-waisted leggings, it shows just a sliver of my torso, so I feel confident and on-trend without baring too much of my midsection."—Erin Johnson
Size Range: XS–2X | Fit: Runs small| Color Options: 2
People / Erin Johnson
Best Shapewear Shorts: Spanx Spanxshape Invisible Girlshort
It should come as no surprise that we love Spanx's shapewear, too. These shorts smooth and sculpt the waist and thighs without digging, rolling, or squeezing. PEOPLE's associate editorial director Jen Maldonado says these shorts stay in place all day, and they're so comfortable that she even forgets she's wearing them.
Editors Say
"I'm super picky with shapewear, as I find most styles uncomfortable, but these shorts are a game-changer. I've worn these under various dresses, including a satin bridesmaid dress, a casual T-shirt dress, and a bodycon dress. Plus, they don't leave you feeling like you're being squeezed at all; they're simply just smoothing."—Jen Maldonado, associate editorial director
Size Range: XS–3X | Fit: True to size, slightly compressive| Color Options: 4
Related: The 18 Best Tummy Control Shapewear for Supportive, Targeted Compression
Best Bra: Spanx Bra-llelujah! Lightly Lined Wireless Bra
We tested 58 bras, and the Bra-llelujah! Wireless Bra proved to be one of the most comfortable bras out there. The clasp-less back gave us a smooth appearance, so we didn't see any bumps, rolls, or lines, even through a T-shirt. The lightly padded cups gave us a nice lift, while the wide and soft straps made sure we didn't feel any shoulder pain (which was especially important for our tester who typically wears an E or F cup).
There are multiple bras in the Bra-llelujah! line, including some celebrity-worn styles. Fans of the bras include Kylie Jenner and Jennifer Garner.
Band Size Range: 30–38 | Cup Size Range: A–DD| Color Options: 2
People
Related: The 18 Best Wireless Bras of 2024, Tested by Real Women
Best Black Tights: Spanx Tummy Shaping Tights
These are the absolute best black tights we've tested. We found them to be comfortable and stretchy, and we appreciated the control top and mid-thigh shaper that gave us a smooth appearance. Most impressive was the high level of durability, which allowed us to wash and wear the tights multiple times without issue.
Size Range: A-E | Fit: Slightly small | Colors: 1
People / Jhett Thompson
What to Know About Spanx
Sizing
At its core, Spanx aims to find wardrobe solutions for real women. Although it has been 24 years since the company's founding, it's "still a group of women addressing those wardrobe frustrations," Spanx Chief Merchandising Officer Kiana Miree tells PEOPLE.
So, sizing at Spanx is designed to accommodate a wide variety of body types. "We fit every single size on multiple body types," Miree says. "At Spanx, we have five different 'size medium women,' so we're learning from those women."
On the Spanx website, each product has sizing information that advises shoppers whether products run small, large, or true-to-size. You may have to size up in stretchy items like the Booty Boost Flare Pant, which tend to run small.
History of Spanx
Spanx were invented by Sara Blakely in 2000 after she cut the feet off a pair of control top tights to achieve a smooth look under pants. Spanx quickly became a celebrity favorite (the brand made Oprah's Favorite Things list in 2000), and they have continued to expand their offerings in the brand's 24 years of existence. Today, Spanx offers some of the market's best shapewear and apparel.
Behind the Scenes
Our closets are full of Spanx styles that we've acquired over the years. We polled PEOPLE editors and writers on their favorite items from Spanx, and the best products made this list. It's worth noting that some products — like the AirEssentials Half Zip and matching Wide Leg Pant — are so good that they were recommended multiple times.
We also included products that have gone through our formal testing process to earn our PEOPLE Tested seal of approval, like the EveryWear Flare Jeans, Bra-llelujah! Wireless Bra and Core Tights. We previously tested these styles against similar products, and multiple weeks of testing determined that they were among the best of their kind.
Why Trust PEOPLE?
Genevieve Cepeda is a shopping writer for PEOPLE, who specializes in writing about the best beauty and fashion buys. For this article, she polled shopping editors and writers to gather a list of the best Spanx products. She also consulted testing feedback from long-term tests previously conducted by PEOPLE. We personally recommend each and every one of these products, and we think they're worth the buy.
Our Expert Panel
- Kiana Miree is the Chief Merchandising Officer at Spanx.
- Alyssa Brascia is a staff shopping writer for PEOPLE and an expert in beauty and celebrity fashion. She has tested over 100 products, with a focus on beauty and clothing.
- Erin Johnson is PEOPLE's associate shopping director. She has personally spent over 1,000 hours testing products, from home appliances to beauty launches (and, of course, Spanx).
- Jen Maldonado is PEOPLE's associate shopping director, who focuses on sales, celebrity style, and fashion.
- Madison Yauger is a shopping editor for PEOPLE. She has interviewed over a dozen celebrities on their favorite products, and she has personally tested over 200 products.
What is PEOPLE Tested?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval to help you find the very best products for your life. We use our unique methodology to test products in three labs across the country and with our network of home testers to determine their effectiveness, durability, ease of use, and so much more. Based on the results, we rate and recommend products so you can find the right one for your needs.
But we don't stop there: We also regularly re-review the categories in which we've awarded the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval — because the best product of today might not be the best of tomorrow. And by the way, companies can never buy our recommendation: Their products must earn it, fair and square.
In short, PEOPLE Tested provides recommendations you can trust — every day, every purchase.
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