The essential item to consider if you’re looking to combine dramatic results with long-term support for slimming in the the area of the waist is the SlimVest. This runaway best-seller utilizes compression to create thermal activity in the midsection. That means wearers look visibly slimmer the moment they put on their SlimVest and often report sustained loss of inches with extended wear. Follow the instructions to achieve the best performance from this garment and see why so many of our customers rely on this garment on a daily basis.

If you’re a post-partum mom the Belly Bandit is a must-have. This adjustable band wraps around your waist as you recover your pre-pregnancy shape. The pressure created by the Belly Bandit benefits wearers in many ways, from reducing the long-term appearance of stretchmarks and extra skin to aiding in recovery.

If you want to integrate your shaping into a garment you’re not afraid to show off, you will love the Glamouflage Cupped Shaping Cami with Lace by Skinnygirl Smoothers n’ Shapers. It’s glamorous look and pretty detailing makes it an accessory to style and slimming.

Fans of tight-lacing absolutely must see the Silk Floral Brocade Corset. This is a maximum control garment. When you put it on you will see and feel the dramatic results that come with a genuine steel boned corset. If this is the item for you, give yourself a few extra minutes to dress, as the lacing may take a moment to master. But when you get comfortable with your corset you won’t be able to resist the over the top hourglass shape it creates.

And last but not least, why only enjoy the visual look of a slimmer figure when you can make your shaper workout for you. The High Waist Mid Thigh Shaper by ShaToBu actually increase the amount of calories that your body burns as you do the normal activities that make up your day. Just pull on your shaper and watch as it encourages sustained slimming.

1. Lavonne Bustless Slip
2. Red Carpet Tape
3. Feather Lite
4. Never Say Never Bootie Lace Thong
5. Firming Bronzer
6. Longline Smooth Strapless Bra by Dominique

It’s almost Mother’s Day, a very special time of the year for us. At Hourglass Angel, we believe that all moms, whether they go to an office every day or stay at home, do the most important job in the world, so that makes May 13th pretty special. We are especially proud that new moms make up such a large part of the women that we serve, so we thought we would take this opportunity to showcase a few of our favorite products that are specially created for our new mama clientele in celebration of the holiday in their honor.

When you’re with a new baby, you need solutions for the unique set of challenges your changing body experiences. First, of the many skin care brands we’ve tried and tested, Mambino Organics is definitely one of our favorites. This maternity specialty line has crossed over into popularity amongst all women who love glowing, healthy skin. And one of the best ways to learn about this line is the Anti-Stretch Rebound Skin Duo by Mambino, which contains two of their most popular products, Oh Baby! Belly Butter and Moisture Me Body Toning Oil. These two items work together to create healthier skin and combat stretch marks. And we know that once nursing moms try the Bamboob-ease Soothing Therapy Pillows by Bamboobies, with their warm and cool comfort, they’ll never want to go without them again.

We have a couple of superstar garments that you must see if you’re nursing. It goes without saying that one of the essential tools for any new mom is a great nursing bra and lucky for our ladies, we have one of the finest of its kind in stock. The Allure Nursing Bra by Bravado is one of the most popular nursing intimates in the world for its comfort, fit and simple design. Plus, this bra has the benefit of spacer foam, which has been shown to help reduce breast infection. If you want to combine a great nursing bra with the benefit of a control tank, you can’t do any better than the Nursing Bra Tummy Control Long Tank by Glamourmom®. When you’re in the process of returning to your pre-baby body, you’ll love the support and slimming that comes with this nursing solution.

And of course, if you’re interested in a little assistance reshaping after your pregnancy, we have the tools you need to trim and tone your body. The Post Pregnancy Hip Slimming Corset by HipSlimmer is a garment you wear on your hips to help reverse the spreading that occurs there during birth. And of course, the runaway best-selling Bamboo Belly Bandit is a new mom must-have. This adjustable band provides support and slimming for new baby bellies.

One of the easiest ways to perk up your behind is a padded panty. If this is an option you’re interested in, there are many great styles to choose from. One of our favorite makers of bottom enhancing panties is Bubbles Bodywear. Whether you prefer the classic Foxy Fanny Silicone Padded Panty or want to add some curves to your hips as well with the Bombshell Hip and Butt Padded Boyshort, this brand is a must see if you want to create a shapelier look. The Caboost Padded Panty and Booty Pop are also great options you may want to check out.

