Spanx vs. Skims vs. Honeylove

S hapewear is a concept all women are familiar with. Whether you’ve gained some weight and want to hide it from curious eyes, you’ve always been a plus-size fab queen and love your body as is but want to say goodbye to the annoying love handles that stick out at times, or your body fat percentage is in the clear but you’re not toned enough to look flawless in tight attires, the compression undergarment has you covered (quite literally).

As opposed to the old times when ladies wore painful corsets that deformed their waists and produced internal organs to change position, we now have top-tier body shapers that aren’t as restrictive and manage to hide rolls of plump while making us look one size smaller in a jiffy. Because of how comfy they feel and their efficiency, demand for shapewear has always been high. This, in turn, caused a lot of brands to pop up, some producing better quality products than others.

When it comes to manufacturing shapewear, the three brands that sit at top of the food chain, for the moment at least, are Spanx, Skims, and Honeylove. If you have ever searched for a body shaper before, chances are that you previously encountered products from these industry titans. But which company is the best? On what brand is it smartest to rely upon if you pursue to remodel your body in an instant and put your curves in the spotlight while tucking away that annoying abdomen fat? Stick with us until the end to find out the answer. In the following, we will talk more about each manufacturer, the ups and downs of their products, and even pin them against each other to make sure your money goes on the best shapewear.

Body Shaper Mid-Thigh Panties

Spanx: A Story of Hard Work and Success

How Spanx Came to Life

The concept and company all started with a pure genius idea that came to founder Sara Blakely when she was in a rush to get ready for a party but didn’t have the right undergarment for the outfit she put together. Sara took a pair of scissors and cut the feet out of the pantyhose to put her look together. That’s when it all came to be. Ambitious and knowing that her idea would benefit women everywhere, Sara took her entire life savings and invested in her innovative idea. The company started small, it launched in her apartment back in 2000, and she was in charge of marketing and calls. From there, through hard work, determination, and a constant commitment to excellence, Spanx took off to become one of the oldest and biggest players on the market for shapewear.

Testing Spanx Shapewear – Our Feedback

Of all products we tried from this brand, we admit from the get-go that the Spanx Shapewear for Tummy Control made the finest impression. Aside from the non-restrictive feel granted by the delicate material, which is a combination of 54% nylon and 46% polyester, we loved that these mid-thighs didn’t roll up even when we stretched and bent our bodies in different positions. However, what was most spectacular was the effect had by the shapewear on cellulite, masking it so that even in tight and light-colored dresses that usually highlight the smallest physical flaw, you couldn’t notice any imperfection. The firm compression was on par with demands too, hiding tummy and back fat like no other shapewear we ever came across.

The Spanx Suit Your Fancy Plunge Low-Back Mid-Thigh Bodysuit was our favorite in the full-body category, without trouble. It’s reasonably priced, comes in numerous sizes from US women’s 0 to 14, and features a clean-cut leg opening that can’t be seen under clothes. The clear straps that are included make the bodysuit perfect for cocktail wear. Speaking of, the straps can be adjusted in 5 different ways, namely classic, halter, racerback, narrow back, and crisscross. So, you can tailor it for any occasion. Moreover, it features a plunging U-neckline, so you can wear it with dresses and shirts that have low necklines without worrying the undergarment might be visible and ruin the attire you worked so hard to put together.

To look at least one size slimmer, however, we recommend the Spanx Thinstincts 2.0 Open Bust Mid-Thigh Bodysuit. This model is appropriate for plus-size women – available sizes span from XS to 3XL (dress size 0 to 28). It’s specially designed to target the abdomen fat and flatten your stomach to reshape you and give you a serious confidence boost. It also lifts and hardens your buttock, and it’s not noticeable through apparel due to the free-cut leg openings. What we loved most is that notwithstanding how well it packs fatty rolls, your skin still breathes, making it ridiculously comfy. Our colleague Lauren even put it on with her favorite sports bra and went to the gym to test out the shapewear. She moved as if she had nothing on, felt great wearing it, and didn’t end up with any skin irritations because the sweat wasn’t blocked by the bodysuit.

Skims: Kim Kardashian ‘Breaks the Internet’ Once More

Not Even the Pandemic Stopped Skims from Blooming

Think about the launch date of Skims and you will easily understand why the feat this business managed to pull off is so impressive. September of 2019 was the year when Kim Kardashian introduced her line of body positive and plus size inclusive shapewear to the world. A short while after, Covid-19 took the world by storm and we were trapped in our homes. Restrictions, work from home, these trends stayed even when the lockdown was over. So, the last thing you would think anyone would spend money on is a body shaper, a wearable that goes beneath clothes to flatten the stomach, lift the butt, and give you a smaller waist. But Kim did the impossible and her line of products sold like crazy, the business being evaluated at a whopping $3.2 billions in 2022. Ladies knew what they wanted, even if they couldn’t strut their purchase yet, so Skims sold like hotcakes. Kudos to Kim for this one, while space-saving workout equipment was obviously going to be successful since people couldn’t hit the gym for a long time, no one expected undergarments to top them.

