Brutally Honest Cupshe Review: Everything You Need To Know Before Buying

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If you’re on the hunt for a new bikini, you’ve for sure come across Cupshe. But is Cupshe legit? What’s the quality like? Find out in this thorough Cupshe review.

Who hasn’t’ paid over-the-top prices for bikinis or swimsuits that only end up being worn for a few months in the summer and then stored out of sight for the rest of the year? It just doesn’t seem justifiable.

If like me, you’re obsessed with buying swimsuits regardless of whether it’s swimsuit season or not, then you may have already come across Cupshe in your search for cute yet affordable swimwear.

Cupshe is a brand that’s regularly popped up when I’ve been on the hunt for super cute styles of swimwear at reasonable prices but I never took the plunge of getting to know the brand until recently.

For this review, I bought six different pieces from Cupshe. Here is my favorite of the bunch, the Stunning Green One Piece swimsuit with the Floral Mesh Kimono Cover Up.

I wasn’t sure what kind of brand Cupshe was and didn’t even know if it was legit, so I thought, surely I can’t be the only one who thinks this?

In this Cupshe review, I go over the quality of the swimsuits, what their service is like, what the sizing of the pieces is like, what the returns process is like and what my overall opinion of them is.

So keep on reading to find out what you should know about Cupshe before you buy.

What Is Cupshe?

Cupshe is a swimwear/clothing brand that is inspired and created for vibrant and fun women all across the globe. The company was formed back in 2015 and since then has gone from strength to strength, accumulating over 1 million customers from all over the world.

Cupshe made its mark on the industry by designing and creating stylish yet affordable swim pieces that could be worn by every woman.

As the years have gone on, they’ve also begun selling beach cover-ups and now have a generous collection of athleisure clothing and cute day/evening dresses that are perfect for beach vacations.

Above all, Cupshe has an endless collection of swimsuits and bikinis that are guaranteed to suit any style and flatter all body types.

Its mission is to empower women everywhere to look and feel their best in quality and affordable swimwear.

Where Is Cupshe Located?

Cupshe’s headquarters are based out in China, however, they have a US-based warehouse in New Jersey and a UK-based warehouse near London. If you decide to return anything from your order, this is where you’ll be returning the items (so don’t worry, you don’t have to pay exorbitant shipping fees if you do returns!).

At first, there wasn’t much information on their website as to where their global headquarters or warehouse are based. However, when I placed the orders, I noticed that they were sent from Dongguan, China, so I’m assuming this is where the majority of their operation is run from.

With this said, the shipping times were actually very fast. If your order is above $49, you’ll get free shipping in 5-7 business days. If it’s over $119, you’ll get your order in 3-5 business days. My order took 6 business days to arrive from China.

Is Cupshe A Legit Brand?

Yes, Cupshe is a legit brand.

I was a little skeptical when I first looked through their products as the swimsuits do look pretty similar to things you’d find on scam fast-fashion websites that take your money and don’t ship anything to you.

However, I had no issues with ordering from Cupshe and would recommend them to anyone who’s looking for affordable bikinis.

Cupshe is a genuine company with real products, and I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the swimwear- more on this in a bit!

Cupshe Sizing

Cupshe’s sizing goes from XS up to XXL and also offers sizes from 0X to 4X for plus-sized ladies.

For individual pieces, they list what size the model is wearing in the photo and also her measurements so you can get a good idea of what size you’d be yourself. They also have a sizing chart detailing which body measurements reflect which size.

To be honest, I have to say that the sizing of the Cupshe bikinis and swimsuits are pretty true to size BUT the sizing chart is absolutely NOT true to size. I’m between XS and S, and I was debating which size to get. I was leaning towards size S, but the sizing chart told me I was an XS. I’m most certainly not.

Wearing another favorite of mine, the ever so creatively named Dark Green Floral One Shoulder Ruffle High Waisted Bikini.

The bikinis still fit, but some of them give me an unflattering bulge because I ordered the wrong size.

So, if you are between two sizes, you’ll definitely want to size up.

This is especially true in the case of any shaping swimwear, like the green one piece that I featured in the beginning of this post. I love it, but it’s a mission to get into it in XS – I’m ordering the S to replace it. The same goes for a few other bikinis I ordered. They look fine, but I just know I’ll feel more comfortable in a size S, especially when it comes to eating while wearing the bikinis.

