I'm patiently waiting for this swimsuit to come in more colors. (Photo: Spanx)
We all know bathing suit shopping is a bear. But I'm here to tell you that I found a unicorn (what's with all this animal talk?!). But seriously, I brought Spanx’s new Pique Shaping Plunge One-Piece on a recent trip to Italy and have never felt so good in a swimsuit. I’ve long been a fan of the brand’s shapewear and clothing alike, so when they offered to send me a suit to test out I jumped at the chance and it came right in time for my vacation.
After my eight-hour flight, I was sore and tired and wanted nothing more than to relax in my hotel’s spa area which had a pool, sauna and salt room. As I changed out of my plane gear and slipped into the one-piece for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised at how flattering it was.
The sleek black suit has a plunging V-neckline in the front and back and a high-leg bottom that didn’t dig in and made my legs look even longer. It has a beautifully textured fabric that gives it a fashion-y feel and smooths out lumps and bumps. Like the brand’s signature shapewear, the swimsuit boasts power mesh that literally sucked me in everywhere. Score!
The backside offered just enough coverage without looking matronly and the straps stayed in place the entire time I wore it. It comes with removable cups at the bust, which I kept in because they gave me a nice shape and lifted everything to give a hint of cleavage without feeling too exposed. I can honestly say the swimsuit was so flattering on, it gave me a big boost of confidence walking into the Italian spa — which was much needed after such a long flight.
And I wasn’t the only one who thought so. As soon as I sauntered in, I received several compliments on the understated bathing suit with a few people asking where I got it. In fact, I loved it so much I wore it a few days later as a bodysuit while out to dinner, capitalizing on the bodysuit trend revival. It particularly came in handy because the pants I planned on wearing had become a bit tight after a few days of eating pasta, but once I put the swimsuit on, everything was sucked in and my pants magically fit again.
The one-piece ranges in size from XS to 4XL so it should be easy to find the perfect fit. At $188, it's on the expensive side, but since I plan on wearing it all summer long — both on and off the beach — I would say it’s well worth the price and I would definitely buy another one if more colors are ever released (hint, hint to Spanx).
