Skims vs. Calvin Klein Men: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

While both brands are leaders in minimalist men's basics, Skims offers a modern, body-enhancing fit with innovative seamless fabrics and inclusive sizing, making it feel distinctly current and trend-focused. Calvin Klein stands by its legacy of timeless, iconic style, delivering classic cuts and durable materials like cotton and modal that have defined men's underwear for decades.

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

Skims: The Modern, Body-Enhancing Essential

Launched by Kim Kardashian in 2019, Skims quickly expanded its product range to include men's underwear, loungewear, and basics. The brand's core appeal is its focus on modern silhouettes, exceptionally soft fabrics, and an inclusive approach to sizing. Skims targets a customer who values a sleek, second-skin fit and appreciates fabrics that stretch and move with the body without losing their shape.

• Product mix: Tightly focused on everyday essentials, including various styles of underwear (briefs, boxers, trunks), t-shirts, tank tops, hoodies, and sweatpants.
• Price point: Generally accessible, with single underwear options starting around $12 and premium loungewear sets reaching up to $70. Multi-packs offer better value.
• Quality & Materials: Skims emphasizes innovative, silky-soft fabrics like nylon/spandex and microfiber blends. Their construction is often seamless, designed to lie flat against the skin for a smooth, irritation-free experience.
• Sizing & Fit: This is a major advantage. Skims provides a highly inclusive size range from XXS to 4X. The fit is intentionally body-conforming and designed to enhance your natural shape.
• Style & Aesthetic: The look is minimalist but distinctly modern, with neutral color palettes, minimal branding, and cuts that feel current and sleek. It is designed to be invisible under clothes while providing support and comfort.

Skims is an excellent choice for those who want modern, comfortable basics with a body-enhancing fit and a more inclusive range of sizes.

Shop Skims: skims.com

Calvin Klein: The Timeless, Minimalist Icon

Calvin Klein has been the benchmark for men's underwear and minimalist style since the 1980s. The brand has built a global reputation on clean lines, high-quality materials, and its iconic branded waistband. It appeals to men who appreciate classic American style, reliability, and an understated aesthetic that never feels dated. Their customer values tradition and consistent quality over passing trends.

• Product mix: A wide range of menswear including its iconic underwear, loungewear, t-shirts, activewear, fragrances, and accessories. The brand offers a complete lifestyle collection.
• Price point: Positioned as affordable luxury, with basics like underwear briefs starting around $15 and typically sold in multi-packs for better value. Prices range from $20 to $40 for individual items.
• Quality & Materials: Calvin Klein focuses on high-quality, durable materials like cotton, modal, and microfiber blends. Many products feature fabric technologies like moisture-wicking properties for added performance and longevity.
• Sizing & Fit: Sizing is consistent and generally runs true to size, with most products offered in XS to XXL. The fit is classic and tailored for comfort without being overly restrictive or aggressively body-hugging.
• Style & Aesthetic: Defined by iconic minimalism. The designs are simple, clean, and often feature the bold Calvin Klein logo waistband, which has become a style statement in itself.

Calvin Klein remains the go-to for men who prefer timeless designs, proven quality materials like classic cotton, and an iconic, understated look.

Shop Calvin Klein: calvinklein.com

Skims vs. Calvin Klein Men Comparison

Price Comparison

On an item-by-item basis, Skims and Calvin Klein are priced competitively. A single pair of Skims underwear can be slightly cheaper, while Calvin Klein's value often comes from its widely available multi-packs. Loungewear from both brands falls into similar price brackets, though Skims frequently runs promotional sales that can bring costs down.

Overall, Skims may feel slightly more affordable for those purchasing individual items, but Calvin Klein offers consistent value and accessibility through major department stores and its own frequent markdown events. Neither brand is a budget option, but both sit comfortably in the premium essentials category.

Quality & Materials

Your preference here will come down to modern innovation vs. traditional comfort. Skims excels with its seamless, stretchy, and incredibly soft blends of nylon, spandex, and microfiber. These fabrics offer a weightless, second-skin feel that moves with you and remains smooth under clothing.

Calvin Klein focuses on classic, high-quality materials such as pima cotton, modal, and durable microfiber. There's a reason their cotton underwear is iconic - it's breathable, reliable, and holds up well after countless washes. They also incorporate performance features like moisture-wicking technology, making them a trusted choice for everyday durability.

