Spanx: Friend or Foe?

Spanx may be a divine gift from heaven.

Sara Blakely has created an empire forged out of breathable spandex and I thank her from the bottom of my heart for that.  She's created a line of slimming undergarments, swimsuits and even Spanx for men.  Basically, you can sausage yourself into clothes that weren't the most flattering thing on the planet, and everything will be smooth to boot!

Ahh, but herein lie my questions, suspicions, and my criticisms of something that makes us appear to be anything other than who we actually are.  Are Spanx truly an accessory we can treat like intense workhorse pantyhose, or are they a way to help us ignore how we feel about our bodies? 

Help or Hindrance?

My honest opinion?  As women, we want to feel good about ourselves.  All women want to feel pretty (oh so pretty), and that has nothing to do with weight.  Spanx erase my panty lines.  My trousers always lay nicer with them on, and while we're being honest with one another, who ever scoffed at the temporary erasure of cellulite? (sorry if there are any men reading this...)

But they also eventually roll down throughout the day.  I have to frequent the bathroom to do the Spanx-Dance to hike those suckers back up, and forget about going to the bathroom; I'll hold it, thank you very much.  The removing of the Spanx might be one of the most liberating things I will ever do as a woman.

They are wonderful and horrible creatures all at the same time.

The difference is, I wake up thinking; I feel great today, and I want my clothing to reflect how awesome I am/feel.

NOT: I don't like anything about myself so I'm going to squeeze into tiny elastic pants and hope I look prettier because thin and dimple-free is what the world thinks is beautiful.

Being healthy goes WAY beyond the physical aspect of wellness.  Our minds are precious and very easily fooled.  I read books to keep my mind sharp, and I also love it.  I do not work out because I love it, but because it keeps my body "sharp" and tuned up.  And I wear metallic shoes and seek out vintage gems because they represent my creativity.

So are Spanx evil?  Nah.  Do I think we misuse them like a drug, just so we can get that high of feeling good with them on and angry and ashamed when they're off?  You bet.  I think it's high time we really examine why we choose the clothes we wear.  Are you a slave to a label?  Do you feel inadequate without the latest trends?  Are you reliving your long-gone youth?  Or do you wear clothes that bring out the beauty you were born with?

Here's a challenge: grab a friend(s) you really trust and go shopping.  Let them choose an outfit or two for you to try on and see how you look in something a pair of outside eyes think really represents who you are.  You may be surprised at what you see staring back at you :)

--Rita