Skims Try On

Ever try to order something from Skims online? If so, let me stop you now. It’s completely overwhelming. There is just too damn much to chose from. There are so many different fabrics. There are so many different styles. Not to mention, how’s the sizing? I actually tried to order online for this post, and after I had about thirty plus different styles and sizes in my cart, I decided to scrap the whole project altogether. But then I remembered that Nordstrom had a pretty decent selection of Skims. And when I got to the store, I found that the Skims section was growing and slowly taking over the entire lingerie section.

So this Skims Try On post is a little public service post. I put on all the viral silhouettes, desired fabrics and insanely soft loungewear so I could break it all down for you and make your Skims shopping experience a little easier. This post will tell you what you need in your closet and what you can leave to the twenty somethings. And here’s what I found after spending 2+ hours squeezing into Kim K’s coveted brand: 1) some things are worth the hype; 2) others are amazing but where the heck is this mom wearing them; and 3) I have never seen the lingerie department in Nordstrom so busy on a weekday afternoon, and every single person was also there for Skims.

(When you click on each picture in this post, I linked the item shown but also a bunch of items using the highlighted fabric. So if you know you want to buy underwear in the cotton, for example, then click the cotton tee picture and it will bring you to the underwear, as well. Some of the links are commissionable at no additional cost to you.).

Let’s start with shapewear (although I’m not sure this first one is technically considered shapewear).

Fits Everybody Fabric. This is one of Skim’s signature fabrics and it’s dreamy. Soft, flattering and smoothing while being lightweight and so incredibly comfortable. I love the idea of this fabric- it works wonders on every single body. And it’s true. This buttery soft fabric is totally worth the hype. It makes a great layering piece when you chose a color close to your skin tone. If you plan to wear it alone, I’d go with a darker shade because it is thin and a little sheer. I also was wearing a black bra on the day of my try-on, so I’d do better with my undergarments if I was wearing this shirt on its own. This fabric is not on the compression scale like some of the others I talk about below. But it is smoothing and gently skims the body ... oh, I get it now!

I tried on the tee’s (short and long sleeve) but I also highly recommend the bralettes in this fabric. I have the Fits Everybody Crossover Bralette and it’s my favorite bra in my drawer. It’s comfortable, sexy, and flattering, all without underwires. I love to wear this bra under something that is a little sheer or a top-open button down shirt. But I will also sleep in this bra because it feels so good. Sizing is S-M-L (plus all of the inclusive sizes) and it runs true to size. Actually, I found the entire brand to be TTS, with one exception that I’ll get to below. I also imagine the underwear in this fabric is just as good.

The whole idea of this post really started because I was curious about the Skims viral long dress. I’ve seen women on Instagram lose their shit because they put on a Skims dress. So I did have to try one in this fabric. And I did feel pretty damn good when I put it on, not only because it’s insanely soft and comfortable, but also because it just does good for your figure. The dress is thicker than the tees so it’s not as sheer, but you have to watch the underwear lines and be able to go braless (with your Cakes, of course) to make this dress work. But my biggest problem with this dress is — where the hell am I wearing it? Maybe while on a Caribbean vacation with just my husband but probably no where else. So I just enjoyed how good I felt wearing this dress in the dressing room, and then it was back on the hanger.

Conclusion: Fits Everybody fabric gets 5 stars. Go get it all!

Body Fabric. This is the body-sculpting, snatching fabric that immediately comes to mind when you think of Skims. This fabric makes up some of the Skims compression undergarments. Keep in mind, that Skims has various levels of compression undergarments. And the Body fabric is only “mid-level compression and support”. But, I say it’s plenty smoothing and sculpting. And you can always size down if you want even more compression.

For obvious hygenic reasons, I have a rule that I don’t try snap body suits on in the store. Not even for you. So this short bodysuit below was one of the few in the store that didn’t have a snap. And I really like it. I like the unlined, plunging neckline that lifts without bulky pads, and the mid-thigh shorts that tone the thighs and lift the booty without squeezing the thighs. This one piece would work great under a dress or even under jeans and a shirt. I promise it’s comfortable, and the girls are fully secure. No bra is needed.

The actual clothes made with the Body seamless fabric even have compression undergarments in them. For example, the bodycon dresses have built-in bodysuits for even more shaping and lifting. You may have to jump, twist and wriggle to get this dress on, but once it’s there, it surprisingly feels nice to wear…. like a secure hug.

