For one of the biggest back to school parties, I chose an amazing, skin-tight sweater-dress to wear. It was beautiful on the hanger, but when I tried it on, my dream of bringing sexy back in 2007 was crushed. The problem? I had a pouch that made me look like I was about four-months pregnant. But I bought the dress anyway and then went in search of the perfect undergarment to suck it all in. I found the best under-the-outfit wardrobe in the brand Spanx, a line of underwear that can bring your body to perfection, which was invented by entrepreneur Sara Blakely. Her line of suck-it-all-in body shapers have been featured on the pages of Vogue, Glamour and Self and seen on programs such as The View and Oprah.

The original Spanx invention, which Blakely peddled to manufacturers in North Carolina and eventually convinced Neiman Marcus to sell, was an elastic pair of pants that had a high waist, leading up to the ribcage, to make love-handles, pouches, and loose skin disappear under the tightest formal wear, little black dress or skinny jeans. Spanx is the secret behind this season’s hottest trends, and the reason our celebs look so great in even the smallest outfits.

Blakely’s brand has grown to all types of elastic assortments, including the version that I wore with my skintight sweater dress called the Slim Cognito Seamless Mid-Thigh Bodysuit, an elastic pair of shorts with a waistband leading up the bra. The Mid-Thigh Bodysuit was perfect for thinning out my thighs and straightening out my tummy. There are even styles for every other problem area you can possibly have: if you think you have too much junk in the trunk, try the Power Panties, and if you have that lower-abdomen pudge, try the Hide and Sleek Wide Lace Shaping Panty.

You can also purchase shirts, pants, camis and skirts from Spanx that should be worn as clothes instead of underwear, but still have the guarantee of perfecting your shape. Also, when buying these super-trendy undergarments, make sure that you get them in a size smaller than what you actually wear to ensure the tight fit. But, be careful not to aim your sights too small or else the Spanx will leave a bulge where it ends. 

Spanx, which is definitely not a fancy name for old granny panties, are sold in both nude and black and range in price from $25-$70. You can get your own pair of Spanx at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdales, Saks Fifth Avenue, Marshall Fields or at http://www.spanx.com/.