A Curvy Girl’s Cupshe Review: Essential Things To Know Before You Buy

This is a VERY honest Cupshe review haul. I spent $300 on Cupshe swimsuits so I could try tons of their styles, test the quality and customer service. Is Cupshe legit and the best new place to buy swimsuits for the summer? Or is this company a hard PASS and possibly a scam? Read to find out!!

(I have a spoiler: I had major issues with shipping and not all the swimsuits look the same IRL. Time to spill some tea!)

PS: Watch my YouTube video review below to see all the swimsuits in my try-on haul!

 

A Curvy Girl’s Cupshe Review: Essential Things To Know Before You Buy (2022)

As a body-positive blogger, I’m always keeping my eyes open for companies offering cute products that fit my fellow curvy babes in trendy styles, but also have affordable prices.

Cupshe isn’t branded as a plus size swimwear company, but Cupshe bathing suits go up to size 4x which thrilled me. Accompanied by prices averaging around $25 and TONS of unique styles, I thought “this could be the JACKPOT of swimwear for summertime!” Size inclusive style is hard to find! 

I’m low-key obsessed with swimsuits. After not feeling comfortable in them for most of my youth, I’ve almost sort of overcorrected and now have shopped a lot of swimsuits from a lot of different companies. After learning about Cupshe swimsuits, I did some research on the quality, but couldn’t find a great third party review, so I decided I was the perfect blogger to take up the challenge of the ultimate honest Cupshe review!

So, keep reading to learn about Cupshe bathing suits, a totally unsponsored/honest reviews and other must-know helpful tips for sizing & style choices if you choose to order! Let’s go.

CUPSHE REVIEWS 2021

These are the swimsuits I got in my orders! I will say off the bat, I love all the different styles of Cupshe. They are trendy and unique, which is what I look for when shopping for swimsuits. 

I’m going to be talking about each of these styles (pros and cons!) further down below, especially since I took some of them on a few trips to test out in real life. But first…

Cupshe Discount Code: use code WHIMSY15 for 15 off $70+ or WHIMSY20 for 20% off $109+ until June 2022!!

Shipping Highs & Woes

Before I dive into my sizing and quality thoughts, I have to start off with sharing my struggle with even getting the swimsuits I ordered. Buckle in for a storytime.

I ordered about $150 worth of swimsuits the first week of February. When doing reviews like this, I always order a few different styles and fabric types so I can really test things out across the board for you. 

One swimsuit arrived on time, but the rest of my order never came… I thought I had been scammed out of $130.

Upon ordering, I was notified at checkout that my order would have a 5-8 business day delay, so I chopped the initial delay up to that timeframe. But I was never given a tracking code to track the rest of the order so I was in limbo. 

When My Order REALLY Never Came…

But after that window came and went and I still didn’t get the ~$130 of swimsuits I ordered, I reached out to customer service. And thus began what felt like the never-ending back and forth emails between me and the store. I can’t stress how many times I had to follow up with this company you guys. 

It felt like a fight just to get a new tracking code for the second half of my order. And once I did get that code, it was clear that my order was stuck in limbo somewhere (as in, the post office did have an update for almost a week on where it was.) Finally, after a couple of weeks of checking in and being proactive about my order, I got in touch with an agent who actually helped. 

The new agent offered me a choice: I could get 50% of my order refunded (but not a full refund) or I could use a code to place a new order totally for free and if the other swimsuits came, I could keep them.

At this point, it felt all like a major scam. I was frustrated that I couldn’t get refunded in full for the swimsuits that weren’t there. But at the same time, I really wanted some of the swimsuits, I really wanted to do this review for you guys and I was also really aware of some possible reasons for a delay.

I do think my delays were a combination of three things:

  1. Lunar New Year / Chinese New Year (I ordered my swimsuits right at the beginning and it’s common for Chinese companies to take the whole week off, sometimes two weeks in celebration.)
  2. The coronavirus (ie: possible delays at their factory in China due to lack of workers, etc.)
  3. They’re made in China so it just takes a while to ship regardless. 