But perhaps you’d like to add shape to your own natural rear instead of volume? If this sounds like you, you’re in luck. Many of our body shapers have special lifting bands built in that actually raise the gluteus and round the area. Items like the Katie and the Alexis by Vedette are wonderful examples of this technology and as an added bonus, these garments also slim your midsection creating a more dramatic hourglass figure.

And last, but certainly not least, for those of you who want to achieve a perfect apple bottom without the addition of any shaper at all, we have our most stylish solution yet. Originally developed and popularized in Brazil, the butt-lifting jean (also called levanta cola) creates the shape you’re looking for by design, not padding. Their secret is a heart shaped seam that arcs around the top of the buttocks and wraps diagonally around the hips. This makes, in effect, a supportive pocket for your rear, lifting and rounding. And even better, brands like Verox and Capellini Jeans come in tons of styles with sparkling accents and embroidered detailing, so you can really make this look your own.

At this point it is widely known that many and even perhaps a majority of women wear the wrong size bra. This fact, while often stated, is rarely actually addressed. How do you even know if we’re wearing the wrong size or type of bra for your body shape? There are so many styles and options when selecting a bra that we may fear making a mistake and choosing the wrong bra. It’s important to remember that picking the right garment for you is an art, not a science. And while there are tools that can help you begin the process, the key is actually putting on the bra and seeing how it fits once you think you have a winner.

So let’s start with the basics. You’ll need a measuring tape to get started. Pull the tape around your back towards the front, keeping it under the arms and bringing it to the middle of your chest. Take a snug measurement there under your bust. Insure that the tape measure is flat on your skin and straight across your back. If you get an odd number, round up to the next even number. That number is your band size. Now for the cup: Measure around the fullest part of your bust, but with a slightly looser touch than you used when you measured for the band. Now pull the tape straight around your back, bringing it to the front of your torso. Next, subtract the band measurement that you previously determined from the number you got from the bust measurement. Each inch remaining is one cup size. So if you have 36 inch band size, and a 38 inch cup size, the difference is 2. And that’s a a B cup. 3 inches would be a C cup and so on.

But that’s just the beginning. Now it’s time to choose the right style for you and troubleshoot. Once you’re trying on a bra, you can eliminate a lot of common size issues for yourself. For starters, fit to the loosest hook once you’ve chosen your band size. After you wear a bra, it tends to stretch out. That’s what the extra hooks are for, so prepare in advance for the change in the shape of the garment. Now look at the fit of the cups. If they are overfilled or there is a double bust look when you put your shirt on instead of a nice round curve, consider choosing a full coverage cup or double checking that you have the right cup size. Try a size larger or stay away from demi cup style bras. Now look at the center between the cups. If there is more than one inch there, choose another bra or a smaller band. If you like a little less bra, you don’t have to skip the support. Picking a bra with less space between the cups and a proper band size allows you to look great while keeping a lighter touch. If a minimizer is more your speed, fit is crucial, as flattening breast tissue can actually damage it. Small busted wearers on the other hand may want to explore a side bump to create a natural but round look.

And last but not least, never hesitate to contact us directly. Hourglass Angel created its expert fitting department to insure that you’re always able to benefit from a perfectly fitting foundational garment. We love to answer your questions and will work with you to insure that you look and feel your best at all times!

Bra-vo, bellisima!

A couple of posts on our Facebook page from this week sparked an interesting discussion. A study recently made the rounds in the press showing that there were far more shapes of women than often thought. Notably (and hysterically), broccoli and butternut squash were added to the list. It’s worth mentioning that we have always known that women come in sizes and shapes a lot more complicated than apple and pear. It’s also worth noting that no matter what shape of woman you are now, you contain within you the potential for an hourglass… your own special hourglass.