If you’re someone who has a larger bust than behind (or the other way round), buying bikinis from Cupshe can be more challenging. The majority of Cupshe bikinis come as a set, so you’ll want to avoid these. Instead, opt for the individual tops and bottoms that are sold separately, so you can get a bikini that’s a better fit.

Similarly, if you have a large bust, you may find shopping for one-piece swimsuits on Cupshe a bit limiting. In this case, I would opt for one-piece swimsuits that are visibly looser on the bust, like this plunging halter neck.

It seems to me that the majority of Cupshe swimsuits are made with the petite Chinese women in mind.

Sizing apart, everything felt comfortable but not loose. You’d feel confident jumping in the pool without the risk of the swimsuit coming loose from your body and exposing you.

Cupshe Fabric & Quality Review

I was actually pleasantly surprised with the quality of the fabric and designs of the swimsuit pieces! Cupshe initially struck me as a brand like Shein, where the quality and cuteness of the products are a bit hit or miss. I was wrong. The pieces looked like they could be from any semi-affordable retailer: the fit and the quality were great, and everything looked as expected.

Every single thing I ordered felt soft and of great quality, comparable to swimwear you would find in H&M (no shade, I love their swimwear collections). They were made of thick and comfortable material that doesn’t go see-through when you’re in the water, which is a must for me.

The quality strikes me as something that will last you a good few summers before it starts to lose its shape as swimwear normally does when you’ve worn and washed it too many times.

Is Cupshe An Ethical Brand?

When it comes to sustainability, no, Cupshe is not an ethical brand. They’re a fast-fashion company that continuously produces on-trend and cheap clothing which many people will dispose of once they feel it’s gone out of fashion or if the quality of the swimsuit is not enough to last another season.

With this said, I did notice that a lot of the best-selling swimwear tends to be evergreen, meaning that they’re a permanent addition to Cupshe’s collection. As a fashion blogger, I’m a big fan of this, because there’s nothing more annoying than recommending a product and then finding out it sold out after just weeks of being in the stores.

Whilst having lots of affordable products is great for everyday shoppers like you and me, who can afford a handful of cute garments at reasonable prices instead of paying hundreds of dollars just for one swim piece, it’s not great for the environment.

There is no information regarding Cupshe’s position regarding the sustainability of their company on their site (probably for obvious reasons) so I can’t confirm if they’re following ethical or eco-friendly procedures in the production of their clothing and swimsuits. My guess would be that they aren’t.

Concerning their packaging, I can say that Cupshe is not very ethical as it is clear they have made no effort to minimize the amount of packaging for shipping their products.

The external packaging of the shipment is made from non-recyclable plastic and each garment that you buy also comes in separate plastic packaging, which is not exactly eco-friendly.

Understandably, Cupshe doesn’t charge huge prices for their products so they probably do not have the profit margin to use alternative materials for their packaging to make it more eco-friendly.

I feel it’s the sacrifice you have to make, as more high-end brands can afford to be more sustainable with their practices and production but will charge out-of-touch prices for their products.

My Review On The Items I Ordered From Cupshe

I ordered a bunch of styles from Cupshe as I don’t actually have many flattering ones that look good in pictures. I opted for mostly high-waisted bikinis and it’s safe to say that I’m in love and not going back to regular low-cut bikinis! Now, let’s get started with the swimsuits (& the cover-up), starting with my favorite pieces first.

Pst – as I mentioned before, I wish I had gone for an S instead of XS. Most of these swimsuits still look and fit fine, but you just know that there’s going to be some unflattering bulging when you eat, etc. That’s why I’m swapping the swimsuits that I loved for an S instead!

1. Stunning Green One Piece Swimsuit

Get it here

Okay, the pictures don’t do the color any justice. This one piece swimsuit is a beautiful forest green shade that is so flattering. I can’t believe I haven’t bought more clothing in this color!

Like I mentioned before, the size of this swimsuit was too small for me, so I’m swapping it for a size S. With that said, the fit is extremely nice. It hugs you in all the right places, and the belt makes you look extra curvy. This swimsuit, like most other Cupshe swimsuits, comes with removable padding, which I love.

I’m naturally very petite and have a small bust, so I only shop for swimwear with padding. However, I have to say that the padding is your run of the mill, this will do kind of padding. It’s no push-up, nor will it make you look a size bigger. With this said, you can remove the standard padding and put additional padding in if you want!

