Rach from
rd's obsessions recently wrote a post all about her tips for shopping at Shein, and I thought that was a brilliant idea, as I frequently make large purchases from Shein.com, and as some of you may know, it can be a hit or miss type of situation. In case you haven't heard of Shein, they're an online shop where you can buy trendy clothes for cheap. They have LOTS of inventory, and I'm certain I've never seen half of what they offer. But, I have ordered from Shein a number of times (
this gingham top is from Shein, in fact), and most times, I'm pleased with my order, because I like to think of myself as a "smart" Shein shopper.
So, how can you make purchasing from Shein a little more hit and less miss?
1. Don't buy it if it seems too cheap to be true. As a general rule, I've found that if I purchase a top that costs around $20, it's reasonably made and not overwhelmingly flimsy or thin. However, if something costs, say, $9, it's way less likely to be something I'd actually ever wear (too cheaply made, too thin, not quality material). This top was $13 when I ordered it, and it's almost too thin.
2. Do read the reviews. And, if there are pictures with the reviews, even better! Shein gives you points toward your next purchase to review their items, and they give more points for a review with a picture. This means that there are lots of items with many reviews, and also pictures with the review. You can see how the piece looks on a body that isn't a model, and you can get lots of sizing information from reading reviews.
4. Do check the material. In the description of each item on Shein's site, they list the material that item is made from. Lots are 100% polyester, but occasionally, something will be made from a cotton blend or 100% cotton. These are usually hits for me, because cotton is a better fabric than polyester. Since you can't hold the item in your hands before purchasing it, this takes a little of the guess work out of what you're going to get.
5. Do check the size chart against your own measurements. This is a good idea with anything you're ordering online. You won't always be the same size in everything across the board. So, get out your measuring tape, measure yourself, and then compare those measurements to the size chart. I'm usually a size small, but at Shein, there are times when my measurements fit the measurements for a medium, or an XS (like with this top, actually), and that's the size I go with. Their size charts are usually pretty accurate, in my experience.
6. Stick with trendy pieces. I wouldn't expect to buy my classic go-to pieces from Shein. Trendy tops, sure! A
cute little handbag (like this one) that you might wear once or twice.. why not? But, I wouldn't look to Shein for my "go-to, wear everyday" pencil skirt, or my classic Fall trench coat, or staple handbag. Invest real money in your classic, long-term closet staples, then spend a little money at Shein from time to time to have fun joining in on the trends that fade away each season.
Those are my personal tips for shopping well at Shein. It can be a great, affordable place to shop if you choose the right pieces. I hope you feel a bit more confident ordering from them, now, and feel free to ask me any questions you might have!
Thanks for reading!
Jessica