Just when we thought ‘Brat girl summer’ was over and we had all turned “very demure, very mindful”, SKIMS drops another iconic campaign with no other than the queen of Brat and tbh, the queen of 2024, Charlie XCX, to celebrate the brand’s new cotton rib and cotton fleece styles.
SKIMS, in case you’re unfamiliar, is Kim Kardashian’s best-selling fashion brand. When Kim first dreamed up the concept with co-founder Emma Grede, it was all about shapewear solutions. And while these genius pieces are still at the core of the brand, SKIMS also now offers cosy loungewear and pyjamas, great underwear, plus has recently expanded into swimwear too.
Just today, SKIMS took to Instagram to announce its latest campaign star – and it’s safe to say, fans were shook.
Yep, there’s no need to guess the colour of her underwear. Charli’s wearing SKIMS’ Cotton Rib Split Neck Bralette and Boxer in Marble Stripe – part of the new cotton collection drop that launches August 21. Eek, not long to wait.
The sultry campaign was shot by Petra Collins, who’s known for her distinct feminine and dreamlike aesthetic, and was trusted to capture Charli’s carefree rebellious spirit.
“SKIMS empowers people to feel confident in their own skin, which is the essence of Brat, ” says Charli XCX. “I am excited to be working with a brand that understands that comfort and style don’t need to be compromised. Shooting with Petra for this campaign was a dream and I was so excited to get on set and wear these timeless, sexy pieces. Also the puppies were beyond cute.” Agreed.
The one and only Kim K commented, “Having Charli XCX as the face of our new SKIMS campaign is so exciting. She is a one of a kind talent who has truly cemented herself as a megastar within music and beyond.”
“This is such an exciting time for the brand, and we are honoured Charli and Petra chose to collaborate with us as SKIMS is always trying to highlight individuals at the forefront of culture.”
Be sure to check out the full new range in a couple days time on the SKIMS site.
SKIMS PLUNGE BRALETTE
SKIMS CLASSIC STRAIGHT LEG PANT
SKIMS LOOSE BOXER
SKIMS LONG SLEEVE HENLEY BODYSUIT
Not ready to think about cosy cottons just yet? The brand still has plenty of hella fire lingerie on offer, too.
The launch of the iconic Nipple bra (yup, you read that right) got us all hyped up last year. And it seems Kim K has been listening to our prayers, as the viral underwear dropped back in stock this week.
SKIMS spotted a serious gap in the market with its new nipple bra. As I am sure any bigger bewbed gal will tell you, we are hella jealous of those in the itty bitty titty committee (or with seriously perky boobs) that get to rock baby tees braless. I mean, who hasn't watched Friends and lusted over Rachel’s seriously ‘90s looks sans underwear? Guilty.
And it’s not just for those with larger busts either. SKIMS’ nipple bra may just be its most inclusive lingerie drop yet. Lots of fans took to social media to support the new product, appreciating it gives those who have had mastectomies, reconstructive or gender-affirming surgery a chance to feel welcome in the underwear sphere.
As far as construction goes, the nipple bra does what it says on the tin: it is a reinvention of the brand’s latest Ultimate Push-up Bra that features teardrop-shaped cups for natural-looking roundness and cleavage without spillage, with the addition of a built-in, faux nipple for a perky braless look. We’re sold.
If that wasn’t enough, SKIMS will be donating 10% of sales from SKIMS Ultimate Nipple Bra, as a one-time donation, to 1% for the Planet – a global network of businesses and environmental organisations working to support people and the planet. You go Kim K.
SKIMS Nipple push-up bra
SKIMS Nipple push-up bra
SKIMS Nipple push-up bra
If you’re not sold on the nipples out trend, the SKIMS OG Ultimate bra might be a bit of you.
Last summer, the brand brought back the Noughties push-up bra trend with its release of the Ultimate bra, combining fashion with function. We thought we had seen the back of this divisive trend – and we'd been totally relishing living in comfier bralettes and lil’ lacy numbers recently.
Seriously, the prospect of suffocating underwires and OTT padding that traditionally comes with wearing push-up styles low-key fills us with dread. But leave it to SKIMS to create lingerie to rival our beloved, go-to T-shirt bras and put the push-up back on our radar. Making it a pleasant and comfortable experience, no less.
Taking to Instagram to break the news, Kim said: “This bra is going to change the game. We designed the ultimate bra to give you the total package: perfect lift, perfect shape, perfect feel. It’s kinda like a boob job in a bra.”
