Skims vs. Thirdlove: Something Snappy Here

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Skims And Thirdlove (At A Glance)

Compare	Skims	Thirdlove
Fit Philosophy	Fashion-first, with cuts and designs that work seamlessly under modern clothing styles	Fit-first, with half-cup sizing available, and comfort in mind
Size Range	A–H cups, 30–46 band	AA–H/I cups (including half-cups), 30–48 band
Comfort	Surprisingly comfortable	I expected comfort and definitely got it, even for all-day wear
Fabric Feel	Buttery-soft like a second skin	Buttery-soft like a second skin
Price	$46 to $98	$48 to $82
Best For	Those who need a greater range of skin tone shades, and/or styles that accommodate trendy fashion cuts	Those who need more options for full coverage and/or wireless bras

If you’re trying to decide between Skims and Thirdlove, the real question isn’t about which brand is “better” than the other, but which one works better for how you need your bras to fit and feel.

I’ll take you through my experience with both, sharing everything you need to know about the fit, comfort, support, and wear so you can figure out which might be the better pick for your wardrobe.

My Experience With Skims Bras

I’m a fuller-figured girlie and at my age, prefer a comfy and smoothing full-coverage bra most of the time. I’m also exploring wireless bras a lot more lately. I work from home and spend a lot of time braless (there’s a fact about me you now know) and my skin has become more sensitive than it used to be. I wore underwires for decades, but they’re a lot less appealing to me these days.

So my goal was to find a wireless full-coverage bra at Skims. I found a handful of wireless bras (just seven)… I found some full-coverage bras (only six)… but did not find any that were wireless and full-coverage.

That wasn’t a total deal-breaker, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bummed. Considering my options, and knowing that smoothing was more important to me than the lack of an underwire, I opted to get the Fits Everybody Full Coverage Back Smoothing Bra in Cocoa.

I thought it’d be perfect since it really is back smoothing: There is no hook and eye-closure or even a traditional-style band, and the back panel is almost like shapewear.

I have plenty of pull-over bras and thought nothing of getting another. But those are also wireless, and I neglected to consider the process of pulling an underwire bra on (or off!) instead of hooking it. I won’t share imagery from the process of shimmying my way into it, but I can show you the final result:

The fit is decent, to be honest. The material is crazy smooth, the back is really flattering, and it truly does disappear under clothing… at least, everywhere except the shoulders.

The straps are very soft and comfortable, don’t get me wrong, but the material is so thick that the slider is difficult to move to adjust the strap length, and the slider area is lumpy. Seriously, it bulges like nobody’s business:

And there’s not really much to be done about that, since the straps themselves are just thick. It looks like I’m trying to sprout tiny horns out of my shoulders. I think it’ll be fine as long as I’m wearing my hair down, but I was a little disappointed because I thought it would be a cute bra to wear with layered tank tops or off-the-shoulder sweatshirts.

I don’t know if every bra from Skims has straps that are this thick, but it’s definitely something to be aware of with this one, at least.

Will I still wear it? Oh, definitely. It’s otherwise comfortable, even if it is an underwire bra, and I really do like how smooth it is across the back. Come to think of it, I might even turn this one into workout wear.

Pros & Cons Of Bras From Skims

Skims definitely has a lot to offer when you’re shopping for a new bra, but they’re not well suited for every body.

Skims Bra Pros:

Skims has one of the widest skin-tone color ranges I’ve come across to date, so finding bra options that closely match your complexion is really easy.
The material is buttery-soft against your skin with plenty of stretch that’s still supportive.
They have some smart designs and cuts that work well under a wide variety of fashion-forward clothing, and if you’re a fan of having nipples on display, they even have options with raised nips built right in. (Yes, really.)
Size ranges are inclusive, from band sizes 30 to 46, and cup sizes A through H.
Returns are available for 30 days, either for a refund or store credit (tags must be left on the garment).

Skims Bra Cons:

There is a very limited selection of wireless bras, and full-coverage bras for that matter, and there are no wireless full-coverage options available as of this writing.
A lot of the bra styles carried by Skims are geared toward smaller figures, despite carrying a size range that can accommodate full-figured support.
Sizing can run a little small, at least with certain bras.
Returns have a $6 shipping fee attached unless you’re a Skims Rewards member or choose store credit as repayment, in which case the return is free.

