Seasonal Affective Disorder is real, people, and winter can affect us in very strange ways. The most notable side effect is turning into a hermit and eating like we’re going into hibernation. Unfortunately, as the warmer weather of spring and summer rolls around, it’s natural to want to start showing off all our cute, new, tight, short, etc. dresses and skirts, and it’s difficult for many women, myself included, to feel completely confident knowing we’re carrying around an extra 5 or 10 pounds of “winter weight.” Shapewear, ie undergarments for women who want a flawless, bulge-free silhouette while rocking even the tightest of clothing, has become my go-to solution for making my favorite spring trends go from great to perfect, and their sexy, slimming effects help to highlight all of my best features even when I’m not actually feeling my best.

According to the Wall Street Journal (of all places), the concept of shapewear has exploded since 2000, which was right around the time that good ol’ Oprah declared it one of her all-time “favorite things”– and if O likes it, you know it’s legit. It can lean towards the pricier side of undergarments, so I only invest in the best and most reliable brand on the market, Hourglass Angel. As a premier retailer of high-quality women’s shapewear, Hourglass carefully curates the newest and most effective garments, so we can all find the perfect solution for our individual needs and goals.

You can find full outfit details below, but two of my all-time favorite Hourglass Angel products are the Miracle Vest Waist Cincher by Squeem and Twilight Lift & Sculpt Jeans by Amia (yes, they make clothing, too!). My Amia Lift & Sculpt Jeans are designed to gently lift your butt for a fuller, firmer appearance, so whether you already have curves, or need a little boost in back, these jeans help by giving you the appearance of a bit more junk the in trunk. The Miracle Vest Waist Cincher is a maximum strength, vest-style trainer that sculpts your midsection by instantly slimming  your waistline 2-3 inches and reducing bra bulge— annnd it supports great posture, which is always a plus for chronic slouchers like me.