Honestly, sign us up! But if you need some more convincing, we’ve looked into the science too. Basically, push-up bras of the past usually have one large foam pad that ultimately causes too much lift to your boobs and compresses them. But thankfully, SKIMS’ Ultimate Bra is engineered with tapered padding to give your chest a naturally rounded teardrop shape instead.
“We studied so many women’s busts using 3D scans – including my own,” Kim K continues. “And inch by inch we developed these really natural looking cups that have a graded teardrop shape and sit seamlessly under clothing.” That will be the soft microfibre fabric and smooth bonded seams working their magic.
If the bra’s lifting, sculpting and smoothing abilities weren’t enough, the new wonder product is also available in a hella inclusive size range (32A to 44D) and caters to a wide range of skin tones with 10 core colourways.
SKIMS Teardrop push-up bra
SKIMS Teardrop push-up bra
SKIMS Teardrop push-up bra
With so many shape wear and lingerie options out there nowadays, it can feel overwhelming to know where to start. But, fear not, we’ve answered your questions and rounded up the best picks to shop. Let’s dive in...
Where to buy SKIMS UK?
Although SKIMS was obvs first established over in the US, thankfully it has never been easier to get your hands on your fave shapewear pieces, even if you're across the pond in the UK. The brand’s own website ships internationally if you want the full range, but selected products are also available online at Net-a-Porter, Selfridges, Harrods and SSENSE.
So, which are the best SKIMS UK shapewear pieces to shop? If you’re curious to try the buzzy brand, browse the Cosmopolitan fashion team’s edit below.
shop best skims
SKIMS Fits everybody crossover bralette
SKIMS Seamless Sculpt Mid Thigh Short
SKIMS Fits Everybody High-waisted Thong
Is SKIMS UK or Spanx better?
While there are plenty of shapewear options out there on the market, Spanx has been the most ubiquitous name in the game since its launch in 2000. With countless references in TV, film, and pop culture, this brand is top of mind for many women looking for supportive undergarments.
But which brand is best? Oprah named Spanx one of her new favourite things when the brand launched, and other celebrity Spanx fans include Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Alba. In terms of price, SKIMS UK shaping shorts range from £34 to £96, varying based on compression level. Net-a-Porter’s Spanx shorts selection goes from £46 to £222. (It’s worth noting, the £222 pair includes interior boning for the highest level of control, and a built-in corset. Most other items are comparably priced across both brands.)
Both labels offer maternity items, various levels of compression, shorts, underwear and bodysuits. And neither brand has limited themselves to just sculpting garments – both have lifestyle ranges as well, like activewear. SKIMS UK, however, has a wider size and colour range in many products. Plus, its “solution short,” which features one longer leg and one cropped leg, to wear with thigh-high slit dresses, feels very modern. Kim has spoken before about that all-too-familiar scenario of needing the loo while wearing shapewear on a night out, but finding it impossible to peel off in a hurry, so many of her SKIMS shorts have a crotch opening as a solution. Genius.
Do the Kardashians actually wear SKIMS?
The Kardashian-Jenner clan are all about supporting each other’s (many) businesses. Naturally, the sisters have been spotted in SKIMS a lot over the years. Kylie has shared selfies on Instagram wearing the Cotton Jersey Triangle Bralette and the Cozy Knit Pant before. Kourtney posed in a SKIMS campaign with Megan Fox, modelling the Essential T-shirt Bodysuit and pieces from the Cotton Collection and Khloé has previously stunned in a brown strapless catsuit by the brand.
But which ones are the founder’s favourites to get that famously snatched waistline? Kim told American retailer Nordstrom, “My go-to shapewear piece is the Sculpting Short. I wear it under everything, especially tight dresses and skirts, where I want super smooth lines. The Sculpting Bodysuit is also an essential.”
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Rosie Davenport is an Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK and Red Online, covering fashion, beauty and travel reviews, as well as major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Rosie has reviewed everything from Reformation dresses to the latest massage guns and knows the new brands to bookmark as well as the latest trends to follow. Before this role, Rosie was a Fashion Ecommerce Writer on publications including ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping for nearly two years, and gained a MA from Central Saint Martins in Fashion Journalism in 2021, focussing on the rise (and rise) of fashion podcasting. Rosie has also worked at The Times, been a sub editor at The Mail on Sunday’s weekly YOU magazine and produced in-depth retail reports for the trend forecasting agency WGSN. Her career highlight? Previewing Prada’s AW21 menswear show in the depths of lockdown and interviewing Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons from her bedroom. Outside of work, Rosie can be found rummaging through vintage shops or getting lost in one of London’s iconic department stores. You can follow Rosie on Instagram @rosie.davenport