The swimsuit is semi-backless and has a very flattering, plunging neckline. It also comes in a gorgeous royal blue shade, which I’m also considering buying.

10/10 from me, it’s simply stunning!

Get the Stunning Green One Piece Swimsuit on Cupshe.

2. Dark Green Floral One Shoulder Ruffle High Waisted Bikini

Get this swimsuit here

Coincidence or not, my second favorite swimsuit is also in a deep green shade: this time, it’s in dark khaki/olive green. As I mentioned before, the sizing was a tiny bit off on most of the swimwear, but not so much on this one. For this swimsuit, both XS and S are fine for my physique.

I love the floral pattern and the ruffles on this swimsuit – they add extra playfulness and they’re great for women with a smaller bust. A little volume goes a long way!

I also love the way that this bikini is designed to control your tummy and cinch in your waist. It’s definitely something that I’d wear when pregnant (and after, too).

Similar to the one piece swimsuit, this swimsuit has removable padding.

10/10 again!

Get the Dark Green Floral One Shoulder Ruffle High Waisted Bikini on Cupshe.

3. Orange Ruffle Bikini with Floral Bottom

Get it here

This bikini top comes in a beautiful bright orange color that would look amazing on tropical holidays. The top has a flattering V-neck detail with large ruffles on the straps that go all the way to the back.

The bottom has beautiful cut-out detailing that follows the bikini around on both sides. The tropical print features orange flowers that match beautifully to the top, as well as some green leaves.

It’s a great bikini if you’re looking for something that isn’t high-waisted!

Get the Orange Ruffle Bikini with Floral Bottom on Cupshe.

4. Ruffle Bandeau Bikini With High Waisted Bottom

Get it here

This bikini has such a cute color scheme! Thanks to the colors and the high-waisted bottoms that cinch in your waist, I think this bikini is universally flattering for most people.

It features a black and white striped bottom with a rectangular top that has ruffles on the side. The top felt a little small, so if you have a large bust, this is probably not the swimsuit for you.

Get the Ruffle Bandeau Bikini With High Waisted Bottom on Cupshe.

5. Jane High Waisted Bikini With Underwire Top

Get the top here | bottom here

I’m not going to lie, this one was a letdown. I had high hopes for this retro-style style bikini as it looked super cute on the model. In reality, the bikini looked fine, but it just wasn’t a flattering look on me.

It also feels ironic that this swimsuit combo was the most expensive of the bunch, the bottoms costing $14 and the top $20. Not a lot, but a bit more than all the other bikinis that retail for around $25.

Now, let’s talk about the specs of the bikini. The image above distorts the colors a little, but the swimsuit comes in a gorgeous white and light turquoise floral print pattern that stretches across the bottoms and the underwire top. If you love that color scheme, you’ll love the look of this bikini. (It just didn’t look that great on me.)

This swimsuit features a push-up bra, which quite honestly didn’t provide much push-up at all. Also, I was annoyed that the bikini bottoms didn’t come as high-waisted as they were on the website – you can clearly see my naval, whereas all of the models on the website have theirs covered.

Get the Jane High Waisted Bikini and Underwire Top on Cupshe.

6. Floral Mesh Kimono Cover Up

Get it here

I bought this kimono because I didn’t have one made from nice material. The cover-up is universally flattering with most swimsuits that I bought, and I think it would also go nicely with some shorts and a t-shirt, or even a dainty dress.

The cover-up has flute sleeves which add to the bohemian feel, and you can tie the kimono with a waist belt that comes with it. As the cover-up is quite long, I think it’s a great fit for most people, even though it’s one-size-fits-all.

Get the Floral Mesh Kimono Cover-Up on Cupshe.

What Is Cupshe’s Returns Policy?

Cupshe’s returns policy is a bit sus, and you’ll see why in a second. This is why I want to preach how important it is to get your sizing right when you’re ordering.

I as mentioned I got the sizing wrong for many of my pieces, so I reached out to them, and got this email from them:

So, a bit bizarre to say the least, but interesting at the same time. If the sizing was correct, I would have probably chosen to keep all of the items and just get store credit, especially since you get 130% of the amount! However, as some of the bikinis were too small for me, I chose to return them for a 100% refund.

