Alo vs. Skims: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Alo specializes in premium, high-performance activewear with a focus on technical fabrics and a sleek, modern aesthetic ideal for serious workouts. In contrast, Skims champions inclusive sizing and everyday comfort, offering shapewear, loungewear, and basics designed to enhance natural body shapes with a minimalist feel.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right brand for your needs.

Alo: The Premium Performance Activewear

Founded in 2007, Alo is a luxury activewear brand that blends studio-to-street style with serious performance. The brand appeals to fitness enthusiasts and fashion-forward consumers who want durable, functional gear that doesn't compromise on a modern aesthetic. Famed for its innovative fabrics and flattering silhouettes, Alo designs pieces that are as suitable for a yoga class as they are for a casual brunch.

• Product mix: A focused collection of leggings, sports bras, tops, and outerwear crafted primarily for active pursuits like yoga and training.
• Price point: Premium-tier pricing that reflects the technical materials. Expect to pay around $100-$150 for their popular leggings and $50-$100 for tops and bras.
• Quality: Known for durable, innovative fabric blends with features like moisture-wicking and four-way stretch. Seamless construction and high-quality stitching ensure their pieces hold up to intense wear.
• Style: Sleek, minimalist, and modern. Alo often uses monochrome palettes and subtle branding, letting the clean lines and technical details define the look.
• Sizing/Fit: Tends to run true to size with a compressive, body-contouring athletic fit. Sizing typically ranges from XS to XL.

Alo's strength lies in its ability to merge high-performance functionality with a clean, contemporary style, making it a reliable choice for investment-worthy activewear.

Shop Alo: alo.com

Skims: The Inclusive Shapewear & Loungewear

Launched in 2019 by Kim Kardashian, Skims quickly became a dominant force in the intimates and loungewear market by focusing on body positivity and inclusivity. The brand's core mission is to provide comfortable, supportive solutions for every body, which it achieves through an extensive range of sizes and a wide spectrum of skin-tone shades. Skims offers shapewear, underwear, and loungewear made from exceptionally soft, stretchy fabrics.

• Product mix: An expansive offering that includes shapewear, bras, underwear, loungewear, and some activewear pieces, all designed as versatile everyday essentials.
• Price point: More accessible than Alo, with prices in the affordable to mid-range category. Shapewear can start around $30, with loungewear pieces typically falling between $50 and $100.
• Quality: Emphasizes comfort and a seamless fit with soft, body-hugging materials like nylon and modal blends. While great for daily wear, the fabrics are not designed for high-impact athletic performance.
• Style: Minimalist, neutral, and body-conscious. The aesthetic is defined by simple silhouettes and a signature range of nude tones that cater to diverse complexions.
• Sizing/Fit: A major focus on inclusivity, with sizes ranging from XXS to 5X. The fit is generally true to size and designed to be body-hugging and seamless.

Skims delivers exceptionally comfortable and versatile basics with an unmatched commitment to size and shade inclusivity, perfect for everyday shaping and lounging.

Shop Skims: skims.com

Alo vs. Skims Comparison

Price Comparison

There is a clear price difference between the two brands that reflects their core focus. Alo operates in a premium price tier, with leggings typically costing $120+ and sports bras hovering around $60-$80. This positions Alo as an investment in technical activewear intended for performance and longevity.

Skims is significantly more affordable across its ranges. Foundational shapewear pieces start at around $30, while their popular loungewear, leggings, and bodysuits often land in the $50 to $100 range. Skims' pricing makes comfortable, stylish basics more accessible to a wider audience.

Quality & Materials

Alo's reputation is built on high-quality, innovative fabrics designed for workouts. Their materials are moisture-wicking, compressive, and offer four-way stretch, holding their shape and structure through countless wears and washes. You are paying for technical performance and durability suitable for intense activity.

Skims, on the other hand, prioritizes a super-soft, comfortable feel for everyday wear. Their fabrics feature seamless construction and lightweight, stretchy blends of nylon and spandex that feel great against the skin. While durable for lounging and daily activities, they lack the technical performance features like compression and moisture management found in Alo's activewear.

