‘I’ve got Ibiza and Croatia booked in with the girls and need some fab swimwear for day parties and lounging in the sun. I love Skims but it’s a bit too pricey for me right now – are there any good quality lookalikes?’
Ashleigh, Romford
We’ve got to hand it to her, Miss Kimmy really knows what she’s doing on the swimwear front. Over the last year or so, Skims has launched metallics (perfect for a day at Ushuaia), neons, rhinestones, zip-up and shaping swimwear. And most recently, the brand dropped a dreamy line of crochet swimwear just in time for your summer holiday.
Skims’ roots are in shapewear, so we can trust that it can deliver flattering, functional swimwear too. It makes sense that for a time when we’re wearing very little, we want to feel as supported and therefore as comfortable and confident as possible. A structured Skims suit will do just that.
The OG Skims swimwear styles
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With its swimwear prices close to hitting £100 (if not more for the shapewear styles), it can feel steep, especially as you’ve just splashed out booking your summer holiday. But fear not. With summer just around the corner, swimwear is taking over the high street as we speak and tons of the new season styles handily tick those Skims boxes, so you can find a similar style for a snip of the price.
The ultimate Skims swimwear dupes in stock now
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These are the It Skims styles to buy now, and high street lookalikes in case your favourite is out of your budget or out of stock…
The Skims crochet bikini
This May, Skims released its dreamy crochet collection featuring a mix of bikinis and clothing — and I’m obsessed. If this line wasn’t so pricey, I’d buy it all. But, at £186 for a bikini and matching bottoms, it’s a little too expensive for my budget. Not to worry though, there are plenty of dupes on the high street. Try Weekday, Mango, Rip Curl and ASOS for the closest matches.
The original
The dupe
The Skims scoop neck one piece
A timeless black swimsuit that you feel great in as an absolute must for your holiday wardrobe. Whether you’re wearing it as a bodysuit with denim shorts or a maxi skirt, or pairing it with oversized sunnies and hoops for a pool party, it’s worth investing in a fabulous one.
Skims’ offering ticks those boxes: it’s sleek, has a lovely scoop back and high-cut pants to elongate legs, but it’s also rather pricey. Head to H&M and Abercrombie & Fitch for the best lookalikes.
The original
The dupe
The Skims triangle bikini
Part of the reason Skims is so popular is because it has earned a reputation as the place to go for luxurious, elevated basics, and this triangle bikini is a prime example of that. It’s simple but high quality and flattering. But, it’s also £74 for top and bottoms. Monki’s dupe looks almost exactly the same and is £25 for both parts — that’s nearly a third of the Skims price. TALA’s brand new Hamptons swimwear collection is a gold mine of simple Skims-esque swimwear, too.
The original
The dupe
The Skims zip up swimwear
The Skims Zip-Up swimwear collection is giving serious ’90s Barbie vibes (especially in the pink Hibiscus shade). Plus, the centre front zip and sculpting fabric make these pieces super flattering. Not ready to splash around £100 on a swimsuit, though? No worries, try one of these dupes from M&S, Urban Outfitters or ASOS.
The original
The dupe
The Skims shaping one-piece
What a genius move to include compression fabric in a swimsuit. *Of course* we want a sculpted look while we’re partying poolside in Dubrovnik, and we already know Skims excels in the shapewear department so this all-white number is a safe bet.
But £100+ is a little steep, especially since we’ll likely (and sadly) only be on holiday once or twice a year. Ivory Rose – a lingerie and swim label dedicated to sculpting and supporting curves – has the answer. A thick ribbed scoop-neck swimsuit in brilliant white. Arket and Boux Avenue’s options will do the same job, too.
The original
The dupe
The Skims Metallic bikini
Skims’ pewter bikini is a far cry from its shapewear styles that offer much more coverage, but if you’re keen on a skimpy style, this is an excellent contender. Skims bikinis are sold separately which is great if you’re different sizes on the top and bottom, but together, they’ll set you back £100.
Head straight to New Look or Stradivarius if you’re keen on the style but without the £££ price tag. Both of these would look great peeking out from under a Skims jersey maxi dress, too.
The original
The dupe
Read more on top-rated Skims buys and swimwear:
- The best Skims dress dupes in stock right now
- The best crinkle swimwear like Hunza G to shop for your winter sun holiday
- The most affordable Skims underwear rated honestly by a fashion editor
- The best dupes for Skims loungewear
The Skims metallic swimsuit
Granted, a metallic one-piece isn’t for the faint-hearted, but I’d say Ibiza fashion is a ‘go hard or go home’ situation. Both of these swimsuits can double as bodysuits, which makes them perfect for dancing the night away. By day, team them with wide-leg white trousers for balance, but by night anything goes. Karen Millen and ASOS have a few similar swimsuits that’ll save you some money.
The original
The dupe
The Skims neon bikini
If you’re hoping to stand out in Ibiza while you’re sipping Whispering Angel and singing along to Beyonce on a sun lounger, neon is the only way to go.
Skims’ teeny-weeny high necked number makes a statement, but I’d argue that such a trend-led style doesn’t warrant such a big investment. Instead, hit the high street. Monki’s neon iterations might need some consideration if you’re planning to get a sun-kissed glow, but it’s worth it for the Insta snaps.
The original
The dupe
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