SPANX AirEssentials Review: Is It Worth It?

SPANX AirEssentials has become one of those clothing collections I see everywhere. I've featured AirEssentials pieces on Wardrobe Oxygen before, from travel-friendly styles to pieces in capsule wardrobes, and members of the Wardrobe Oxygen Community have also shared their favorites. But I wanted to see what would happen when someone packed several pieces and actually lived in them for a trip.

So when SPANX offered Wardrobe Oxygen the opportunity to choose pieces to review, I asked longtime Wardrobe Oxygen reader Krista if she'd put AirEssentials to the test. Krista chose five pieces from the collection and took them on a work trip, wearing them for travel days, sightseeing, conference sessions, dinners, and plenty of heat and humidity.

Krista is 5'4″ and wears an XL in all five pieces reviewed here. She also uses an electric wheelchair when traveling, which gives her additional perspective on how clothing feels and functions while both sitting and walking.

Krista's SPANX AirEssentials Review

I found SPANX in the early 2000s. A small boutique in my city carried a few pieces. I picked up some black pants. They were lightweight, a bit shiny, and had the shapewear built in. They were like two pieces—pants and shapewear lining—sewn/tacked together. I loved them. I wore them until I no longer could.

When Alison offered me the opportunity to review SPANX AirEssentials, I jumped! I do not usually wear “athleisure” clothing. It just isn't me.  The SPANX line had piqued my interest before. I live in the most casual, relaxed place on the planet. Sundresses and flip-flops are “dressed up.” I do love a maxi dress, but sometimes I crave more. 

Testing SPANX AirEssentials for Travel

I received five pieces of my choice to try. I chose the Wide Leg Pant in Rum Raisin, Colorblock Track Pant in Black, Colorblock Track Jacket in Black, Tie Waist Maxi Dress in Black, and the Pintuck Half Zip Jumpsuit in Herb. The plan was to pack these pieces exclusively for a trip to New Orleans/Lafayette, Louisiana. It’s a work trip, but with some sightseeing and good food thrown in. My hope was that these pieces would allow me to travel comfortably and look put together at the same time. Plus, I’m always searching for options that stay comfortable in the heat. And Louisiana promised to be hot!

Out of the package, these pieces feel so nice: soft and not too creased. Everything arrived well packaged and felt on par with the price point. A quick wash before wear, and we were ready to go into the suitcase. I packed only these AirEssentials pieces from SPANX, my own Universal Standard T-Rex and Tank, one light SPANX shaper (my own), and one all-purpose sundress as a just-in-case backup. Off we go!

SPANX AirEssentials Colorblock Track Pants and Track Jacket Review

Travel day in the black Colorblock Track Pant and Colorblock Track Jacket. I paired these with my Universal Standard T-shirt and Hoka sneakers. I love how this looks. The weight and drape are lovely. I don’t feel like these track pants show enough that shapewear is necessary. The striping on the sides is not only fun, it hides my squishy parts. And while I don’t mind shapewear, I don’t want to travel in it. This outfit is perfect. I look cute at the airport.

I use an electric wheelchair for travel. It lets me be independent while being mindful of my PsA. My first impression is that this outfit makes everything about my travel easy; zippered pockets keep my phone secure, with no binding or digging while maneuvering in the chair. However, this slick, slightly shiny fabric snags easily. While working my way through TSA, the battery bag ended up on my lap. The Velcro stuck to the pants. Oh well.

Upon arrival at the hotel, I still want to love this outfit. Even with the picks and snags, it looks nice. After spending the afternoon walking around the city, I ended up with the jacket tied around my waist. It’s a tad warm for the NOLA heat and humidity, but still incredibly comfortable. I wore this all day. Other than the snags, it held up and wore very well.

SPANX AirEssentials Pintuck Half Zip Jumpsuit Review

Day two on the itinerary, and it’s the jumpsuit. It’s one piece, but it’s not sewn together in the back. It’s the “Take Off Tech” feature, which is supposed to make using the restroom easier. I paired it with my black leather Vionic Winny sneakers and my prescribed insoles. We ventured out for brunch before heading to the conference hotel.

I love the look of this jumper. It’s a little sporty with the pintuck shoulders and surprisingly polished. The wide elastic at the waist sits underneath the top, with the back unattached, so from that angle it looks like two pieces. The AirEssentials fabric fits and feels great, but the jumpsuit shows some of my lumps and bumps underneath.

In the words of the great Dolly Parton, as Truvy in Steel Magnolias, “I haven't left the house without Lycra on these thighs since I was 14.” I don’t mind light shapewear, so I wore my SPANX underneath. It provided a smoother look. Shapewear is a personal choice. You do you. I wanted to look put together the second we got there because we did not leave much time for changing before the conference started.

Alas, I looked down to find snags in this outfit as well. This fabric can be finicky. Still, I received several compliments on this one. They ranged from how soft it felt to how effortless it looked. I was pleasantly surprised. At the end of the day, I found that I was still quite comfortable, even after a day with car travel and the chaos of getting settled into the opening sessions. I happily kept it on while lounging in my room at the end of my long day.

SPANX AirEssentials Tie Waist Maxi Dress Review

Day three in the Tie Waist Maxi Dress. This dress is stealthy. It has this built-in piece of fabric at the center that ties to another situated on the side. This provides some ruching and shaping. The tie makes the dress look more put together. I chose to wear SPANX shapewear with this as well. I styled it with my black leather Vionic Winny sneakers.

