Secrets of a Personal Shopper

This post is sponsored by Kohl's. I received the included shapewear as compensation.

Is shapewear right for you? In a word, yes. No matter your shape or size, we all could use a little help. Personally, comfort is my number one concern when wearing control garments. I need it to stay in place and smooth everything. If I can't breathe it's just not for me. Lucky for you I spent over two hours at Kohl's trying on some amazing shapewear from ASSETS Red Hot Label by SPANX, Bali, and Maidenform - so now you won't have to :)

As a personal shopper my first stop is always the lingerie department. The foundation for any good look is what you're wearing underneath.  Confidence can go a long way but so can the right undergarments.  Most of my underwear is flesh toned so I decided to go a little sexier with black for all my new purchases.

To start, ask yourself - are you wearing the right size bra? There are multiple studies that indicate that most women don't. Just look around and you'll see women spilling out of their bras - and just as bad, women with their breasts unsupported and hanging low. Being in my forties and having had three kids, 'the girls' are just not what (or where) they used to be. Whereas I used to wear colorful padded, push-up bras for my B- breasts of my youth, I now look for wide straps, molded cups, and even minimizers for my now D+ size.

 I have to confess I've been wearing my favorite stretched out 32D for a little longer than I should have. Having put on a few pounds it was time for an upgrade. This was the first time I tried on Bali bras and I was VERY Impressed. I tried on dozens of styles by multiple brands but Bali offered the support and comfort I need these days.  I sized up to a 34D and the fit is perfection. The One Smooth U Ultra Light Illusion Convertible Full-Coverage Bra is pretty and did everything I could ask for out of my ideal bra.  Plus the convertable aspect is a bonus - straps sticking out where they don't belong is a huge pet peeve for me.

My sister in law wears biker shorts under everything. She even got me hooked on stealing my husband's boxer briefs to sleep in. My thighs have always met (Even when I was size tiny, I've never been blessed with that mythical thigh gap) and 'chub rub' has been a long time companion.  This might be a little TMI but I find that coating my thighs with stick deodorant makes the warmer weather so much more pleasant. For those of you like myself battling chub rub or trying to hold in your post baby belly - the right slimmer is just what you need.

The perfect shaper shorts are really hard to find. So many roll, cut in, don't breathe, or are too short in the leg. I think I tried every one in the store. No joke. For me comfort is my number one priority - and I'd rather be able to breathe than take me down several sizes. It's all about smoothing out the lumps and and clean lines. I knew I found the one when I tried on the Maidenform Shapewear SmoothTec Thigh Slimmer in size medium. I pulled it out to wear under my new floral dress on Passover. And a quick tip - yes, you can wear black undergarments under lighted toned garments as long as they aren't see-through.

For those of you who want your shapewear out, I've found the perfect solution. I'm a whole lot obsessed with my ASSETS Red Hot Label by Spanx Shaping Capri leggings. These are high waisted and don't roll down. Personally I think a capri will elongate your leg more so than a standard legging - plus it felt a little more spring-like. These suck you in all the right places and aren't too sheer (a must in a good legging)! Somehow I've always worn a medium in Spanx (even when I was lighter) and these super stretchy leggings are a perfect fit.

I wore these all day in the City last week and I'm wondering why this is my first pair of Spanx leggings. I've worn their tights for years and these are every bit as amazing.

Be sure to check out all of Kohl's amazing shapewear here and the Kohl's Shapewear Guide here.

If you wear shapewear, what do you look for in your perfect undergarment?  I've really been a fan for years. I recently dug out an old shaper slip from 20 years ago and it's so small it looks like it would fit my 10 year old daughter LOL.

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Affiliate links are not associated with Kohl's.

Thank you to Kohl's for kindly sponsoring this post. All opinions are 100% honest & completely my own. 

XO
Michelle in Control

Target toy sale fail and weekly shopping update...

This post was going to be my big Target toy sale haul. Twice a year, Target clearances their toys to 70% and that's usually when I stock up for the year. On Thursday, I grabbed the girls and arrived at my first Target - and there was nothing. No clearance toy isle, not even one endcap full of marked down toys. Just nothing. Ella was especially disappointed because she dressed for the occasion.

I'm training them young.

Not to be dissuaded, after 15 minutes of pacing the store we headed to our next location. We spotted a few toys on endcaps but they were still ringing up at 30-50% off. I guess I'll try again next Thursday...

Found this flask mixed in (only 50% boo) and thought it was worth a share :)

I also spotted these Lilly for Target espadrilles in the shoe department - but they were still full price so I left them. Weird.

My girls refused to leave until I took a few pictures of them outside.

I had an hour to kill before I headed to Nordstrom Rack to do my price adjustments for Clear the Rack (you get an extra 25% off red ticked clearance, and they will adjust for purchases within 7 days) so I headed to Office Depot to get my penny school supplies. All summer Office Depot has been offering select supplies on sale for a penny or a quarter every week. As always, I've been stocking up on the cheap. I just checked and they don't have anything for a penny this week but I'll probably swing by for the $0.10 composition notebooks.

Still had some time so I finally used my free $15 coupon from Kohl's. Kohl's has the best coupons (they always have amazing online deals with lots of codes to stack) and I love the free money they send you. I chose this Essie Gel Setter set in Ballet Slippers because it was exactly $15 so it came out to $0.00 OOP! They have some decent brands at the beauty department at Kohl's. I've picked up some of my Real Techniques makeup brushes there on the cheap.

Nothing better than free!

Made it to Nordstrom Rack 3 minutes before they opened the doors and was first on line for my adjustments. I never find anything during Clear the Racks, it's always in the weeks before. Too bad I couldn't adjust my new tangerine Rockie bag I picked up a few weeks ago. I'm just happy to have found one at the Rack.

Lastly, I'd like to thank the jerk who sideswiped my car and cracked my light. Thanks.

Hope you did better than me at Target. I've been drooling at haul pictures on Facebook and Instagram so I know the clearance it out there. I keep thinking that maybe I'll try another location but honestly my kids don't need anything and my gift stockpile has enough to last me to the next sale. I know I still owe you a blog sale but don't worry, it's coming and gonna be good!

XOXO
-Shoppinggal