Testing Skims Body Shapers – Our Feedback

We started testing Skims products with the one item that caught our eye since we discussed putting together this article for you – the Skims Solution Shorts (#1 model – left leg cropped; #2 model – right leg cropped). Think about it. You’re going to a dinner party or an event. You want to look fabulous and catch everyone’s eye. A great outfit you can sport is a high-slit dress. But how can you wear a shaper underneath it without the garment showing? This is what the Skims Solution Shorts grant, the possibility to control belly fat via firm compression, enjoy a buttock lift to impress in any tight dress, and all while permitting you to wear a skirt or dress with a deep slit on one of the legs. An ingenious product that we had fun testing, felt comfy in, and vouch for considering the great firmness it offers, we advise you get one for any emergency. After 7 months of lower-body workouts to look perfect for her brother’s wedding, Sandra was delighted that she could show off her beautifully sculpted legs while flattening that little belly pouch she hasn’t gotten rid of completely yet thanks to this amazing wearable.

Our colleague Libby is expecting, so we had her test out the Skims Maternity Solutionwear Tight, and we must say she looked flawless wearing it. It made her legs look thinner and streamlined the side fat a bit, without her feeling any pressure on her belly. It is obtainable in sizes that range from XXS to 5XL, so if you need any clarification regarding how inclusive the company is when it comes to plus-size customers, this is likely proof enough.

The Skims All-in-One Scoop Neck Long Sleeve Onesie was a bit of a letdown, though. Sure, it does make your curves pop and grants a certain level of firmness, but not enough compared to most bodysuits this company offers. It’s a bit more problematic to put on, so maybe stay away from it if you’re going to take a lot of bathroom breaks.

Honeylove: Betsie Wanted to Look Impeccable on Stage, So She Made Her Own Shapewear

Taking Matters into Her Own Hands

Betsie Larkin is a name fans of EDM are familiarized with since she toured the world for years for the greatest names in this branch of the music industry. What most might not know about this successful businesswoman is that she is the founder of Honeylove, one of the prominent body shaper manufacturers to date. Just like Sara, the founder of Spanx, Betsie has quite an interesting backstory regarding how she came up with the idea to focus on shapewear. While on tour, she obviously wanted to look flawless while performing. But no one’s perfect, and while she is an advocate of self-acceptance, like us all, she wants smooth lines when she walks around in her favorite clothes. But no matter the shapewear she would try on, Betsie was never satisfied with what she got. Some shapers didn’t provide enough compression, others felt downright suffocating, and there was always the matter of the garments rolling down. This is when she decided it was time to create her own brand and put the time, money, and passion into developing body shaping products women of all shapes and sizes would feel comfortable in and that would actually serve their needs without flaw.

Testing Honeylove Body Shapers – Our Feedback

The business’s product that impressed up most is the Honeylove SuperPower Brief. It’s an everyday shaper that ladies of all sizes can wear since the fit range is very inclusive, spanning from XS to 3XL. We liked the multiple color selections, this is a perk that both Skims and Honeylove focus on with their shapewear, while Spanx hasn’t yet colored outside the box, sticking to the classic nude and black options for the most part. This can be disappointing, you need color choices for the garment to go well with any attire. Turning back to the model we tested, we were impressed by the strong, targeted compression that made a huge difference when it came to hiding belly fat. You will look a few pounds lighter as soon as you put it on, and there’s no skintight dress that you will look puffy in anymore.

Another product we tried and must admit surprised us is the Honeylove Queen Brief. It’s the ultimate to instantly enjoy that sexy hourglass figure. Just like the SuperPower Brief, the compression is strong and targeted around the midsection, so if you have a big belly, it won’t be perceptible through clothes anymore. Walk the streets with confidence like never before as our colleague Jean did after putting the Queen Brief on. She looked like a queen and felt like one.

The Honeylove Legging 2.0 was not necessarily a letdown, but we expected more from it after testing the other two products we previously talked about. The material is indeed sheer-proof, which is a plus as a lot of shaping leggings fail in this section and you end up walking the streets with your panties showing. Nevertheless, what we didn’t like was the feel. Sure, the fabric does smooth fat and conceal your flaws, but it’s not as effective as the other shapewear from Honeylove. But we did find the material not as breathable as expected. Walking around in these leggings during hot weather is not the best idea.

Woman in Tight Body Shaping Bodysuit

Spanx vs. Skims vs. Honeylove – Head-to-Head Comparison

The Verdict – Which Shapewear Brand Reigns Supreme?

It’s tough to decide since all three brands have their highs and lows. Price-wise, they all score the same more or less, but there are differentiating characteristics to keep in mind. As aforementioned, Spanx doesn’t do well at all when it comes to color choices. The company still sticks to the classics, black and nude, whereas Skims and Honeylove understand that women need variety when it comes to the colors of their shapewear. After all, you never know what outfit you put together and you surely wouldn’t want the wearable to show through the material. On the other hand, Spanx is the better choice in terms of model variety and high compression. Skims is similar on both fronts, whereas Honeywell is the least preferable of the three in these departments.

When it comes to availability for plus-size women, all three brands score high, with Skims having the upper edge though because of its maternity shapewear and the higher number of products suited for larger queens. In our opinion, you won’t go wrong with any of these brands, Spanx, Skims, or Honeylove. All score well when it comes to compression, comfort, and durability. So take your time, explore what each brand offers, and whatever you pick, we are sure it will be on par with your demands.