This would be easy to dress up with pumps or sandals. The maxi length is great for using my chair, and the side slits make walking and standing comfortable as well. I found myself being very mindful while wearing this to keep it from getting snagged. And still… it snagged anyway. But I rocked this outfit all day without the first tug of discomfort. I wore it for sessions, then added a pop of bling and went off to dinner. Again, back in the room, I did not feel the need to change right away.

SPANX AirEssentials Wide Leg Pants Review

The last day of the conference is more sessions, then travel back to NOLA. I was ready to roll in the Rum Raisin Wide Leg Pant with a black US T-Rex shirt. These are not as elevated as the Colorblock Track Pants. But they feel so nice and are very comfortable. We were encouraged to keep it casual for the last day since we would be traveling, so I figured all would be fine.

And then I looked in the mirror.

These pants are a bit thinner than the other pieces. There are no pockets or adornments. The cut is different, with seams across the high hip line. And these pants show EVERYTHING: my cellulite thighs, the lace on my underwear, the lumps on my hips. And this is not a day I’m willing to wear shapewear.

I want so much to love these pants. And they will be great for days when I’m taking time to rest and nourish myself at home. But I’m not wearing this outfit for meeting vendors. I’m just too self-conscious. I have very similar Costco wide-leg pants that have zippered pockets and do not show my cellulite. The pockets alone would make them a better choice than the Rum Raisin Wide Leg Pants with no pockets.

Glad I grabbed that dress for backup. I did wear the Track Jacket over it. Air conditioning can be the worst. The Track Jacket held up to everything I tossed at it. And yes, it has a snag, too. I changed out of my dress as soon as I was in my NOLA hotel.

How SPANX AirEssentials Held Up After Travel

Travel-home day means a rewear of the Colorblock Pants and Jacket with the US tank. The pants had been hanging in the hotel closet since arrival. I put them in the shower for a (kind of) steam refresh. They looked nice. No funk. That’s a win.

These were just as nice on the trip home. And the jacket came in handy on the chilly plane. It’s a jacket I will wear with lots of things.

Overall, these pieces worked well. I accomplished what I set out to do. Here are some things I found:

• The fabric snags easily. Keep that in mind.
• I found some pilling around the zippers and between the legs. I don’t feel like I wore them hard enough or long enough for that to already be happening.
• These pieces looked nice straight out of the suitcase. No steamer needed. I hung each piece back up after wearing and could likely have reworn each of them again.
• Many of the pieces could be mixed and matched. The Track Jacket worked with everything I took, even the backup dress.
• All pieces have been washed, then dried on low for 30 minutes. I let them line-dry the rest of the way. These items would easily dry overnight.
• Depending on how you wear these pieces, cost might be a sticking point. The longevity of all the pieces is yet to be determined. Still, I do think the SPANX AirEssentials line is comfortable and looks great overall, especially when traveling. I will continue to wear and enjoy these pieces, snags and all. If anything, I won’t be so precious or worried about them now.

SPANX AirEssentials Sizing

I’m 5'4″ and ordered all pieces in XL. I used the SPANX online size calculator for sizing help. I found it accurate for me. The jumpsuit and both pants are a tad too long, but petite wouldn’t have been quite right. I will have them hemmed.

*I’m wearing the Wide Leg Pants as I finish up this post at home.

The Five SPANX AirEssentials Pieces Krista Tested

Piece	Krista liked	Worth knowing
Colorblock Track Pant	Comfortable, flattering, secure zippered pockets, great for travel	Fabric snagged
Colorblock Track Jacket	Versatile layer that worked with everything she packed	Snagged; warm for Louisiana humidity
Pintuck Half Zip Jumpsuit	Comfortable, polished, received compliments	Showed some body texture; snagged
Tie Waist Maxi Dress	Comfortable sitting and walking; easily dressed up	Snagged
Wide Leg Pant	Extremely soft and comfortable	No pockets; showed underwear and body texture

My Take on Krista's SPANX AirEssentials Review

What struck me most about Krista's experience is how differently pieces made from the same AirEssentials fabric performed. The black Colorblock Track Pants made her feel comfortable and put together without shapewear, while the Rum Raisin Wide Leg Pants showed enough underwear and body texture that she changed her planned outfit. The Track Jacket proved to be one of the most versatile pieces she packed.

That's a useful reminder that deciding whether you like AirEssentials isn't necessarily enough to determine whether you'll like every garment in the collection. Color, cut, seams, pockets, and design details matter, especially when you're spending SPANX prices.

I was also disappointed to hear how quickly Krista experienced snagging and some pilling. One trip can't tell us how these pieces will look after a year of regular wear, so I'm especially interested in hearing from those of you who have owned AirEssentials for longer.

If you're shopping specifically for travel, check out my guide to the best travel pants for women, where you'll also find another AirEssentials option with pockets. For more from the brand, you can read my SPANX clothing review, SPANX swimwear review, and SPANX faux leather joggers review.

Do you own anything from SPANX AirEssentials? How long have you had it, and how has the fabric held up? Please share your experience in the comments. Real-world feedback about pilling, snagging, washing, and long-term wear would be especially helpful.

Disclosure: SPANX gifted the pieces in this review. I chose AirEssentials as the focus of the review, and Krista chose which five pieces she wanted to test. SPANX did not pay for or review this article. I compensated Krista $100 for her time and work on this review. All opinions and experiences are her own.

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