MISSGUIDED sent cash-strapped holidaymakers into a frenzy last week after unveiling its £1 bikini.
The fast-fashion online retailer is releasing 1,000 of its black string-tied two-piece daily, for a limited-time only.
But is the bikini, which comes in sizes four to 24 and is made from polyester and elastane, a quid well spent?
Fabulous Digital model Francesca Cosh, 25, from London, decided to pit it against London-based designer Talia Collins’ £160 version, which comes in sizes six to 14.
At first glance, both sets of swimwear look near-identical. Both tops are triangular with black straps allowing for adjustable cups, and the bottoms are string-tied.
But Talia Collins’ bikini top can be styled two ways, whereas Missguided’s is a simple halter-neck fastening.
The main difference is the high-end design comes with low rise bottoms, and Missguided’s has a trend-led high-waisted style.
Before stripping off Francesca put the fabric through a quality test – examining the feel, holding it up to the light and stretching it.
The Missguided bikini was a bit thin, I’d say it was cheap but I wouldn’t guess it was a pound
Francesca Cosh
She said: “On feel, I could definitely tell the difference and which one was more expensive. The Talia Collins’ one feels nicer and is better quality.
“It actually repelled the water – it ran straight off it rather than absorbing it like the Missguided one.
“Overall it was thicker and softer, including the strings, it was made with higher-quality materials. But Missguided’s wasn’t scratchy or anything.
“The £1 one was a bit thin, I’d say it was cheap but I wouldn’t guess it was a pound.”
The designer version is made from recycled polyamide and elastane xtra Life Lycra – which protects swimwear from degradation ten times longer than regular fabric.
The website describes the swimwear as: “Talia Collins’ improved version of the classic triangle bikini. This item is lined with a thin matching layer of our soft sculpting fabric.
“We have chosen a brand new sculpting matt “soft-touch” fabric for all black swimsuits.”
While some swimwear is strictly for ‘poolside posing’ only, both sets – yes, even the pound one – can apparently withstand a cheeky dip.
Without a pool to hand, Francesca set about jumping, high-kicking and lunging to test its staying powder.
My boobs didn’t fall out of either of them as I jumped around
Francesca Cosh
Amazingly, both swimwear sets passed – there was no unravelling, nip slips or embarrassing moments.
She said: “Both sets of swimwear rode up a bit on top so I had to keep re-adjusting and pulling them down.
“But my boobs didn’t fall out of either of them as I jumped around. I’m a size 10 and the Missguided one fitted me perfectly.
“There was no ‘baggy bum’ or anything like that with Missguided’s one, but the other one had quite a low waistline.”
Francesca was then hosed down to see if the fabric could withstand water. Even when soaking wet, both bikinis remained opaque and the colour didn’t run.
Testing the Missguided one, Francesca said: “I actually didn’t worry about it going see-through, I might have if it was a white bikini.
She added: “It’s probably not good if you were going to go proper swimming. It could probably cope with a couple of lengths.”
But, interestingly, she wouldn’t take a dip in the expensive one either.
She added: “But the other one I probably wouldn’t swim in either. The bikini bottoms are really low. A wave would definitely be able to take that off.”
There was no ‘baggy bum’ or anything like that with Missguided’s one, but the other one had quite a low waistline
Francesca Cosh
Francesca’s verdict? It might feel cheap but she prefers the £1 version.
She said: “I preferred the shape and the fit, I like a high-waisted bikini bottom. I’d definitely buy the pound one, 100% I think it fitted me perfectly.
“The other one was better quality but I still prefer the Missguided one. I think £160 is absolutely ridiculous for a black bikini.”
The fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters of plastic, with 33 per cent of primary microplastics entering the ocean coming from fashion, according to Traid.
And Wrap estimates the amount of clothing going to landfill each year in the UK is worth £140 million.
The issue is now political, with a report by MPs Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) into ‘fast fashion’ urging the industry to end cheap, throwaway clothes, improve conditions for workers as well as tackle the waste already created.
The EAC’s chair, Labour MP Mary Creagh, said: “Fashion producers should be forced to clear up the mountains of waste they create.”
Despite its popularity, Missguided has come under fire for selling clothes so cheap, amid claims they’re fuelling a throwaway culture with fast, cheap fashion.
The price has also divided shoppers, with some people overjoyed that they could pick up a bikini so cheap, while other claimed it was unethical.
Posting on Twitter, one person said: “This Missguided £1 bikini makes so me so angry and sad. How much will the workers have been paid in order for them to sell it, at a profit, for £1? How quickly is it going to end up in the bin? Completely and utterly irresponsible.”
Someone else posted: “Because I’m conscious of our environment too, let’s just think for a minute about how many thousands of these bikinis are going to sell this summer, to then end up being thrown away because they will inevitably fall apart because they’re ONE POUND.”
While a third wrote: “I’m totally conflicted over the Missguided £1 bikini.”
Another comment said: “Just managed to nab one of the @Missguided £1 bikinis and I’m far too buzzing, such a sucker for a good bargain.”
And this person added: “Just got my hands on the Missguided £1 bikini who doesn’t love a bargain.”
It cost us more to produce than £1 and we’ve absorbed the costs so we can offer it at an incredible price as a gift to you
Missguided
As the world grapples with mounting waste, clothes are among the highest causes of rubbish, with quick and easy clothing thought to be partly to blame.
The fashion industry is one of the world’s biggest polluters of plastic, with 33 per cent of primary microplastics entering the ocean coming from fashion, according to Traid.
And Wrap estimates the amount of clothing going to landfill each year in the UK is worth £140 million.
The issue is now political, with a report by MPs Environmental Audit Committee (EAC) into ‘fast fashion’ urging the industry to end cheap, throwaway clothes, improve conditions for workers as well as tackle the waste already created.
The EAC’s chair, Labour MP Mary Creagh, said: “Fashion producers should be forced to clear up the mountains of waste they create.”
With questions raised over how much workers were being paid when it cost so little to consumers, Missguided confirmed it was picking up the extra cost associated with making it.
They said: “Introducing the £1 bikini – a one-off item to celebrate 10 years of empowering women to look and feel good without breaking the bank.
“It cost us more to produce than £1 and we’ve absorbed the costs so we can offer it at an incredible price as a gift to you, our babes.”
It seems while the cheapness is reflected in the quality, Missguided knows its market and what styles are hot right now, so while it may not be timeless it certainly costs less.
Meanwhile this cheeky kiss-print is causing a stir as the bikini bottoms look like a giant pair of lips.
And this shopper said she’ll never buy from PrettyLittleThing again after her boobs burst out of bikini top.
This fitness fan was accused of fishing for compliments are uploading a sultry bikini selfie.
