Spanx or Primark?

[Sparklegeek]

OK, 40th birthday party looming & have a v fitted clingy dress. Am Shredding like mad but would like a bit of extra help. Have read so many great reviews of Spanx but am balking at the £25-ish price tag. So my question is, are they worth paying 5 times as much for as ones I can get in Primark? Unfortunately I have nowhere locally I can try the Spanx on so can't compare - and the cheapest place online doesn't accept returns as they're underwear. Can anyone advise, if they're as wondrous as some people think I will swallow the cost - but are they?

Never tried Spanx, nor M&S, but the Primark ones work for me.

I have some tesco ones and they do make a difference. I also have a full-on expensive corset which is just too uncomfortable to wear! I will be checking out the primark ones. Thanks for the tip!

Wow crotchless, never thought of that. Do you wear them with pants?

OK, so I need to get to Primark for a trying on session & also find somewhere with one of those Flexees slips cos they do look far more comfy AND attractive than the cycling shorts option. I am on a mission, this combined with my 30-day Shred (on day 3!) will see me disappearing when I turn sideways :o

Back again. Asos have the Flexees slip in black for £22 so think I'll order & compare with Primark. (Free returns so may as well). So will the hem of it not show through the tight dress then? I was going to link to the dress but Asos don't have it any more. Oh - and what knickers do you wear with it? Thanks for the advice S & B-ers!

The material part of the end of the flexee one if v v thin so shouldn't show. It had built in 'knicker'

Thanks Tracy, will give it a go!

I am a bit too fat round the hips and a bit too chunky round the thighs
I have had a pair of Spanx for a few years now and they are Fab! I got them on Ebay U.S (new!) so got a bargain. They go from under the bra line to mid thigh and they hold everything in! They have a discreet flap/hole in order to wee with minimum fuss! I have no experience of M&S or Primark but can certainly recommend Spanx after several years they are still just as stretchy and good as new>

primark baby, i live in them . you do need a panty liner for a long day tho (TMI)

Ive tried Primark & M&S but the best by far Ive found were Debenhams own. They come in a variety of styles but the ones I have go to just under the bra. They are far more supportive than Primark and just give a better line under your dress. Think theyre about £12.

Sparkle geek feel bad I haven't responded am I too late? They told me in store to try 8-10 and. Am def more a 14 than a 12! They were fine

I have Spanx knickers in black lace that go up to under my bust and they are rubbish. Unless I walk bolt upright with tiny geisha steps, they roll down to make a sausage of fabric crowned by my midriff.

I also have Primark similar pants and vest in nude stretchy stuff. They are fab. I wear the vest over the pants. The vest is stronger around the midriff and looser near the shoulder straps, so you don't get one big bulge over your bra line. Only snag with the vest is that the neck is quite high, so you can't wear scoop/v necks. I'm a 12 too (well, a bit 14-y after Christmas!)

Update - thanks to everyone who has replied. I haven't got to Primark yet, but the Flexees slip arrived but I sent it back. It fitted fine & was comfy & not unattractive, but I didn't think it made enough of a difference to warrant the £22 price tag. Combined with the tight dress I also had a great deal of trouble dancing around my bedroom & definitely thought after a couple of minutes of dancing I would be tugging the hem down to make sure it didn't bunch up. It would have bothered me all night.

I have to say - I am impressed though with how the dress looked on me after just 8 days of Shredding & cutting back on carbs a bit :) Yay!

They told me 8-10 and spot on

I have some of these Not sexy but they do work and are comfy.

Hi ladies, great topic. I'm hoping to get into a jump suit in a few weeks. Starved myself for weeks and now piling it all on again. Typical. I'm a size 10-12 but have a mumtum for good measures. Any tips on whether to get the shorts or big knickers? And spanx or primark. My slim and gorgeous cousin really rates the primark ones but I've been disappointed with some of their products in the past so are reluctant to try.

I bought Spanx pants. Just pants but with a band to flatten upyour tummy. I spent the entire day pulling them out of my arse. Very uncomfy and a waste of £20.

Thing is with Spanx, if they are rolling down or up then you have bought a too small size. I think people buy a size down hoping it will hold them in more strongly or make them go down a dress size or something, but it doesn't. It just rolls.

Correctly sized Spanx are SO comfortable. I sometimes wear the ones that come to mid-thigh under dresses in the Summer so that a/ I don't flash knickers with a short dress and b/ I just like that feeling of being gently held in. You should never have to feel that you need to get them off or that you can't eat or breath!!

Why have you rekindled a 5 year old zombie thread? You would have had to search to find it?

I've had Debenhams ones before, I've been wearing some Spanx shorts the go up to my bra and they're amazing. Smoothing and stop my legs rubbing. Worth the money.

Grr, didn't notice it was a zombie! Never mind, it is a topic that hasn't gone out of date.

Because it's a relevant topic ffs.

I agree with it being a relevant post. We are hardly comparing ford cortinas to Ford escorts are we?? Come on @Haffiana. Thanks for the tips ladies and for revamping the thread.

I have had both primark and spanx and prefer the primark version. I really don;t think spanx are worth the price tag.

I've had both and thought the primark ones were way better. I didn't like spanx at all.