Today I finally received the Higher Power shapewear from Spanx that I had promised to review a few days ago. I had theorized this would be the perfect solution to flatten and smooth out your lower tummy to look better in pencil skirt or just generally to wear under skirts for better shape and more coverage for those windy days.

Well, it certainly does all those things and more. Not only was my tummy completely flat in pencil skirts, but somehow this thing created a butt for me out of nowhere. I had really never seen it before. I literally said “what the hell?” out loud.

I’m wearing: J.Crew Softspun Cotton Henley Tee, Banana Republic Pique Skirt (left), J.Crew Sunshine Peony Pencil Skirt (right), Nine West Getby Wedges

The top extends all the way up your ribcage so it doesn’t roll down when you sit or move. I guess the only con I can say about this is that it definitely feels like an extra layer of clothing, very much like a tight corset, so your skirts will feel slightly tighter and it’ll be slightly harder to bend over or sit down because you’re so held in by it. Perhaps I’m just not used to shapewear. However, it accomplishes everything it’s intended to, and I’m definitely going to turn to it whenever I wear anything I’m remotely self-conscious in. For only $36, it’s totally worth it. Get it from Bare Necessities here.

The Double Breasted Merino Cardigan is no longer on the site, but since items pop back up at JCrew.com all the time, I figure it wouldn’t hurt to post about it, especially since this apparently was not a popular item at all for J.Crew. My guess is because the whole double-breasted thing is kind of unusual on a sweater and probably a foreign concept to many.

I liked it from the very beginning. It looks slouchy and unique. I never pulled the trigger because I had theorized that it would eventually go on sale from lack of popularity/sales. When it finally dropped to $29, I snagged it. My original thought was, this would be great for those days when I’m wearing a more fitted top that may reveal that relatively small but still existent lower stomach pouch of fat that all of us women unfortunately deal with. The double breasted aspect of the cardigan would help cover that up.

I’m wearing: Anthropologie Coil Flower Tank, Banana Republic Pique Skirt, Gucci Grease Platform Sandals (Similar here)

And it does do that, especially since it’s black. However, after wearing it for the day, my worst fear came true and it instead felt like the cross-over double breasted part was accentuating that area rather than hiding it. It formed almost like a small band around it. I immediately regretted getting a Small, my usual top size, because this kind of sweater is meant to be slouchy and Medium would’ve fit that bill much better. But there’s a silver lining. It looks just like a regular, long, fitted cardigan when unbuttoned!

I already have way too many black cardigans, but at least I know that one of these days, when the problem area *goes away*, I’ll have a multi-functional cardigan. Plus, I just love J.Crew’s merino sweaters. They drape so well and they’re so comfy. All in all, I recommend this sweater if you size up or if you have zero body issues. Check back at JCREW.com for popbacks!