My Experience With Thirdlove Bras

Unlike Skims, I found plenty of full-coverage and wireless bra options to consider right away and that made me feel more seen, if that makes sense. It’s entirely possible that I’m not the “target market” for Skims, but the time I spent looking through Thirdlove’s bras was entirely focused on picking just one, rather than hoping I’d be able to find just one that might work.

I really wanted a bra that would smooth my sides and back, provide plenty of coverage, feel soft against my skin, and support well without a wire. I ended up going with the Comfort Stretch Smoothing Wireless Bra, which I got in “Dreamy Lilac” because I thought it was pretty.

Thirdlove uses a trademarked Precise Size, so you enter your band and cup (in my case, that’s 38G), and then it provides a conversion to the Precise Size that accommodates asymmetries and even half-cup sizing needs. My breasts are not what I’d call fully asymmetric, but the left is a bit larger than the right.

My Thirdlove Precise Size is XL++ and after adjusting the straps as needed, the thing fits like a glove:

The Comfort Stretch material is soft everywhere, including the straps, but one of the things I appreciate most is the side-boob coverage it provides. There is a panel that extends upward toward the armpit that keeps everything contained and shaped nicely so there is no spillage.

The smoothing continues around the back and, like the Skims bra I tried, it disappears under clothing completely. One thing I love about the Comfort Stretch wireless bra is that the straps detach in the back so you can wear it criss-cross if needed under certain outfits. That kind of versatility is something I take advantage of in the summer months, especially, when I’m wearing racerback tanks and tops.

The foam cups are thick enough to provide plenty of nipple coverage but they’re not so thick that they add bulk, which is another thing I appreciate since I don’t necessarily want my breasts to look larger than they are. (And in fact, Thirdlove’s 24/7 Wireless Minimizer is what I reach for when I need to downplay my chesticles… it takes three inches off of my bustline!)

Like I mentioned earlier, I spend a lot of time not wearing a bra at home, and that might be part of the reason why I’ve detached myself from the idea that a bra *must* have an underwire to be supportive. I used to believe that was the case, but I don’t anymore. The wireless Comfort Stretch is one of the few bras I can wear all day long and I’m not itching to take it off an hour after putting it on.

The fabric is stretchy and it fits well no matter how you’re moving throughout the day, but it stays supportive and doesn’t stretch out by the end of it. This has become a favorite bra for daily wear, at least whenever I need to leave the house and be out in the world.

(I wish I had the confidence to go braless in public like many women do, or like I had twenty or thirty years ago. Alas, at 50, I do not. And that’s okay. We’re all making our own way through the world.)

Pros & Cons Of Bras From Thirdlove

I like Thirdlove for a lot of reasons, but no bra brand is perfect, and there are pros and cons to consider before you shop.

Thirdlove Bra Pros:

Half-cup sizing is available and band/cup measurements convert to a trademarked Precise Size for (you guessed it) precise sizing that really is accurate, in my experience.
Bra sizing at Thirdlove is more inclusive compared to Skims, accommodating cup sizes AA through I, and band sizes 30 to 48.
The fabric is super soft and the overall construction is well-designed, with plenty of support and shaping that doesn’t feel constrictive or irritating, even after all-day wear.
There are plenty of full-coverage options to choose from, with or without an underwire.
The material stretches for comfort and fit, but doesn’t “stretch out” over time. That said, you should always air-dry after washing (instead of using a dryer) because repeated heat drying can degrade the material (which is true for most bras).
There is a fit guarantee that grants free exchanges for 60 days (just make sure to leave the tags on).

Thirdlove Bra Cons:

Although there are some skin-tone shades available, there are generally fewer options compared to the range that Skims offers.
Some of the limited edition colors sell out quickly so if you find one that you like, it’s best to get it sooner rather than later.
Exchanges are free within 60 days, but returns have a $4.99 processing fee unless you’re a Hooked Rewards Platinum member.

The Final Verdict

I’m of the mind that there is no “best bra” for every single body, only a “best bra” for each individual based on their fit, shaping, and comfort needs. Personally, that’s Thirdlove because the coverage, material, and construction are exactly what I need in a bra that I’m going to wear all day. (When I do!)

I definitely understand the attention that Skims receives and I do think there are a lot of great options available there, but Thirdlove just “gets” my body in terms of style, fit, and comfort a lot more. Their bras make me feel like myself underneath clothing, and I think that’s what we should all be looking for in a bra.