Skims vs. Kylie: Which brand should you buy?
Skims offers high-quality, innovative shapewear and basics with a focus on inclusive sizing and a minimalist aesthetic, while Kylie's brand targets a younger audience with trendy, affordable, and bold streetwear-inspired apparel. Skims prioritizes versatile, neutral pieces designed for comfort and contouring, whereas Kylie focuses on logo-heavy, playful styles meant to make a statement.
Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right brand for your wardrobe and style.
Skims: The Leader in Inclusive Shapewear & Basics
Launched by Kim Kardashian in 2019, Skims quickly became a dominant force in the intimates and loungewear market. The brand's mission centers on body positivity and inclusivity, offering solutions-oriented shapewear, bras, underwear, and loungewear designed for a wide range of body types and skin tones. Skims is known for its buttery-soft, high-performance fabrics that smooth and support without sacrificing comfort, making its pieces suitable for both special occasions and everyday wear.
- Product mix: A wide array of shapewear, bodysuits, bras, underwear, and loungewear. Known for its versatile basics and seamless construction.
- Price point: Premium-accessible, with prices ranging from about $20 for underwear to over $100 for more complex shapewear or bodysuits.
- Quality: Praised for exceptional quality. Uses innovative, smoothing fabrics that are durable, retain their shape well after multiple washes, and feel comfortable on the skin.
- Style & Aesthetic: Minimalist, sleek, and modern. The core collection features a palette of neutral tones designed to match various skin tones and layer invisibly under clothing.
- Sizing/Fit: A major strength. Offers highly inclusive sizing from XXS to 4X and is known for fitting true to size with generous stretch that adapts to your curves.
- Sustainability: The brand is beginning to incorporate more eco-friendly fabrics and sustainable practices into its production process.
Skims delivers on its promise of high-quality, comfortable, and size-inclusive basics and shapewear that offer feel-good support for a wide range of bodies.
Shop Skims: skims.com
Kylie: The Destination for Trendy, Youthful Streetwear
Originally famous for her cosmetics line, Kylie Jenner expanded her brand to include apparel and loungewear that mirrors her personal style. The Kylie brand is geared towards a Gen Z and millennial audience, known for its fun, casual, and street-style aesthetic. Collections often feature bold branding, vibrant colors, and playful prints on comfortable pieces like sweatsuits, baby tees, and casual sets, often released in hyped, limited-edition drops.
- Product mix: Focuses on casual, trend-driven apparel including loungewear sets, streetwear-inspired items, and modern basics.
- Price point: More affordable and mid-range, with most loungewear and apparel pieces priced between $30 and $80.
- Quality: Uses standard materials like cotton, jersey, and fleece. The quality is suitable for everyday casual wear but doesn't prioritize the technical performance or longevity found in Skims pieces.
- Style & Aesthetic: Bold, youthful, and eye-catching. The designs are heavily influenced by current streetwear trends, often featuring prominent logos and vibrant colors.
- Sizing/Fit: Sizing is more standard and less inclusive than Skims. Some customers report that items can run small or large depending on the specific drop and style.
- Sustainability: Less emphasis on sustainable or ethical practices, with a business model more aligned with fast-fashion principles of frequent, trend-based collections.
Kylie's line is perfect for shoppers seeking fun, affordable, and on-trend pieces that make a bold fashion statement and have a distinct social media-ready vibe.
Shop Kylie: kyliecosmetics.com
Skims vs. Kylie Comparison
Price Comparison
Kylie generally offers more budget-friendly options. Loungewear and casual apparel typically fall in the $30 to $80 range, making it accessible for trend-conscious shoppers. Promotions and sales are also more frequent, aligning with the brand's fast-fashion appeal.
Skims is positioned as a more premium brand. While basics like underwear start around $20, signature shapewear and bodysuits can easily exceed $100. The higher price reflects the investment in innovative fabric technology and durable construction. Sales are less common, typically occurring during major seasonal shopping events.
Quality & Materials
Skims wins hands-down on quality and materials. The brand is celebrated for its signature buttery-soft, seamless, and stretchy fabrics that provide both comfort and effective smoothing. These materials are engineered for durability, holding their shape and performance through repeated wear and washing.
