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Adrian Wilson / Interior Photography Inc
Spanx opened its first standalone store Nov. 2 in Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va.
Spanx, the popular shapewear company that sells slimming undergarments, has opened its first standalone retail store — just in time for Thanksgiving. (Or should we say, Spanxgiving?)
The Atlanta-based company opened a retail location Nov. 2 in Tysons Corner Center in McLean, Va. The first 100 shoppers received a free pair of hosiery, which normally ranges in price from $26 to $38.
“The Spanx store will be a place where everybody knows your name...and your bra size!,” said Spanx founder Sara Blakely in a written statement. Blakely, 41, was on the cover of Forbes magazine earlier this year after making the company's billionaires list.
Previously, women could only buy Spanx online or at other retail stores such as Nordstrom or Neiman Marcus.
Shoppers at the new store now will be able to get in-person guidance from a member of the sales staff. The team has been trained by Spanx to fully understand the company’s various product lines. “They know which pieces to pair with outerwear garments,” Charlotte Bissell, public relations coordinator for Spanx, told TODAY Money.
Customers looking for some extra support can also call ahead to schedule a one-on-one consultation appointment. “Team members can talk with customers about issues they’ve had in the past and help them fix those,” Bissell said.
Spanx plans to open two more retail stores this year: one at the King of Prussia Mall near Philadelphia, opening Nov. 9, and a location at the Westfield Garden State Plaza in Paramus, N.J., opening Nov. 16.
Spanx has been working to eradicate the VPL (visible panty line) from society since it went into production in 2000. Oprah declared the original Spanx undergarment (which is essentially a pair of control-top panty hose, minus the hose) one of her favorite things that year, and the rest is history. Since then, the humorously named piece has been joined by the likes of the Bra-lellujah! and the Bod-A-Bing!, all of which can be found in the new retail store, along with activewear and even items for the guys.
With the new locations opening just before the holidays, Spanx will likely be providing the foundational support for a lot of parties and events this season. So, what are the must-have holiday party items? Bissell predicts the company’s line of hosiery will be a popular one, as will the Bra-lelluljah!, which helps create a smooth back. But, she cautions, “Shapewear’s not a one-hit wonder. Depending on the outfit, you have different shapewear needs.”
Dana Macario is a Seattle-area writer who has been known to turn to shapewear to help tame her tummy from time to time.
Sara Blakely, the Spanx founder featured on the cover of the current issue of Forbes, stops by during a prom fashion segment to greet her biggest fans.
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Jesus, women. Just pass on the cheesecake. Honestly.
They sell to men too.... just so you know. :)
Spanx=False advertising!!!
When I heard the name, I thought it would be an S&M shop.
Pedestrian, welcome to the new USA.. overweight, hypertensive, diabetic, and racing towards the finish line (death).
It's a self correcting problem and it fixes Social Security because everyone is going to die so much faster now.
Now if we could just figure out how to make bio fuel out of dead fat people we'd break our dependence on foreign oil...
It's such false advertising...eventually the man is going to see your true flabby body when he gets you naked, ladies!
Yeah . . . and she's gonna see yours, pal!
She'll see that before I get her naked ;)
First standalone store - held together with, what else, Spanx.
...and to Jamie: Jeez, that made me laugh. Thanks!!
Election, war in Afghanistan, terror attacks in Libya, murders in D.C., NBP member in front of the polls in Philadelphia.......and MSN wants to report on Spanx
I wish I would have come up with this idea and then I would be the billionaire. I am not a large person and I've tried Spanx. I have to honestly say I was not impressed and even more so on the price. They are very expensive and are not all that. They tear really easy and they roll. I would neve purchase again. If you don't impress me the first time your history.
You meet someone.........You hit it off..........you go home with them eventually........AND THEN COME OFF THE SPANX..........oboy, talk about a SUPRISE!
There is a huge market for today's girdle. The company must be doing very well. There's so much room for expansion.
Seriously though with so many overweight and obese (and it being perfectly okay these days regardless of possible health complications) the company should do very well. Many TLC (TV) shows have obese young women wearing inappropriate bridal dresses. Fat is hanging all over. Being grossly overweight is just not okay. It isn't healthy. I'm not saying everyone has to be a size 6 or 8 but too many people are just not considering diabetes, heart issues and the list goes on.
Spanx me!
I don't think seriously overweight people are the main market for Spanx. Even people at their ideal BMI can have that little back roll they want to flatten out to wear a dress for some special occasion, especially once you get to be 45-50 if you're not a fanatic gym rat. It's not something you'd wear out to the bar every weekend to pick up a guy, it's something you'd wear under your wedding dress (not an inappropriate one; I know what CBL's saying and Spanx won't do a thing for that) to be sure it drapes correctly and give you one less thing to obsess over.
Before Spanx, there were girdles. Before girdles, there were corsets. Why is everyone acting like women's shapewear is a new innovation? It's been around for centuries.
Besides, Spanx are great for smoothing out your figure, especially when wearing clingier fabrics like silk jersey.
YAY!!!! I am canceling my gym membership today!!!!
The one who is really going to get the raw end of the deal is the guy standing there when the spanx comes off and the flab rolls out.
It's just another girdle what's the big deal. I had a job in 1969 that required
that the females wear long pantie girdles under their skirts and long slips over bras.
Because that's what ladies wear. And we were all at correct weight and running
everyday. Airlines did the same thing. Misery then, misery now. Wake up, just
another fad to make women spend money.
I don't know why men think Spanx is lying to them? It's not going to make a girl that is a size 16 go down to a size 6, if that was the case that store would be mobbed. Spanx just smooth of any SMALL lumps and bumps. if you have huge fat rolls Spanx won't work anyway. Tyra Banks wears spanx! oops sorry guys did I spoil you fantasy?
Lastly spanx are meant to make the wearer feel more comfortable with themselves in their clothes.
Spanx is what I'll do to my monkey after seeing my options.