So, I took the promo code and ordered a new order. This one came much faster, in about 12 days. And, literally just a couple of days ago, my initial order finally arrived. So, I ended up with $300+ worth of swimsuits for just $150.  I’m frustrated over the whole experience, but I do appreciate the solution and getting a second order comped. It made me want to shop there again. 

UPDATE: I have since re-ordered from Cupshe in 2021 many times, and while my swimsuits totally took a while to arrive, I didn’t have this weird mixed order situation. A few of the ones I got were total misses and I also got the option to get credit instead of a refund, which I took. This was fast and done over a chat message so they have made improvements! 

Now, let’s chat about each of the styles!

Cupshe Styles (Hits And Misses)

I took a few swimsuits on a couple of trips here in California to test out IRL, and of course tried them all on at home, too. 

Green Black and White One Piece Swimsuit: This is my favorite swimsuit of the bunch. The fabric is heavier and feels more luxe and the whole design just screams fancy AF. The V neck plunge fits just right and I love the bow tie in front for an added element of fun.

Gingham Swimsuit: This is my other favorite. It’s perfect for summer and makes me feel like a cottagecore babe! 

Red Ruffle High Waisted Bikini This is a major FAIL for me. I was expecting a skimpy bikini but this swimsuit is a lot smaller in real life than it looks like on the model. The cups are so small I feel like I would pop right out if I moved to quickly!

Orange Gingham and Solid Bikini  This is a win! It fits like a dream and I love the bright orange color. The bottoms are more high-waisted so I feel totally comfortable and confident in these.

Rainbow Striped High-Waisted Bikini This is a toss-up. I ADORE the rainbow pattern (I’m such a sucker for color!) But the high waisted bottoms weren’t all that high waisted. It doesn’t fully cover my belly button, which is what I expect from a high waist.

Lost In The Dream High-waisted Bikini Set  This is a win, though I do have to say the colors look a bit different in real life. But it fits well, the high waist is high and it has a nice sporty look that I could see myself snorkeling in while in Maui or something.

Scalloped Deep V-neck One-Piece Swimsuit This is the WORST of all the swimsuits. There’s so many things wrong with it. For starters, this is the swimsuit that color ran from the fabric after soaking in a hot tub. I had laid it out over the shower and it was sitting next to a towel and the towel got a huge red stain. BOO. The cups also sit way too high (for my breasts at least) and the bottoms are too tight.

Colorblocked V-Neck One Piece Swimsuit This one is another miss. I loved the retro color blocking pattern but the top isn’t cut correctly. The side under the armpit area is way too loose and doesn’t fit a body correctly.

Floral Appliques One-Piece Swimsuit This one is another toss-up. It was the same issues as the colorblocked suit above (the top doesn’t fit exactly right) but the cutting is a lot better. And I love the pattern and a size Large fits well.

Floral Lace Up Back One-Piece Swimsuit This is a miss. The flowers are super pretty and whimsical, but they look tapped on. It’s not a good look in real life. I think if I took this into the water it would fall apart. That being said, I may try to fit this up a bit and wear it as a bodysuit under jeans.

Green and White High-Waisted Bandeau Bikini  This is a win! It’s another sporty-feeling bikini that holds all my curves in perfectly while making me feel confident. Can’t wait to wear this one at the pool this summer!

Orange and White Bikini: I like this one for summer but the orange looks more yellow/light orange in real life than it does online. I still plan on wearing it since it’s cute and comfy, but it doesn’t exactly match up. 

Dusty Red Bikini: This was a surprise hit for me. The color is a dusty red that I love and I actually think it looks really cute worn under overalls, too! 

Emerald Green Bikini: I love the color on this! It fits a little sporty but has a flirty side tie. 

Retro Colorblock Swimsuit: Dear lord, I love this swimsuit so much. It’s colorful, totally my style and stays in place. I wear this the most when I’m snorkeling, swimming in waterfalls, etc.  

