Kelly Meharg, Alice Hampson and Bel Crawford bite the bullet and buy Skims – are they worth the hype? What’s the sizing like? And should you buy them too?
The three of us all made our purchases online, through the official Skims site – but later this year Kiwis will have the opportunity to buy Skims in person with an Auckland stores announcing they will stock Skims later this year.
Faradays – a luxury multi-level development on Queen Street that is set to open in August 2026 – has made their first designer announcement, the NZ$8.8 BILLION dollar brand co-founded by Kim Kardashian, Skims. The founders of Faradays say that Skims will be one of the ore affordable lines available at the store.
One of the more tricky parts of buying things from Skims is working out which size to actually go for. The three of us have all had quite different luck with our purchases – although, Bel’s is certainly not down to luck any more, she’s a serial purchaser with plenty of tips for how to get the best fit.
Here’s how our three different experiences with Skims have gone, plus the best tips for what to buy and how to work out the size you actually need…
Kelly’s Story:
It was a moment of equal parts celebration, equal parts despair. Celebration because once I pulled on my Skims bodysuit and saw how snatched my stomach was I was THRILLED, and despair because I knew I’d just given $100 of my money – and now probably more – to Kim Kardashian. Oh Kelly, what have you done!?
But, in my defence, the universe pretty much made my buy Skims. My algorithm was relentless – I couldn’t open my phone without seeing an ad. And also, my jeans are, ahem, uncomfortably tight because obviously the dryer shrunk them. Obviously.
In a moment of weakness, three rosé’s deep (could THAT explain the tight jeans….) that I bit the bullet and ordered myself a Skims Sculpting Thong Bodysuit.
In a remarkably short amount of time – I ordered on a Thursday and it arrived on a Tuesday, and that was over Easter AND it was coming from the US, so super-impressive there, plus it was free shipping – I had my hot little hands on a leotard that looked like it belonged on a Cabbage Patch Doll.
But as I pulled it on, I couldn’t help but marvel at how my body looked. Your girl was snatched, honey – the tummy was in, the waist was defined, the boobs were supported. The aforementioned jeans suddenly had space – SPACE – between the waistband and my stomach. THAT’S an Easter miracle I can get behind.
I posted to my Instagram that I’d bought and loved Skims, and I have never had such a flood of feedback from my friends, either confirming that they too had bought Skims and loved them, or else asking for sizing and fit advice (for your reference, I’m a size 12 and got a L).
So, figuring if so many of my mates were curious, I thought Capsule readers would be too. I’m now throwing over to our resident Skims expert Bel, whose bought a few things from Kimmy K, for her what to buy guide – and what NOT to waste your money on.
Bel’s Expert Tips:
As I’m writing this, I got a notification that there’s a new episode of The Kardashians on Disney+. Kimberly, are you watching me?
My Skims #journey began when I fell victim to buying the viral Skims dress – let me introduce you to her as the first Skims option I reckon is totally worth your money:
WHAT TO BUY:
The Soft Lounge Dress
The Soft Lounge Long Slip Dress went viral for a reason. It cinches in all the right places and has thousands of reviews raving about how flattering it looks -once I put it on I started prancing around like Kimmy K herself. You can dress it up or down, the fabric feels soft on your skin, it’s comfortable and let me tell you, it looks chic!
There are a number of dupes of the viral dress – I have inspected some of them as the self-appointed quality control officer I think I am, but the quality isn’t as good and you would probably end up buying the real deal anyway.
So naturally, coming into the colder months I convinced myself I needed the long sleeved version as well (it didn’t take much, just one late night shopping purchase. Aren’t those the best types of dopamine hits?!).
The Sculpting Bodysuit with Snaps
Like Kelly and despite my boyfriend telling me not to give my money to “that woman”, I caved and bought a Sculpting Bodysuit. I went with the full brief one, I didn’t want to risk it being too short in the body and give myself a g-string wedgie (we’ve all been there right?!). When I took it out of its packaging it looked like togs for an infant! Don’t stress though, like some kind of sorcery the fabric stretches perfectly when you put it on. I’m considering repurchasing in a nude-coloured option too, as a girl needs options depending on the colour of her outfit!
