The Problem I Hit
Honestly, my Spanx half slip used to drive me up the wall by lunchtime. Every. Single. Day. It felt like a constant battle – the waistband digging in above my hips, the fabric slowly rolling down, and don’t even get me started on the thigh seams rubbing when I walked. Felt like I was fighting my own clothes just trying to look smooth! Tired of constantly yanking it up or hiding in the bathroom trying to readjust, I decided enough was enough. I was determined to make this thing actually work for me, all day, without wanting to rip it off.
My Frustrating Experiments (Before I Got Smart)
First, I tried just pulling it higher. Like, way higher than felt natural. Big mistake. Instant muffin top situation and the waistband felt like it was cutting me in half within an hour. Bad news bears. I gave up on that pretty quick.
Then, I figured maybe I needed a size up? I swapped my usual size for the next one. Boom – baggy crotch. Yep. Not the smooth look I was going for. And guess what? It still rolled down! Just started happening lower. Ugh. Waste of time.
I even briefly flirted with safety pins. Pinned the slip to my underwear waistband. Look, it worked to keep it up, kinda. But hello pins poking me! Plus, my underwear rode up along with the slip? That was weird and uncomfortable. Nope. Not sustainable.
The Lightbulb Moment & Simple Fixes That Actually Worked
I was rummaging through my sewing box feeling cranky when it hit me. Basic, cheap stuff I already owned might just save me. Here’s exactly what I did (step-by-step):
- Got the slip itself ready: Grabbed my problem slip and laid it flat on my bed. Made sure it wasn’t twisted.
- Dug out the clear elastic: Found a leftover roll of clear, stretchy elastic braiding (maybe 1/4 inch wide? Doesn’t really matter). Didn’t need much. Found my scissors too.
- Measured and cut: Took the slip around my natural waist where it SHOULD sit. Added an extra inch for overlap.
- Went to the INSIDE: Turned the slip inside out. Focused on the top edge, the silicone grip part that’s supposed to stick but fails.
- Started sewing: Used a simple zig-zag stitch on my sewing machine (could definitely hand sew it too, might take longer). Starting about an inch to the side of a seam, I carefully stitched one end of the elastic down directly onto that silicone strip inside, right along the top edge. Pulled the elastic slightly taut (but not super tight!) as I sewed along the entire waistband from the inside. Securely stitched down the other end.
- Turned it right side out: Put it back on immediately.
The result? The slip finally stayed UP! The added grippy elastic inside boosted the failing silicone and anchored the whole thing much better to my skin/clothes underneath. No more rolling, no more constant tugging.
But what about the chafing? Yeah, that thigh seam still bugged me. Easier fix! While the slip was inside out, I took some basic body glide balm (the stuff runners use!) and carefully rubbed a thin layer along the seam allowance on the inside thigh area. Just where it rubs. Let it soak in/dry. Instant smoother slip!
The Final Result
Okay, so does it look perfect on the inside now? Nope. There’s a zig-zag stitch and a piece of elastic along the top. But honestly? Who cares? It’s inside! And the body glide? You can’t see it at all.
What matters is this:
- I wore it ALL DAY yesterday. Like, seriously 10 hours straight.
- I forgot I was wearing it. Zero rolling. Zero digging.
- Walked a ton downtown – no thigh fire, just smooth sailing.
No major spending. No fancy products. Just basic supplies and about 15 minutes of my time. This slip is finally pulling its weight instead of stressing me out. Works for me anyway! Give these simple tweaks a shot if yours is acting up.
