Sara Blakely, founder of the universally recognized shapewear SPANX, will make a personal appearance to launch Haute Contour by SPANX, a sumptuous collection of lingerie-inspired looks designed to shape and enhance one’s body.  Additional attendees to be released prior to the event as applicable

SPANX, Inc.® proudly introduces the first ever Sexy, Sumptuous, Shapewear with a new brand, Haute Contour! For years, the First Lady of Shapewear, Sara Blakely and SPANX Inc, have created shaping solutions to help women look and feel great in their fashions – now they are bringing fashion to shapewear with beautiful pieces designed to slim the derrières and torsos of fashionistas everywhere. Haute Contour by Spanx is truly the dessert of shapewear – now you can have your shape and sexy too!

Sara Blakely, founder of SPANX, Inc. said, “Women and men would always ask me if I could create sexy shapewear, and now I have with Haute Contour.  Each piece of this lingerie-inspired collection is shaping, sumptuous, and ready to be seen in!”

The event will be held at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York 611 5th Avenue New York City, Intimates on Ten (10th Floor) and take place on Thursday, March 26, 2009 Press Call Time: 4PM, 4:15PM: Press Line with Sara Blakely (additional guests as applicable) Cocktails/Event: 5PM – 7PM

About Sara Blakely: Nine years ago, Sara Blakely began her mission to make the world a better place, one butt at a time. A frustrated (yet fashionable) consumer-turned-entrepreneur, Sara invented SPANX Footless Pantyhose and single-rearendedly revolutionized the hosiery industry. Obsessed with creating comfortable, slimming garments that minimize figure flaws, Sara reinvented shape-wear with innovative designs and smart features and won the hearts of fashion-loving women, from Oprah Winfrey to Gwyneth Paltrow.

The HBO Shop in New York City has commissioned Natalie Chanin, designer and founder of clothing label Alabama Chanin, to design a special collection of “Alabama Chanin for HBO” limited-edition, embellished t-shirts. Each design will be one-of-a-kind, hand-made and recycled from previous HBO collections featuring logos and key themes from hit programs like Entourage, True BloodSM, Flight of the ConchordsSM, Sex & the City and The Sopranos\.  The collection includes men’s and women’s t-shirts with Natalie’s signature hand-stitching, embroidery and appliqué details.

Alabama Chanin is a lifestyle company that creates an array of unique, limited-edition clothing, jewelry, furnishings and textiles using a combination of organic and recycled materials that are sourced locally.  Natalie Chanin launched the brand in 2006 in an effort to preserve American craft traditions and a community-based culture. Each piece is hand-crafted by local artisans who live and work in communities in and around Florence, Alabama.  A 2005 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Awards nominee, Chanin has been featured in WWD magazine and recently showed her 2009 fall collection in New York City during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week.  In addition to the HBO Shop, her clothes can also be found at Barneys New York.

The Alabama Chanin for HBO collection will be available in April at the HBO Shop in New York City (1100 6th Ave. at 42nd St), (212) 512-SHOP and www.HBO.com/store. The t-shirts will retail between $65 and $85.

Dedicated to developing innovative product lines, the HBO Shop offers visitors the opportunity to purchase an array of quality branded merchandise inspired by HBO’s award-winning programs.  The groundbreaking HBO retail hub first introduced earth-friendly products last year with a collection of popular organic travel accessories.