Style & Aesthetic

Alo projects a sleek, athletic, and fashion-forward image. The designs are minimalist yet functional, often seen on celebrities and influencers as both workout gear and a statement athleisure look. The aesthetic is clean, modern, and performance-oriented.

Skims focuses on a body-conscious, minimalist aesthetic that is all about enhancing your natural shape. The brand is famous for its extensive palette of neutral, skin-tone shades that promote a seamless, "second-skin" appearance. It's less about athletic performance and more about foundational elegance and comfort.

Fit & Sizing

This is one of the most significant points of comparison. Both brands generally run true to size, but their size ranges differ dramatically. Alo offers a standard range, typically XS to XL, catering to an athletic build with a snug, compressive fit.

Skims sets itself apart with one of the most inclusive size ranges on the market, offering products from XXS up to 5X. This commitment to serving a diverse array of body types is a core part of the brand's identity and a massive advantage for shoppers who often find themselves excluded from standard sizing.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both brands are making moves toward better environmental practices, but they are at different stages. As a more established brand, Alo has clearer initiatives, including using eco-friendly fabrics and working towards waste reduction in its manufacturing processes.

Skims is newer to the scene and is still developing its sustainability efforts, with some use of recycled materials and efforts to reduce packaging waste. Among the two, Alo currently appears slightly more advanced in its public-facing sustainability journey.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice really depends on whether you're looking for technical activewear or comfortable, inclusive basics.

Choose Alo if:

• You need high-performance activewear for yoga, the gym, or regular workouts.
• You are willing to invest in premium, durable fabrics that will last.
• You prefer a sleek, modern, and minimalist athletic style.
• Durability and advanced features like moisture-wicking are your top priorities.

Choose Skims if:

• You're looking for incredibly comfortable loungewear, shapewear, or everyday essentials.
• Inclusive sizing is important to you, their XXS to 5X range is excellent.
• You want foundational pieces in a wide range of nude shades to match your skin tone.
• Your focus is on seamless comfort and a body-hugging fit rather than athletic performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Alo or Skims more expensive?

Alo is significantly more expensive. Its pieces are priced as premium activewear, with leggings often costing over $120. Skims is more accessibly priced, with many of its popular items falling in the $50-$100 range.

Which brand has better quality?

The brands excel in different areas. Alo has superior quality for performance activities due to its technical, durable, and moisture-wicking fabrics. Skims has excellent quality for comfort, offering incredibly soft, seamless materials ideal for daily wear and lounging.

Does Alo or Skims have better sizing?

Skims has objectively better and more inclusive sizing. With a range from XXS to 5X, Skims caters to a much wider variety of body types than Alo, which typically offers a standard XS to XL range.

Is Alo good for working out?

Yes, Alo is specifically designed for working out. Its fabrics provide compression, support, and moisture-wicking properties that make them ideal for yoga, training, and other fitness activities.

Is Skims good for working out?

While Skims does have an "Active" collection, the brand's core strength is not in high-performance activewear. Their pieces are better suited for low-impact activities, lounging, or as everyday basics. For intense workouts, Alo is the stronger choice.

What is Alo known for?

Alo is known for its luxury activewear that seamlessly blends performance with a modern, studio-to-street style. Their high-quality leggings and coordinated sets are especially popular.

What is Skims known for?

Skims is known for its revolutionary approach to shapewear and loungewear, championing inclusivity with an extensive range of sizes and skin-tone shades. Their soft, comfortable basics are a brand signature.

Can you buy Alo in stores?

Yes, besides its website, Alo has its own flagship stores and is also sold in high-end department stores and boutiques.

Can you buy Skims in stores?

Primarily, no. Skims is a direct-to-consumer brand sold almost exclusively on its own website. Occasionally, the brand will launch pop-up shops or have limited collaborations with retailers.

What are the return policies for Alo and Skims?

Both brands offer similar return policies. They typically allow returns on unworn, tagged items within 30 days of purchase for a full refund.