Skims vs. Parade: Which brand should you buy?

Skims offers premium, supportive shapewear and loungewear with a sleek, minimalist aesthetic and a higher price point, while Parade focuses on fun, affordable, and comfortable basics like underwear and bralettes with a vibrant, youthful style. Skims is known for innovative, sculpting fabrics and inclusive shade ranges, whereas Parade is recognized for its sustainability efforts and accessibly priced, colorful collections.

Let’s break down everything you need to know to choose the right brand for your style, budget, and needs.

Skims: The Leader in Modern Shapewear & Loungewear

Founded by Kim Kardashian in 2019, Skims quickly grew into a major player in the intimates and loungewear space by focusing on body positivity, inclusive sizing, and solution-oriented designs. The brand is built on innovative fabrics that smooth, lift, and enhance natural curves while maintaining comfort. Its target customer appreciates a minimalist, sophisticated aesthetic and is willing to invest in high-quality, versatile pieces.

• Product mix: Extensive range of shapewear for all levels of compression, alongside seamless underwear, bras, bodysuits, sleepwear, and loungewear. Known for its wide array of "nude" shades to match diverse skin tones.
• Price point: Mid-to-premium range. Shapewear starts around $32 and can go up to $78 or more, while bras and loungewear pieces typically fall between $30 and $70.
• Quality: Uses high-quality nylon-spandex blends that are durable, supportive, and exceptionally soft. The seamless construction ensures a smooth look under clothing and prevents digging or chafing.
• Sizing/Fit: Highly inclusive, offering sizes from XXS to 4X. Shapewear is designed to be snug and compressive, while it generally runs true to size, some shoppers prefer to size up for a more comfortable, everyday fit.
• Aesthetic & Style: Sleek, modern, and minimalist. Dominated by neutral and solution-focused colors, with a design philosophy centered on creating a seamless and flattering foundation.

Skims is designed for those who want to invest in high-performance, comfortable foundation pieces that feel luxurious and elegantly sculpt the body.

Shop Skims: skims.com

Parade: Fun, Affordable & Sustainable Basics

Parade launched in 2019 as a direct-to-consumer brand aiming to rewrite the rules of the underwear category with a focus on vibrant self-expression, radical comfort, and sustainability. The brand's aesthetic is playful and colorful, attracting a younger demographic and budget-conscious shoppers who don't want to compromise on style or ethics. Parade makes everyday basics fun and accessible.

• Product mix: Primarily focused on underwear in various cuts, bralettes, and comfortable loungewear basics. Collections often feature bright colors, bold patterns, and trendy designs.
• Price point: Very accessible and budget-friendly. Most underwear is priced between $8 and $15, with bras and bralettes generally under $30.
• Quality: Uses soft, stretchy jersey and mesh materials, including recycled nylon and elastane. The quality is solid for the price, prioritizing comfort over the high-performance support found in shapewear brands.
• Sizing/Fit: Inclusive sizing from XS to 3X. Most items run true to size with a forgiving, relaxed fit designed for everyday comfort rather than compression.
• Sustainability: A core pillar of the brand. Parade uses a variety of eco-friendly materials, including recycled fabrics, and is transparent about its ethical manufacturing practices.

Parade is all about providing colorful, comfortable, and affordable intimates that make expressing your personal style easy and an everyday event.

Shop Parade: wearparade.com

Skims vs. Parade Comparison

Price Comparison

There's a significant price difference between the two brands. Parade is the clear winner for affordability, with most underwear styles costing under $15. You can easily build a collection of colorful basics without a major investment. They also frequently offer discounts and bundle deals, making the price even more attractive.

Skims operates in a premium space. Individual underwear pieces often start at over $20, and shapewear can cost upwards of $70. The higher price reflects more technical fabrics, durable construction, and the brand's luxury positioning. Shopping at Skims is more of an investment in specific, solution-oriented garments.