Red One Piece Swimsuit: Another hit! This one piece swimsuit hugs my curves in all the best ways and makes me feel really hot. I wore it on our Valentine’s Day trip up to Calistoga. I’ve been having such a hard time finding a red swimming that fits like this one. 

Cupshe Sizing Reviews

Ok, so now you know I had some sizing issues with the swimsuits. I saw some YouTube videos of other women trying on swimsuits but they were all for sure a size small, so I wanted to share my thoughts on Cupshe size comparison for my curvy ladies.

I wear a size 12 or Large. (Update: now I wear a size 14 or XL) I thought some of the swimsuits in a large fit perfectly while some were too big and some were a bit too tight. You can find a size chart or size guide on each individual product page to double-check sizing first. 

Overall, I felt that the one-pieces had the most sizing and fitting issues. Many had issues in the top portion because they weren’t cut correctly to actually fit a body well. A couple also had issues on the bottom half and were too tight around my tighs.

I had better luck on the bikinis, which were mostly all true to size. That being said, I have been able to find some great one piece Cupshe swimwear pieces that I wear again and again, they just are a bit more risky. 

 

Cupshe Loungewear & Dresses

Did you know Cupshe offers loungewear and clothes, too?! This is new in 2021. I own a few of their dresses and loungewear sets. I find the dresses to be perfect for the beach or hot days exploring a town- they’re thin, flowy and colorful.

I’m obsessed with this floral midi dress that fits perfectly and is so fun for spring and summer. It instantly made my list of favorite Cupshe clothing pieces that I wear over and over again. 

 I wore this yellow dress from them to my trip to Porto, Portugal this summer! It was the perfect vacation dress for all their beautiful blue walls around the city, my photos turned out so fun, and the weight of the dress was ideal for all the heavy heat. 

But my favorite is this glitter loungewear set. I can’t decide if I’m going to a party or being extra on the couch when I wear it, but I love it that way. The set is the perfect weight (not too heavy, not too thin) and so fun to wear in the wintertime when I want to spruce up my everyday looks. I also packed this set as one of my winter cabin outfits on a recent trip and loved how fancy it made me feel. 

Cupshe Return Policy

Let’s chat return process! Here’s the official Cupshe Returns Policy:

  1.  All return requests must be initiated within 30 days your package has been delivered.
  2. All items must be returned in their original condition, with all tags and hygiene seals attached. Bikini sets must be returned with both top and bottom.
    1. my personal note: the hygiene seals are VERY loosely attached and will certainly come off if you try a suit on, so take care to ensure it doesn’t unstick when you are trying on your order.
  3. Accessories and beach towels cannot be returned or exchanged unless there is a quality issue.

I checked Cupshe BBB ratings and while they aren’t United States accredited, they do have a B- rating which isn’t terrible. Most of the complaints filed against them are for not honoring returns. Many people claim Cupshe just stopped emailing them back after they tried to get a return label o start the return process.

I had to email them almost every day and FINALLY got a solution to my order after about 6-7 emails asking for updates. So I’m guessing that these customers had issues and weren’t following up enough (which is something they fairly shouldn’t have to do, but I did want to point it out in case you order and have an issue. Follow up until it gets solved!)

Update: I ordered myself more in Spring 2021, I wanted to return a few swimsuits. Customer Support reached back right away this time. I also took the option to keep the swimsuits free of charge and get additional credit to buy more swimsuits. It was a win-win. 

Are Cupshe Swimsuits Good Quality or Cheaply Made?

It’s a toss-up. Some of the swimsuits in my order were on pare to the quality and fabrics as swimsuits I’ve gotten from places like Target. Others were cheaply made, didn’t actually fit correctly and on one, the color in the fabric even ran. Overall, I think the bikinis are amazing and the one-pieces are a little iffy. 

Guys, this is a swimsuit, the color shouldn’t be running when it’s wet!

Where Is Cupshe Located? 