Style & Aesthetic

While both brands embrace minimalism, their approaches are distinct. Skims presents a modern, almost futuristic minimalism with its seamless lines and understated branding. The aesthetic is body-conscious, aiming to flatter and sculpt the male physique in a very contemporary way. It’s about a smooth, sleek silhouette.

Calvin Klein's aesthetic is iconic and timeless. It is clean, classic, and instantly recognizable thanks to its famous logo waistband. The style feels less focused on enhancing shape and more on providing an effortlessly cool, understated look. It is the definition of a classic, masculine basic that does not need to follow trends.

Fit & Sizing

This is one of the biggest differentiators. Skims offers a far more inclusive size range, running from XXS to 4X, making it accessible to a much broader spectrum of body types. Their products are designed to be form-fitting and stretchy, conforming closely to the body for a snug, supportive fit.

Calvin Klein is reliable and true to size but provides a more standard range, typically XS to XXL. Its fit is more traditional - comfortable and classic, but not designed with the same body-hugging, shape-enhancing technology as Skims. If you fall outside the standard size range or prefer a tighter, more sculpted fit, Skims has a clear edge.

Sustainability & Ethics

As a heritage brand, Calvin Klein has a more developed and transparent sustainability program. The company has made public commitments to using materials like organic cotton, reducing water impact, and ensuring fairer labor practices, with certifications like OEKO-TEX available on many products.

Skims, being a newer company, is still developing its public sustainability initiatives. While they have started incorporating some eco-friendly materials and packaging, their transparency and long-term commitments are not as established as Calvin Klein's. If brand ethics and environmental impact are major priorities, Calvin Klein currently offers more visibility into their practices.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands deliver exceptional quality in the men's basics category, but they cater to different preferences in style, feel, and fit.

Choose Skims if:

• You prioritize a super-soft, stretchy, second-skin feel in your underwear and loungewear.
• You need a wider, more inclusive size range (XXS to 4X).
• You prefer modern, body-enhancing cuts that are virtually invisible under clothes.
• You are influenced by current trends and a sleek, contemporary aesthetic.

Choose Calvin Klein if:

• You prefer the classic, breathable feel of traditional high-quality materials like cotton and modal.
• You appreciate a timeless, iconic style that never goes out of fashion.
• You have a more traditional body type and trust consistent, true-to-size fitting.
• You value established brands with a long history of quality and more visible sustainability efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Skims or Calvin Klein cheaper?

Pricing is very similar, but Skims can be slightly cheaper for individual items. Calvin Klein often provides better value through its 3-packs and 5-packs, which are widely available at department stores and online retailers like Nordstrom.

Which brand is better quality?

Both brands offer excellent quality, but of different kinds. Skims' quality lies in its innovative, seamless stretch fabrics that maintain their shape and softness. Calvin Klein's quality is proven through its decades of creating durable, long-lasting cotton and modal basics that withstand repeated washing and wear.

Does Skims Men's underwear run small?

Skims is designed to be body-conforming and will fit snugly. While it generally runs true to its size chart, if you are between sizes or prefer a less compressive feel, consider sizing up.

Is Calvin Klein underwear true to size?

Yes, Calvin Klein is known for its consistent and reliable sizing. You can typically order your usual size with confidence.

Which brand is more comfortable?

Comfort is subjective. If you define comfort as a weightless, silky, and seamless feeling, Skims will likely be more comfortable for you. If a soft, classic, breathable cotton feel is your idea of comfort, you will likely prefer Calvin Klein.

Which brand is better for larger guys?

Skims is the better choice for larger men, as their sizing extends up to 4X, whereas Calvin Klein typically stops at XXL. The stretchy nature of Skims fabric also offers a more adaptive fit.

Is Calvin Klein considered a luxury brand?

For its underwear and basics line, Calvin Klein is considered an affordable luxury or premium brand. It offers a higher level of quality and brand recognition than mass-market options without being prohibitively expensive.

Does Skims ever go on sale?

Yes, Skims holds occasional sales events, usually twice a year, where you can find products at a significant discount. These are highly anticipated and products sell out quickly.