Cheryl Shops

Depending on who you ask, skinny pants are either dead or totally going strong; while I am definitely embracing the new loose fits, I still have skinnies in my regular rotation. Now that the weather is cooler, I've found myself wearing them even more often, because they just go so well with big, cozy sweaters (which definitely aren't going anywhere). And since I know you love my Spanx reviews, I decided to give the full honest review treatment to my most-worn pair of the bunch, the Spanx ankle backseam skinny pant. Spanx sent these pants to me for free, but as always, this post contains my 100% honest and unfiltered opinion. 

The perfect pant, ankle backseam skinny 

Spanx has nearly every silhouette under the sun in its "perfect collection," including blazers and skirts, and while I'm not certain which fit came first, I've reviewed many of them in this roundup. What differentiates this pair from the rest is the seam that runs vertically down the center of each leg in back, with a little notch at the ankle. There are faux slit pockets in back and in front, however I don't feel like they provide enough seat shaping to be able to wear these with a shorter top. (If that's what you're after, I highly recommend the 4-pocket pant, which has bigger actual pockets in back and a more intense level of compression.) That said, this pant can read dressy—I often wear mine with an oversized blazer and a low heel—which makes it a great choice for work. 

The fabric

The backseam pant is made of a 68% rayon/28% nylon/4% elastane blend with an 80% polyester/20% elastane lining. It's technically the same breakdown as the 4-pocket pant, but for some reason, this pant feels like it has a little less compression. The fabric is a substantial double-knit ponte with 4-way stretch, and like nearly all Spanx pants, it has that magical hidden panel in front to hold everything in, plus a wide, comfortable elastic waistband. They're thick enough to smooth over any bumps you may have—my cellulite is completely undetectable in these—while still looking sleek and streamlined. As a bonus, these pants are machine washable! I wash mine on the delicate cycle  on cold and hang them to dry to prevent the stretch from breaking down. 

The fit

The ankle backseam skinny runs true to size. I am wearing a medium, as recommended by the Spanx sizing guide, which is what I wear in almost all Spanx pants (I am normally a 28 or 6 US). Even though I am a few pounds heavier than usual at the moment, the elastic waistband doesn't dig into my sides, and there's plenty of room to move—that's the beauty of stretch. The legs are very slim-fitting, but not in a seam-busting way, and I find that this pant doesn't fit quite as snugly as the 4-pocket. On me, they flare out a tiny bit at the ankle, which I like.  I am wearing the regular 26" inseam, which hits right at my ankle (I'm 5' 7"), although it comes in a 23.5" inseam for petites and a 28" tall inseam as well. And like everything Spanx, this style comes in sizes XS-3X.

My honest review

Of all the Spanx pants, this is my favorite pair. They're super flattering, thanks to the back seam detail, a decent amount of stretch, and that famous hidden front panel, but they're not so snug that they're uncomfortable to wear. The substantial fabric makes them a little more polished-looking and dress-up-able —they definitely don't read as a legging. That said, they're great on the weekend or while working from home; I especially like wearing mine with a nice cozy sweater. Even if skinny pants are declared dead, I will continue to wear this pair—they're just too good not to! 

OUTFIT DETAILS: J.Crew field jacket (current version here) | NakedCashmere sweater (similar here) | Proenza Schouler tee (similar here) | Spanx ankle backseam skinny pant | Hermès Constance bag | New Balance sneakers (similar here)