Kitty & Vibe Review: Pioneering Swimwear

By throwing away traditional metric sizing, Kitty & Vibe has revitalized the swimwear industry with their one-of-a-kind take on sizing and inclusivity.

Price: $52 for the Ruffle String Top, $46 for String Bottoms 

What’s the hype on Kitty & Vibe and their sizing system? We base our reviews on several factors and standards in order for us to determine whether we truly believe a product is a great fit that we’d recommend. Here’s how Kitty & Vibe stacks up:

Cameron Armstrong knew her booty couldn’t be grown, even with squats. She grew tired of the one-size-fits-all-bodytypes mentality of the swimwear industry after constantly purchasing swimwear that sagged on her bottom.

She absolutely hated shopping for bathing suits, like every woman she knew. Nothing fit correctly and if you have big breasts and smaller hips you can forget about finding a matching set that won’t suffocate certain areas. Cameron launched Kitty & Vibe as a response to this universal frustration, creating a brand that is inclusive of all body types and doesn’t cater to whatever shape is trendy at the moment.

She began leading focus groups to develop her market research and made a monumental discovery: sizing was different across brands, making it impossible to consistently find swimwear that was flattering and fit. And to solve this dilemma, she created a sizing metric that takes the pain and stress away.

After juggling her full time job at L’Oreal and her budding business, Cameron took the leap and dove into her brand. With Kitty & Vibe, she’s created not only a brand but a community about body positivity that wants women to celebrate themselves with curated playlists that accompany every product.

To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from the bikini set because I don’t think triangle tops are flattering on me. Being a 32c, my chest is small so it’s easy for them to get lost in fabric.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that the String Ruffle Top was flattering and gave me shape, thanks to the adjustable shoulder straps. The strings for both the top and bottom give you all the leeway to make the bikini as tight or loose as you want without feeling like it’s digging into your skin.

Unlike most bikini tops that have strings that untie easily (especially at the worst moments), the Ruffle String Top’s adjustable straps keep everything secure like a bra with sliders and rings, just like the bras we wear every day.

It’s essentially a bra and bikini hybrid–brassiere on top, bikini on the bottom. Even after several uses, the top and bottom held up well and didn’t sag. The top felt slightly heavy after being submerged in water, but this was quickly solved when I removed the padding.

There are several factors that led to my positive experience with the Ruffle String Top and String Bottom including:

• The stylish and unique design 
• How well the strings held together after hours of use
• The ease of the shoulder straps, providing ultimate fit control
• The thick material and added protection from the sun

Not only is the bikini beautiful and made with ethical resources, the Ruffle String Top has adjustable shoulder straps that slide to provide a more customized, comfortable fit. Unlike most bikini tops that have one-size-fits-all strings, Kitty & Vibe developed a sliding strap for ultimate control of how you want your top to feel.

Their sizing chart is measured by bra size and relaxed bust size–taking out the guesswork of what top will actually fit. Sizes A to C have removable cups and thinner straps while sizes D cup and above have straps that are slightly thicker and come with an additional layer of mesh.

Meanwhile, the bottoms come in sizes depending on booty size, because we all know that we can have the same sized hips as someone but totally different booty shapes, which can make it even harder to shop for. Thankfully, the Kitty & Vibe team created their unique measuring system to help you out.

Kitty & Vibe strives to create pieces of swimwear that are comfortable, flattering, and fun, but are also fair to the environment.

Fast fashion leaves large holes in the earth, and bikinis are often mass produced with cheap materials to keep up with the latest trends that end up in a landfill by the next season. The material is thin, the straps fall apart, and they can’t be used for more than a summer or two.

Kitty & Vibe’s pieces are made with polyamide nylon, elastane, polyamide, lycra, and the sustainable fabric is created with recycled poly and x-life Lycra. The quality is apparent upon first touch and when used because it shrinks back to its original size after being worn, wet, and dried. A fantastic bonus to Kitty & Vibe’s products is the SPF 50+ sun protection. Who remembers to apply sunscreen underneath their bathing suits? I never have, even though it’s completely possible for that delicate skin to burn. 

Upon first glance, you may think Kitty & Vibe’s swimwear as pricey when each piece is at least $45. Why spend nearly $100 when several brands offer full sets for $15? After wearing Kitty & Vibe’s swimwear, you’ll understand the value of a good quality bathing suit. The shelf life of a bathing suit is roughly three months to a year, with higher quality pieces lasting longer.

Generally, it doesn’t appear that Kitty & Vibe has coupons or seasonal discounts outside of their sale section. You can take advantage of $10 off and free shipping when you sign up for their newsletter or take their fit quiz to determine your Kitty size. 

If your budget is tight, Zip is available to help you pay in four installments. It’s similar to other after pay methods for avid shoppers.

Kitty & Vibe was created with you in mind: you who has a hard time finding swimwear and wants to feel confident in your own skin.

Not only is the design a brilliant move by the creators with the adjustable shoulder straps identical to a bra, the sizing chart is phenomenal. No one should feel discouraged when shopping for swimsuits. We should all love the way we look and feel confident in our skin.

Cameron Armstrong has developed an inclusive brand that has helped empower women across the country and the globe. Thanks to TikTok, Kitty & Vibe received exposure that cemented them as the powerhouse they are in the swimwear industry. With high-quality materials, fun patterns, and a proper sizing chart that ensures the best fit for you, there isn’t anything to dislike about Kitty & Vibe.