Below is the bodycon long dress that I just had to try even though I had zero intention of actually buying it. There is that built-in bodysuit (that I did not snap on), but the dress is sculpting even without the bodysuit snapped properly in place. Go true to size for the full shaping effects. The dress really does give you that hour glass figure. It smooths what you want to be smooth and exaggerates what you want to be exaggerated. It’s kinda magical. I put this dress on and immediately thought “damn, I look hot”. This dress does all the things… but again, where am I wearing it? Absolutely nowhere beyond the Nordstrom dressing room. But, if you want a confidence boost, go to Nordstrom, put on this dress and give yourself a look, even if only in the fitting room… it’s self care!

Conclusion: Body Fabric gets 4 out of 5 stars. I like this level of compression to wear under, or even as, your clothes.

Seamless Sculpt Fabric. Guys, I have been lifting heavier for over a year now, and I thought I was getting stronger. That is until I was humbled in the Nordstrom dressing room last week trying to get the Seamless Sculpt fabric on my body. I pulled and tugged and broke a nail to get on that damn Seamless Sculpt Catsuit. There was a point mid thigh that I almost gave up, but I wasn’t about to let a catsuit get the best of me. The Seamless Sculpt fabric is strong, and I mean really strong, compression. The suits have targeted control at the waist, stomach and legs with booty enhancing details. Nothing is escaping this shapewear. In fact, I haven’t experienced compression like this ever. (Skims even has one further level of compression “extra strong” that comes as a waist trainer. Eh, no thank you!)

And there are tons of styles (nearly 30 different styles are currently available in this fabric on the Skims website) in this compressive collection: all types of bodysuits, shaping underwear, bras, shorts, and leggings. I love the idea of the catsuit and the leggings but beyond the thighs, the fabric is like your nylon tights. And like your nylon tights, the pants will pull because you will battle this fabric to get it on. I’d recommend staying true to size although you may doubt yourself as you struggle to pull it on. But the next size up is going to be just as much of a struggle. It’s just the way the damn fabric is built.

Conclusion: The Seamless Sculpt fabric gets a 3 out of 5 stars from me. This fabric would have gotten a 2 if it wasn’t for the fact that the body shaping purpose is actually served. But Seamless Sculpt is too uncomfortable and too hard to get on that I couldn’t get past it and neither could the red marks on my body from it. For compression, I’d go with the comforting hug of the Body fabric instead.

Barely There Fabric. The Barely There Fabric is described as “ultra light support” but I found the compression level to be sufficient and like that it’s comfortable while doing it’s job. I even sized down to a small in these compression shorts (because that was all that was available in the store).

These shorts have a low back silhouette (that I couldn’t show the camera because it is sheer). Skims styles consider every design detail so you don’t have to worry about your undergarments peeking out. This short is a great example of that. This specific short style is good for a low back dress (not sure how many of those you actually have in your closet though) while the reenforced high rise in the front compresses the tummy. More magic from Skims.

Conclusion: I give the Barely There fabric 4 out of 5 stars because I found it to be shaping and plenty technical with a light and comfortable fit and ease to get on.

Moving onto the loungewear….

Cotton Rib. If you want to look adorably sexy in your sleepwear, go with the new Cotton Rib collection. This fabric comes in plunging bras, female “boxer briefs” (without the opening, thank you), crop tanks and long john pants. Mix and match them for the cutest way to lounge, sleep or snuggle. My favorites are the bra and the long johns. This collection runs true to size, except that I did size up in the crop tank for more length.

Conclusion: 3.5 out of 5 stars for the adorable styling of this collection. It’s just not as soft as I would want.

Cotton Jersey. The Cotton Jersey tee and tank might look like nothing special on the hanger but the fit is just right and the feel is good, making it Skims’ best selling tee. So I’d say these tees are worth the look. This is the line that runs small so I’d size up at least one size. The tank I’m wearing is short so I’d even consider sizing up two sizes (to an XL for me) for more coverage.

Conclusion: 3 out of 5 stars because it’s good but doesn’t stand out for me like some of the other fabrics.

Boyfriend. The Boyfriend line is unisex. It’s soft and stretchy. For women, it's meant to be oversized. For the boyfriends, it’s meant to fit true to size. And I had to leave the store with this set- but in the black because while the light gray is so pretty, it’s see-thru, and yeah, the kids. It’s my little Valentine’s Day present to myself.

Conclusion: 5 out of 5 for the Boyfriend loungewear. I only want to put on my Boyfriends. Kim, please make more styles in this fabric.

So there it is— a nearly complete breakdown of the pages and pages of the Skims website… until the next week when the brand adds three more collections to the mix (they do that a lot). And if, after reading this post, you are still overwhelmed, you can’t go wrong with the basic slip dress and bodysuit from the Foundations collection.

xoxo,