WHAT NOT TO BUY:
The Cotton Jersey T-Shirt
From my Skims purchasing experience (and IMHO) you can save your money on The Cotton Jersey T-Shirt. It fits really well, but after a couple of washes there was pilling under the armpit and the fabric isn’t quality enough to warrant the pricey $USD to $NZD conversion. My mum drummed into me to wash my clothes on a delicate cycle, and this didn’t go through a dryer either. I was surprised because everyone raves about this t-shirt and the famous Fits Everybody T-shirt!
The Cotton Rib Boxers
I’m conflicted because I wanted to love the Cotton Rib Boxers so much and I DO – but I don’t think the fabric quality matches the $62 price tag. (I know I’m ashamed of myself too.) My favourite TikTok creator wears the matching set with a tank top as pyjamas, which made me want them. They’re comfortable but one thing to note is the stitching around the thighs isn’t elasticated. There is a Soft Lounge Boxer product which is made of a softer ribbed fabric.
So, will I go back for more purchases despite feeling conflicted about buying into the Kardashian empire? Probably. I’m keen to try their bras and underwear, but I’m not yet convinced if it’s worth spending $30 a pop on a pair of seamless undies when you can get a three pack from Kmart for $14, and they’re really good.
Some extra tips:
– Buy directly from the Skims website
– Shipping is free and fast!
– Sizing – their size guide is really helpful and goes from XXS to 5X. My trick to working out sizes while online shopping is to compare side by side with a size guide of a brand you know your size in. I recommend comparing with an activewear brand you wear when purchasing Skims. I got a size small-medium in the shapewear and a small in all other items. I thought I would need a medium in some styles as I have a DD bust, but the sizing is generous, my size guide hack didn’t let me down!
Alice’s Batshit Experience…
I, for one, am very glad there’s a place for people to actually try on Skims now in NZ, because heck – even using all the tips, I botched my order. After reading Kel and Bel’s experiences – and yes, also being targeted by ads – I saw Skims was having a decent sale and I definitely needed a new strapless bra, so I jumped on in (yes, despite some conflicting feelings).
My whole order was an absolute fail – and because I bought everything on sale, I couldn’t return these insane items that don’t even come close to fitting me.
Here’s what happened…
The Fits Everybody Cami Thong Bodysuit
Okay look, the internet is full of contradicting information – and today, that conflicting info is neatly packaged within one story. Because I went ahead like Kel and Bel and bought one of the bodysuits – the Fits Everybody Cami Thong Bodysuit to be exact – and… I hated it.
Yes the ‘Fits Everybody’ Cami Thong Bodysuit apparently finally met someone it doesn’t fit.
Because I had read Kel and Bel’s reviews, I knew what to expect – it would look like something intended for a cabbage patch doll. What I wasn’t expecting was… to immediately feel pain?!
The moment I put this little torture device on I had a flashback to a weird day when I worked at Creme magazine and the art director discovered that my belly button was not where she expected it to be (I don’t l know how to make this story sound less weird, but this is the weird kind of thing that happens when you’re in your 20s working in magazines). Next thing everyone was taking turns guessing where my belly button would be and were surprised when they were way off (it is apparently a lot higher than they predicted). Since then I’ve always figured I have a short torso and long legs – but this body suit made me question everything. EVERYTHING. My torso felt much too long for it. But then width wise, it felt like it could be tighter? What?
In short, it’s completely unwearable.
The Ultimate Push-Up Strapless Bra
I’d been looking for a strapless bra for a while – especially since my bra pre-having kids now certainly didn’t fit. I’d heard (well, googled) great things about this bra, so I added to cart without much hesitation. I was confident in my sizing because just six weeks earlier I’d had a bra fitting in the States at a big well known brand so figured they’d be the same (I was kicking myself I managed to forget a strapless bra in that haul!).
Well. It turns out I am definitely not a 32DD in Skims world. I put this bra in the loosest setting and it still forced maybe a quarter of each boob up over the top of the bra. Not that the four-boob-look ever looks good, but the design of this bra makes it look particularly grotesque – it has quite the cup shape that is supposed to really contour, instead it really accentuates the fact that the bra does not fit.
It didn’t fit, I couldn’t breathe – but, at least the fabric seemed nice?
I’ve been too afraid to go near Skims since (and bitter about the waste of money), but… the Soft Lounge Long Slip Dress that Bel recommends still comes up on my Instagram from time-to-time, so maybe if it’s possible to try it on at Faradays, you might just see me there…