The return address for Cupshe is in the UK, meaning the shipping with tracking was only around $7, which is not that bad. The US should offer a similar service with their warehouse being based in New Jersey.

It’s also good to know that according to Cupshe’s policy, bags, beach blankets, swimming rings, floaties, or items marked as ‘final sales’ cannot be returned.

You can return your items within 30 days of the delivery date and after that date, they are unable to accept returns.

If you are going to return items to Cupshe, make sure you keep all of the hygiene seals in place, as they won’t accept swimsuits where this is missing. Also, you’ll need to make sure you pay for tracked shipping, and provide them with the tracking details.

Top Tips When Ordering From Cupshe

Make sure look at reviews concerning the sizing of individual items so you buy the right size
The hygiene seal that comes on the swimwear is not the most secure, so be careful that it doesn’t peel off when you’re trying things on as if it comes off completely then you won’t be able to return the item if necessary. Also, please make sure to wear underwear when you try things on!
If you’re a different size from the top half of your body to your bottom half, then your best bet would be to go for a bikini that’s not sold as a set. You might want to avoid one piece swimsuits altogether.
Pay with PayPal or using a credit card, so you’ll be able to easily get your money back if there are any issues
Order with another retailer like Walmart or Target if you can, instead of directly on Cupshe as these are more reliable and will be able to handle returns, queries and issues more efficiently

Where can you buy Cupshe items?

You can buy Cupshe swimwear directly from the Cupshe site, which is easy to navigate and also offers the ability to shop by style for top and bottom, shows their best selling products, and also has a plus-size menu.

This helps to save you from enduring endless scrolling through swimsuits when you’re looking for a specific item.

However, it’s good to know that Cupshe is also available on Target and Walmart online, where they provide a good selection of one-piece, bikinis, and plus-sized pieces.

You can also access Cupshe’s products through their app on Android and Apple smartphones through the application stores, which makes it extra convenient, especially for people like us who love to scroll and buy stuff in bed.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How Long Does Shipping Take When You Order From Cupshe?

Cupshe ships worldwide and also offers free shipping when you spend over a certain amount.

When ordering from the US or UK, expedited shipping should take around 5-7 business days. This is free when you spend over $49, but will cost you $2.99 otherwise.

Express shipping will take 3-5 business days and is free for orders over $119, but orders between $59-$119 will need to pay $9.99, and orders under $59 will need to pay $12.99 for express shipping.

So, it’s worth it to buy a handful of bikinis at once rather than just buying a single one.

Shipping charges may differ depending on your location, so check on the Cupshe website.

Cupshe does declare that there may be delays with some shipments when there is an increased volume of orders. My order was delayed by one day, which I suspect is due to Brexit or the customs, as the order was actually in the country a few days before.

If you order directly from the Cupshe website, you have the option to track your order by submitting your email and order number so you can see exactly when your package is going to arrive.

Cupshe says on their website that your package will be shipped from whatever warehouse has the required inventory and is closest to you. My order was shipped from Dongguan, China, and it took just 6 days to arrive – pretty fast!

2. What Discounts Do Cupshe Offer?

The Cupshe site also has a loyalty program called Sunchasers where you’ll be rewarded every time you shop with them directly from the site. You’ll get early access to sales, exclusive members discounts, coupons, free shipping, and also a free item coupon depending on how many points you have.

If you subscribe to the Cupshe newsletter, you can get 10% off your first order from the site.

If you’re a student, you can get $10 orders over $85 when you verify your student status with Student Beans.

If you refer a friend and they order something from Cupshe, you can both get $10 off your orders.

Cupshe may do seasonal sales throughout the year with big discounts on even their best-selling items, so keep your eyes on the site or follow their social media to be kept in the know.

Cupshe Review – My Final Thoughts

As an overview, I’m happy with the service and items I received from Cupshe. They were all decent quality, stylish, and affordable. The free shipping was nice, but it was annoying that I got my sizing wrong and had to pay for my returns. I know $7 isn’t much, but it’s more than zero!

I can say with confidence that if you haven’t tried the brand out yet, you should. Cupshe is a great, legit website for affordable bikinis, and its catalog is much more vast than many of the other swimwear retailers I usually shop at.

Make sure to do your research on the items you’re buying regarding sizing and reviews so you know what you’re buying. Also, consider buying Cupshe items from Target or Walmart first, especially if you’re not quite sure what sizing you should go for.