Spanx Air Essentials Fit Review: Here’s How to Determine What Size to Get

The Spanx Air Essentials set has been on my wishlist for a while, but these luscious sets are definitely a splurge! I patiently waited for the Black Friday sale, but was super torn on which color and length to order. As someone who is perpetually in-between sizes, I decided to order both to see the difference for myself. Sharing my in-depth Spanx Air Essentials fit review, and all the details I wish I knew before I made my purchase 🙂

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Spanx Air Essentials: What I Ordered

I ended up ordering 3 sets: the Spanx Half Zip & Wide Leg Pant – (1) one in Smoke XS – Petite Length, and (2) one in Fig XS – Regular Length. My third set was the Half Zip & Slim Flare Pant in Smoke Shimmer (a new festive color) – S for the Top, XS Regular for the Bottom. Did I say I was indecisive?

Here is how all 3 sets looked on me, and keep reading to see which set I ended up keeping! I share these details because return shipping costs $6 per order, so to save yourself the hassle, use this guide to find the perfect size for yourself!

Spanx Air Essentials: Regular vs Petite Length

For reference, I am just under 5’6″ and almost always wear the ‘Regular’ inseam for bottoms. However, plenty of reviews noted that the Spanx Air Essentials pants (all cuts) run long, and I found this claim to be accurate. There is 2-inch inseam difference between the Petite (~28-in) and Regular (~30-in) length, as mentioned on the Spanx website.

See below for the difference when the two pairs are overlaid, as well as worn on me with shoes. It was a tough call, but with shoes, I think the ‘Regular’ length looked better on me. The ‘Petite’ length looked slightly cropped, and hits the ankles. Ideally, however, I wish they could shorten the Regular inseam by just a half inch!

AirEssentials Wide Leg Pant vs Slim Flare Pant

Of course, my Spanx Air Essentials fit review would not be complete without comparing different pant cuts. I normally look better in slim flare silhouettes than straight / wide leg. However, I found the opposite was true this time! The Slim Flare Pant was a little too baggy in the thigh area, despite ordering their smallest size.

On the other hand, the Wide Leg Pant felt friendlier of all body types, with a subtle relaxed fit that is still fitted through the hips. (I sized down to an XS, and found this to look best) If this is your first time purchasing an AirEssentials set, I suggest their Wide Leg Pant to start.

Spanx AirEssentials Smoke vs Smoke Shimmer

The Smoke Shimmer is a new festive color that Spanx introduced this year, and I immediately purchased when it was 50% off during one of their ‘daily deals.’ I was a little nervous that the fabric would feel scratchy with Lurex incorporated into it, but the opposite was true. Their shimmer fabric felt sleeker, and more slippery than their usual Air Essentials fabric.

There are also other subtle differences. For example, their Shimmer pant does not come with a drawstring. The color is also a little more grey than the non-shimmer version without looking too over-the-top sparkly.

Half Zip Fit Review:

I tried both a S and XS in the Half Zip, and the difference in width was ~1″. As for the sleeves, the length was a difference of ~0.5″, and the sleeve widths were a little slimmer too. With Tops, I don’t mind sizing up to get a little more space. It comes down to a matter of preference.

Things to Know if You Are Buying Spanx AirEssentials for the First Time:

Spanx charges a $6 return fee for each order, so if you are unsure of your size, I would recommend purchasing multiple sizes in one order as opposed to separately. Also if you ever purchase their sets during a special sale, those are usually ‘Final Sale’ (no returns or exchanges allowed). So be mindful!

As someone who is 5’6″, I did find their ‘Regular’ length to run slightly longer than what I am used to. However, it fit me better than their ‘Petite’ length. Among the styles I tried, I preferred their classic Air Essentials material over the shimmery one for a softer and ‘foamy’ feel. And of course, their best-selling Spanx Half Zip & Wide Leg Pant combo was the favorite out of everything I tried!

I hope you found this Spanx Air Essentials fit review helpful, and happy holidays!