Workout Gear That Makes It Look Like You Workout

By Liana Schaffner, Allure Magazine

Whenever I put on workout pants, I'd like to run a mile—in the opposite direction of the gym, yoga studio, and any other place filled with earnest fitness types and full-length mirrors. Why? That clingy, stretchy fabric shrink-wraps every inch of my legs, but stops right at the waist, producing a lumpy, dumpy midsection that only a strategically placed gym bag can conceal.

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That's why I'm kind of giddy over a new breed of activewear that streamlines your core as effectively as a couple hundred crunches—or a pair of Spanx. It's called Apifeni (like, "epiphany") and it's the brainchild of attorney-turned entrepreneur Danielle Dobin, who developed the idea after the birth of her son, James. "I wanted to get back in shape, but I felt self-conscious about my body, and my workout clothes only exacerbated my problem areas," says Dobin. "Plus, they just weren't functional. Every time I did a downward dog, I had to pull up my pants." Dobin went home and began designing high performance gear with an even higher waist that supports (read: sucks in) your stomach. The response was encouraging and immediate. "Women kept approaching me to find out where I got my leggings. I realized this was something worth developing and sharing."

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The tummy-tightening, slip-resistant results have taken off like a marathoner, winning fans as far across the spectrum as former White House press secretary Dana Perino and former Playboy bunny Kendra Wilkinson. And now, Allure readers can get in on the action, too—with a discount. Log on to apifeni.com and enter the promotion code alluresummer to get 20 percent off and free shipping on Apifeni apparel from now until August 30!