Where is Cupshe manufactured you ask? The website branding makes you think they are a Southern California company but I’m pretty sure their swimsuits are made in China, and I think that’s where the actual HQ is as well. And from my experience ordering fast fashion from overseas companies is that it’s always a hit or miss.

Some of the clothing will be made perfectly fine, some won’t. It’s always a bit of a risk ordering, especially when you can’t touch the product in person in store first. 

Is Cupshe Legit or A Scam?

Well, as you can see I did get my swimsuits…. eventually. So, it’s not a scam in the sense that you’ll buy a product and never get it. But I had to FIGHT to get my order and while I do like some of my Cupshe swimwear pieces but there some that just don’t fit well at all and are a waste of money.

I think Cupshe is best for when you want a swimsuit for vacation – like, you’re heading to Maui and you want new bikini. These are not on the level of companies like Summersalt, which makes swimsuits to last YEARS. Cupshe is better for the short-haul and overall has good customer reviews. 

Overall,  I would buy here again and have bought here again for “short term” purposes when I want to try a new swimsuit trend. But I’d be super selectively and probably only a buy couple instead of like, 10. This is not the type of store you can buy a lot of pieces from, try on at home, and easily return the ones you didn’t love unless you bought them from Amazon. 

If You Do Order, Here’s What You NEED To Do

So, to recap, if you choose to order from Cupshe, here’s the essential things to keep in mind:

Check to see what past customers have said about the swimsuit on the Cupshe website reviews. I feel like all their reviews should be taken with a grain of salt since I looked at a bunch and couldn’t find any truly negative ones, so I’m not 100% sure what’s going on there (are they deleting reviews or forging them?)But in general, you can get a vague sense about what the swimsuit will fit like. 

If you are ordering during the Chinese New Year, expect very long shipping delays since I’m *pretty* sure the entire company takes off during that time frame. I personally would love to see them note this delay with transparency since it’s frustrating to not know why your order is late, but a holiday break is perfectly fine. 

If you are torn between styles, opt for a bikini. Out of all the swimsuits I ordered, it was the one-pieces I had the most issues with. 

Check out with PayPal. At the end of the day, this is an international company and you can never know how good their security is. Pay for your through PayPal to make sure your information is secure (plus, if you have any order issues they should be able to support you!)

I hope this helps you decide if Cupshe is for you or not! If you have ordered from here, I would LOVE to hear your experience (good or bad!)  so please leave a comment below with your Cupshe swimsuits review so everyone can read it. 

If you have any questions, feel free to DM me on Instagram @thewhimsysoul and I’lll be happy to help!

Stay fabulous! 

 

Kara

I'm the founder of Whimsy Soul (this blog you're reading!) I'm a type 3 enneagram cat lady who lives in San Francisco and loves to find everyday magic to share with others. You can probably find me hunting down hot springs with girlfriends, kayaking, cooking with my husband, petting strangers' dogs or watching like, all the things on Netflix. Follow me on Instagram for even more inspiration!

34 comments

  1. Thanks for this! I am curvy and shopping for a bath suit and because of your review I’m going to keep looking. Any suggestions especially for bottoms would be great!
    Thanks for the honest review! So appreciated!

    Reply

  2. Thank you for this! I’m wondering about the size chart. It seems so off…a size XL is hips of 36”?! I’m a size 8 and my hips are still 39”. Can you provide your measurements so I can gauge?

    Reply

  5. Kind of wish I had found this before I ordered. My order came in great time and the bathing suits are cute, but they’re not the greatest fit. I’m very top heavy and thought a large would suffice, I’m in… but probably not as well as I’d like for swimming and such. I got a two piece and a cut-out one piece. Little tight but it might just be doable for lounging around on the beach. Overall I’d give it a 6/10 because it does look very similar to the picture, and came really fast, But I didn’t realize it was a China type company and the sizing isn’t the best.

    Reply

  7. It was interesting to read your review as my experience with Cupshe swimsuits is totally 90% favorable. I ordered my first two one-piece suits through Amazon as I didn’t know this company existed. I loved these so much that I then ordered three more suits using their app. I took advantage of Labor Day sale and first time buyer. I got my order in the promised time-5 business days.