We wanted to share an example of this idea of the unique hourglass. Check out this image of Nicki Minaj. Nicki is a natural pear shape. Her bust and waist are proportionally small compared to her hips and bottom: the classic beautiful pear. However, her shapewear inspired bodysuit (and, we suspect, cincher) enhance her figure, while following the lead of her natural body type. And this brings home a point that is crucial when talking about shapewear. Nicki isn’t changing who she is in this image. She is amplifying it. You needn’t completely erase your natural shape (whatever that is) to highlight your hourglass curves. Whatever your shape is, there is a body shaper that is perfect to find your beautiful curves and show them off.

And that’s just what we’re here to do!

Michelle Obama: Raised on the south side of Chicago, first lady, Michelle Obama, has earned the admiration of women around the globe, in addition to, not because of her marriage to the President of the United States. A Princeton and Harvard alumni, Mrs. Obama was already a brilliant attorney, advocate and community organizer when she met Barack Obama. Never satisfied to stand idly next to her husband as built his political career, Mrs. Obama has been an ardent voice for poverty elimination around the globe, women’s rights and public health. She continues her political and community service to our nation with her healthy lifestyle programs and remains one of the most admired women on the globe.

Sara Blakely: This youngest female self-made billionaire and Forbes covergirl has her own vision and perseverance to thank for her incomprehensible success. Starting with one simple idea and a whole lot of elbow grease, this former Disneyland employee, turned her billion dollar idea into a brand that has found fans in women around the world. But Sara didn’t stop there. She continued her legacy as a maverick, retaining ownership of 100% of of the company. That risky move made her a billionaire several times over and one of the richest women in the world. Today she continues her work as a businessperson and philanthropist, encouraging women to follow their dreams by her example.

Maya Angelou: Dr. Angelou’s unforgettable reading at the inauguration of President Bill Clinton was a transformative moment for the public art in the United States. While that morning cemented her as a national treasure in the minds of many, her legacy far exceeds that special event. Memoirist, poet, speaker and activist, her work tackles such difficult subjects as race, class, family, gender and age with deftness and beauty. Her honors include a National Book Award nomination, a Pulitzer Prize nomination, a Tony Award nomination, three Grammys for her spoken word albums, the longest-running record on The New York Times Paperback Nonfiction Bestseller List, service on two presidential committees, the National Medal of Arts, the Lincoln Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom and over thirty honorary degrees.

Aretha Franklin: The undisputed Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin has been called the Greatest Singer of All Time and the the ninth greatest artist of all time by Rolling Stone magazine. She has taken home a whopping 18 Grammys and two honorary Grammys. With a staggering 20 No.1 singles on the Billboard R&B Singles Chart and two No.1 hits on the Billboard Hot 100, she boasts a grand total of 45 Top 40 hits. Between 1967 and 1982, she had earned more number one R+B albums than any other and was the first female artist to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In the 1960’s, Franklin’s powerful voice became the sound of the burgeoning civil rights movement and she often joined Dr. Martin Luther King, singing at rallies. And of course, her 2009 performance at the inauguration of President Barack Obama was an unforgettable moment for all who watched, as the Queen of Soul once again became the soundtrack to a pivotal moment in American history.

With spring fever in full force, the season’s trends and styles present a whole crop of shaping challenges. Fortunately, we’ve collected our favorite smoothing and curve creating solutions that are positively perfect for the sheer and chic looks we’re looking forward to this spring. With temperatures warming up, you may not want to add a layer to gain some shaping. If staying cool while you’re looking curvy is important to you, then shaping apparel with the slimming built in, is a great option for you. One of our most popular belly trimming brands is Yummie Tummie. Items such as the Yummie Tummie Tank are versatile essentials you can dress up or dress down depending on your look. New moms will love the Mother Tucker Compression Tank’s tummy taming.

And of course, we all look forward to showing a little leg as the days get longer. Hosiery is one of the best lightweight ways to look lean. Items like the Berkshire Trend Floral Vines Pantyhose are a flirty, fresh route to slender looking legs. You’ll be best dress-ed when you add a shaping slip to your dress or skirt. The Slip Overbra and the Shaping Slip by Slim Me are both wonderful options that will lighten your look without weighing you down. But don’t think that this season means you can’t wear your shaper. From lightweight tanks like the Get the Scoop! Wear Your Own Bra Cami by Skinnygirl Smoothers n’ Shapers to bottom enhancing panty girdles like the Alexis, there’s a shapewear option that’s breezy and beautiful.