Kylie's apparel is made from standard materials like cotton and fleece, which are comfortable for lounging but lack the technical aspects and longevity of Skims. The quality is decent for its price point but isn't intended to be a long-term investment piece in the same way Skims shapewear is.
Style & Aesthetic
The two brands occupy opposite ends of the style spectrum. Skims embodies a minimalist, modern, and versatile aesthetic. Its focus on neutral, skin-toned colors makes its pieces perfect for layering or as sleek, standalone basics. The designs are timeless and meant to enhance the body's natural shape subtly.
Kylie is all about bold, youthful energy. The aesthetic is heavily influenced by streetwear, featuring vibrant color palettes, graphic prints, and prominent logos. These are statement pieces designed to be seen and capture current trends, perfect for an "Instagram-ready" look.
Fit & Sizing
Skims is recognized for its inclusivity, offering sizes from XXS to 4X. Its fit is consistent and true-to-size, with flexible fabrics that accommodate a variety of body shapes comfortably.
Kylie offers a more standard, limited sizing range. The fit can sometimes be inconsistent between collections, with some items running small or large. Customers with body types outside the standard S-L range may find it hard to secure a perfect fit.
Sustainability & Ethics
While neither brand is a leader in sustainable fashion, Skims has shown a greater public commitment to improvement. It has begun incorporating more eco-conscious materials and discussing its efforts to reduce environmental impact. In contrast, Kylie's brand operates more on a fast-fashion model, with frequent drops and little public-facing information about its supply chain or sustainability practices.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice comes down to your personal priorities in style, quality, and budget.
Choose Skims if:
- You value high-quality, durable materials that will last season after season.
- You prefer a minimalist, versatile style with neutral colors that can be easily layered.
- Inclusive sizing and a consistent, comfortable fit are top priorities for you.
- You're looking for functional shapewear or elevated basics and are willing to invest a bit more.
Choose Kylie if:
- You love staying on top of the latest streetwear trends and want bold, statement pieces.
- You're shopping on a tighter budget and appreciate frequent sales and promotions.
- You enjoy fun, youthful styles with vibrant colors and prominent logos.
- You're looking for casual loungewear for everyday comfort rather than technical performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skims or Kylie more expensive?
Skims is generally more expensive. Its pieces are priced higher due to the focus on premium, innovative fabrics and durable construction. Kylie offers more affordable, mid-range pricing in line with its trend-focused, casualwear approach.
Which brand has better quality?
Skims is widely recognized for having superior quality. Its focus on innovative, soft, and shaping materials results in products that are more durable and perform better over time compared to the more standard materials used in Kylie's apparel.
Does Skims or Kylie have better sizing?
Skims has a significantly better and more inclusive sizing range, offering from XXS up to 4X. Kylie offers a more limited, standard sizing range that can be inconsistent.
What is the main style difference between Skims and Kylie?
The main difference is minimalist versus maximalist. Skims offers understated, sleek, and neutral basics designed for layering and versatility. Kylie provides bold, logo-heavy, and colorful pieces inspired by current streetwear trends.
Is Skims just shapewear?
No. While Skims started with a focus on shapewear, the brand has expanded significantly to include a full range of products like bras, underwear, bodysuits, sleepwear, and extensive loungewear collections.
Which brand is better for everyday wear?
This depends on your personal style. For versatile basics that can be foundational pieces in any outfit, Skims is an excellent choice. For casual, comfortable, trend-led statement outfits like sweatsuits, Kylie's line is more suitable.
Who are the target audiences for Skims and Kylie?
Skims targets a broad audience of women seeking high-quality, comfortable, and size-inclusive basics and shapewear. Kylie is primarily aimed at a younger demographic (Gen Z and millennials) who are highly engaged with social media and streetwear fashion trends.
Which brand is more sustainable?
Skims has made more public efforts toward sustainability by starting to use eco-friendly materials and being more transparent about its practices. Kylie's brand aligns more with a fast-fashion model, with less focus on environmental or ethical manufacturing.