    I’m petite (5’1”) and heavy set (overweight) so I ordered large. The suits fit very well, except for one which ties in the back and is too tight. These suits looks classy and not cheap at all. They are well made. I’ve worn the first two to the beach and pool and still hold their shape. There is no color running. I haven’t had to deal with customer service or returns so I cannot comment on this. As far as the bathing suits, I highly recommend them, especially or their price.

    Reply

  10. This is the perfect web site for anybody who would like to understand this topic.
    You realize so much its almost tough to argue with you (not that I really would want to…HaHa).
    You certainly put a fresh spin on a topic that has been written about for decades.
    Excellent stuff, just great!

    Reply

  13. It’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere rn, so I have just started looking for new togs (as we call them here). Thanks for the heads up, I was totally seduced by the advertising and feel like I’ve now dodged a bullet w Cupshe (the clue is in the name though, right?). Awesome review, thank you so much!

    Reply

  15. You have an a amazing body, thankyou for sharing your experience, it’s so nice to read and watch an honest review.

    Reply

  16. Ugh!! I found this review too late! I’ve ordered from Cupshe, 6 one piece suits, that I’m still waiting on. I had a tracking number right away, a 3-5 day delivery window and here I sit on day 5 without a single suit.

    Reply

    1. Did you ever get your suits? I also ordered and got a tracking number, but 3 days after mu order “shipped” there’s nothing happening…

      Reply

  17. Thank you for this review!!! And for trying on suits so we can see how they look on REAL people!

    Reply

  18. Thanks so much! I’m a Plus Sized Woman who was lured by their “up to 4X” ad & when I got to their site and saw such cute styles for such amazing prices, I thought something had to be amiss.
    I thought it was “Asian Sizing” – anyone been caught by that one? My 3x butt is actually about a *choke* 7x in Asia! So it’s not that, more of a “pays your money, takes your chances” situation.

    This was a terrific, thorough review. I really appreciate it. I found you searching for reviews before I thought about ordering. Now I’m gonna give it another think.Not really in the market for another “disposable” bathing suit that only lasts a few wears…

    Reply

  19. Thank you for this super honest and great review! It helps and now I really want to try and order:)

    Reply

  20. Thanks so much for your review about this company!! Thank God I did a little research before ordering and have decided that what you went through was too aggravating and would rather not go through that. So therefore, I will not be ordering.
    Thank you again♥️

    Reply

  22. Hello, Kara! Excellent review of the Cupshe company and their bathing suits. You rocked each and every one of those suits! As always, you get what you pay for. A curvy girl requires only the best and you have to pay for it. Land’s End makes the most beautiful bathing suits – well made, pricey and so worth it! They last and last and last and fit beautifully. That said, I’d like to try a Miracle suit next. Cheers, Kara! You are awesome and beautiful! 💕

    Reply

  25. Hey and thank you for the heads up, I wondered if you took out the cups in the one piece…or did they come with any? Thanks.

    Reply

  28. Hi, 1 month back I placed an order for biknis with use of promo code 45% off with using *****, however 1 of them didn’t fit quite well. But their customer service was really helpful when I contacted them. Their return policy is amazing, and they provide you with a variety of options. I ended up keeping both swimsuits because the Cupshe tops can be worn with a variety of bottoms and they offered me a 65% refund on my credit card, plus I got to keep my bikni. Cupshe is someone I’ll definitely purchase with again!

    Reply

    1. Loved reading this, used your link and went right to their site. Tried using the discount code and it’s telling me I need to use a valid code. Has anyone else had trouble using the code?

      Reply

  31. Thank you so much for your detailed review. I am currently experiencing delays with my “express shipping” order from Cupshe. It is looking as though the two one-piece suits will not arrive prior to my trip. I hope the return process goes smoothly despite it sounding like an arduous ordeal. Fingers crossed…

    Reply

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