Here’s how Skims describes the impetus behind the brand on its website: “Searching for the best shapewear and underwear over the years, Kim became frustrated with the lack of options available and couldn’t find anything that offered the right support, coverage or shade. This led her to cut up and dye pieces at home, sewing them together to get the solutions and results she wanted. Skims is Kim’s answer to shapewear that actually works. Designed to smooth, enhance, lift and tone—each piece has a solution for every body.” Sounds good, right?
Editors from Who What Wear’s US arm were some of the first to try Skims shapewear when it launched. Their verdict? “At first glance, they looked really intimidating and so tiny, so I was really nervous about trying them on—however, they were surprisingly easy (for shapewear) to put on,” says Sarah Yang, managing editor of THE/THIRTY. “I thought there was going to be a lot of yanking and pulling and contorting my body, but nope! After putting them on, I did feel like I had to catch my breath for a bit because they were so tight. They definitely got the job done, though—smoothing everything out and sucking everything in. I don’t know if I’d be able to wear them for the whole day (I can’t wear any kind of shapewear for the whole day), but for a few hours to an event or a party? I can handle that.”