The Kardashians began releasing brands and received a lot of ridicule from the public. People expected them to slap their names on any old item and upcharge them by an amount that most people wouldn’t even consider spending. But to everyone’s surprise, after people started testing out the likes of Good American and Skims, social media started buzzing over the fact that they were more than good—they were basics that deserved real hype. The Skims bodysuits were the most popular.
It makes perfect sense: Kim Kardashian, who is better qualified to make body-contouring and shapewear pieces, is Kim Kardashian. Skims was released in 2019 and there was immediate buzz. One product, the bodysuits, was always in the news with claims that it was a miracle product. Made to contour the body and serve as the base layer of any outfit you can dream up, people claimed that they’d never put anything on that made them feel so confident—so I decided to put them to the test, once and for all.
But not only did I test three of Skims’ most popular bodysuits; I also tested the ones that TikTok has been swearing is a near-identical dupe for a fraction of the price.
Here’s the low-down. Here’s what I think about the Skims essential bodysuits and if I think the dupe meets the mark.
Skims:
What I’m about to say is the absolute truth: When I put this on for the first time, I gasped.
This material is thin. When I took it out of the box, not only did it look thin, but it also looked smaller than I imagined, so I didn’t try it on right away and let it sit there for a couple of days. I can’t express this enough: I did not have high expectations.
It’s difficult to even explain the material. It’s incredibly soft and thin, and when you put it on, it literally feels like you aren’t wearing anything. It contoured my body in a way I’ve never seen before. Given the results, I’d expect the bodysuit to be tight and make me feel like I was suffocating, but instead it was one of the most comfortable things I’ve ever put on.
I also found that despite how thin they are, you don’t need a bra with them; the material provided enough support that I felt more comfortable without one. I absolutely love that it’s a bodysuit and not a regular tank—it makes tucking it into pants incredibly seamless and allows you to wear it with a pair of jeans and look sleek, not bulky. The result? A piece I feel more confident in than anything I’ve put on my body in recent memory.
Dupe:
I’ll be the first to admit that I haven’t shopped at Express in years. After reading the buzz about these bodysuits via TikTok and Jess texting me saying that she tried one, I decided that I would give them another try.
Off the bat, there’s one major difference between the two bodysuits: These have double layers, which isn’t necessarily a good or a bad thing. On one hand, you feel more secure and definitely don’t need a bra; on the other, it feels thicker than the Skims one but not in a way that was constricting or uncomfortable.
I felt just the same confidence in this bodysuit. And since they offer more options than the Skims nude family (whereas Skims has only nudes and neutral shades), I could easily see myself ordering it in other colors to use as a summer outfit. At the end of the day, I think I’d reach for the Skims one more—but for a third of the price and a stock that’s less hard to get your hands on, this is pretty damn close, and the result is almost identical.
Skims:
This Skims top was the only one that I had mixed feelings about of the three Skims tops. It gave me a flattering effect, just like the tank. But the material in the long sleeves felt constricting.
Despite this, I still see the need for it in my closet and have never found a nude as flattering. This is a great piece to layer under sweatshirts and jackets in winter. But, I can see myself wearing it all year round.
Dupe:
I found this version to be more comfortable than the Skims. The double layer felt better on my arms. I also liked the more seamless look. Although I love the black, I could see myself purchasing more colors.
Skims:
High-neck tanks are my favorite so I was not surprised to fall in love with this tank. I don’t think it could possibly be more flattering and love that it’s form-fitting and sexy without needing to worry about cleavage showing.
When the weather is warmer, I would absolutely wear this on its own every single day with a pair of denim shorts and call it a day—I’d feel like an absolute 10 doing it. You don’t need to be boring if you want to run out the door in a basic.
Until then, I’ll be layering it under every single jacket I own.
Dupe:
The only difference between this bodysuit and the Skims one is that this one has an ever-so-slightly lower cut near the arms, which didn’t bother me personally. They had the color I would have bought from Skims if it was in stock (which, at the time I ordered, it wasn’t), but despite the slightly thicker material, I’d call this a dead ringer for the Skims one and have a hard time choosing between the two if I were reaching for one in my closet.
The verdict:
Skims
Express
If push came to shove, I would choose the Skims bodysuits over the Express ones on account of the unique material that feels so much like you’re not wearing anything and given that they have a better size range. But—and that’s a big “but”—despite the difference in fabric, the Express ones give you an almost identical result for a fraction of the price. These products made me a Skims shopper. I will definitely order more Skims products. But if you can’t get your size or you like the Express colors more, they’re an amazing option. You truly can’t go wrong with either.
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Source: The Every Girl
