Spanx

Ahead of a party and looking for a smoother finish beneath her trousers, Sara Blakely cut the legs off her control-top tights, and with that one swift action, Spanx was born. Launched in the US in the millennium, the brand’s ethos – as championed by Blakely – is to help women feel great about themselves, with its line of body-sculpting garments growing to encompass Spanx bodysuits, tights and bras. Its iconic shorts, stashed in underwear drawers the world over, are now available in a variety of shades, lengths and support levels, from lightweight and ultra-thin to sculpting high-waist styles.