Quality & Materials

Skims prioritizes high-performance materials designed for support and shaping. Their signature nylon-spandex blends are built for longevity and hold their compressive qualities well over time. The fabrics feel substantial and soft, designed to sculpt the body while remaining breathable. For shapewear and seamless essentials, Skims' quality is exceptional.

Parade focuses on comfortable, breathable materials suitable for daily wear. While not designed for performance or sculpting, their recycled fabrics are soft, stretchy, and hold up well to regular use, especially for the price point. The quality is great for casual, everyday intimates.

Style & Aesthetic

The brands' aesthetics could not be more different. Skims is the champion of sophisticated minimalism. Its color palette is dominated by an extensive range of nudes, blacks, whites, and muted earth tones. The designs are clean, modern, and meant to be invisible foundations under other clothes.

Parade embodies a philosophy of joyful maximalism. The brand is known for its electric colors, limited-edition patterns, and fun, expressive designs. It's underwear meant to be seen and celebrated, reflecting a playful, youthful energy.

Fit & Sizing

Both brands excel at inclusive sizing. Skims offers a wider range from XXS to 4X, catering to a very broad audience. Their fit is compressive and snug, designed to be form-fitting. Reviewing the size chart closely is important, as the right size is key to getting the intended sculpting effect without discomfort.

Parade’s sizing runs from XS to 3X and is generally reported to be true to size with a more forgiving, stretchy fit. Their products are made for comfort, so there’s less need to size up or worry about a compressive feel. It's a more relaxed and straightforward fit for everyday wear.

Sustainability & Ethics

Sustainability is a core component of Parade's identity. From using recycled and certified eco-friendly materials to promoting ethical manufacturing, they make their commitment to the planet a key selling point. If shopping with environmental impact in mind is important to you, Parade makes that a priority.

Skims has taken steps toward sustainability, including incorporating recycled fabrics and updated packaging, but it's not the central focus of its brand messaging. The brand is more centered on product innovation and performance.

Which One Should You Choose?

Both brands offer excellent products, but they cater to very different needs and priorities.

Choose Skims if:

• You are looking for high-quality, effective shapewear for smoothing and support.
• You prefer a minimalist, sophisticated aesthetic with neutral, skin-toned colors.
• You're willing to invest in premium fabrics that provide a seamless foundation under clothes.
• Durability and a sculpted fit are your top priorities.

Choose Parade if:

• You are shopping on a tighter budget and want great value.
• You love bright colors, fun patterns, and showing off your personal style.
• Shopping with sustainable and ethically conscious brands is important to you.
• Your main goal is finding ultra-comfortable, soft basics for everyday wear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Skims or Parade cheaper?

Parade is significantly cheaper than Skims. Most of Parade's underwear and bras are under $30, while Skims' products are in the $30-$78+ range, positioning it as a premium brand.

Which has better quality?

Skims generally offers higher material quality focused on performance, durability, and support, especially in their shapewear. Parade offers good quality for its affordable price point, with materials geared more toward everyday softness and comfort rather than long-term sculpting.

Which brand is more inclusive with sizing?

Both brands are very inclusive. Skims has a slightly broader range, typically from XXS to 4X. Parade offers sizes from XS to 3X. Both provide options for a wide variety of body types.

Is Skims true to size?

Yes, Skims generally runs true to size. However, because its shapewear is designed to be compressive, some customers prefer to size up for more daily comfort and less restriction.

Is Parade a sustainable brand?

Yes, sustainability is a central part of Parade's brand ethos. They actively use recycled and plant-based fabrics and are transparent about their ethical manufacturing standards.

What is Skims best known for?

Skims is best known for its comfortable, effective shapewear that comes in a wide range of sizes and skin tones. Their seamless bodysuits, sculpting shorts, and bralettes are some of their most popular items.

Which is better for everyday wear?

This depends on your definition of "everyday." For purely comfortable, breathable, and expressive basics, Parade is an excellent choice. If your everyday style requires a smooth, supportive base and you enjoy the feel of seamless, lightly sculpting fabrics, Skims is a fantastic option.

Who owns Skims?

Skims was co-founded by entrepreneur Kim Kardashian in 2019.