Shopping on Shein and other bargain sites can be a gamble if you don’t do your homework.  Read on for my completely Shein Shopping Guide that will help you score great items for a total bargain!

For years, I avoided shopping on SheIn and other (yes I am going to use the word) cheap clothing sites because I thought they were a total scam.  I saw all those “online vs.reality” photos girls posted on Insta and stayed clear.  From what I could gather, the Pilgrims came over on the Mayflower faster than these packages arrived from China.   And once they did arrive, if they ever made it at all,  they looked nothing like the pictures.  On top of that, the clothes were doll sized; nothing that could fit a human over the age of 10.

It wasn’t until a couple years ago when I was doing an online search for a fringe faux suede skirt I needed for a Pocahontas Halloween costume that I finally caved in.  The skirt was so cheap, and I was desperate.  I only needed it for one night, how bad could it really be?  The worst thing that could happen is I would be out $12 dollars.   It was a gamble I was willing to take and hit the confirm purchase button. 

Five days later, I came home from work and the package was sitting on my doorstep.  I was nervous to open it, having no idea what I would find inside.  But to my surprise, the skirt was actually perfect.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s not like I pulled out a Missoni skirt or anything like that, but it was exactly what I needed for the costume, and it fit really well.

My SheIn Learning Experience

I decided to dip my toe in Shein shopping.  Unfortunately, my next experience I didn’t quite turn out like the first.  The items arrived looked nothing like they did on the model in the online photos.  I was so disappointed.  I went back on the site to look at the items again and this time I read the reviews, which I realized, were not so good.  I was kicking myself for not reading them beforehand.

I took it as a learning experience and decided not rule out SheIn quite yet.  I started to do my research and carefully reviewed each item before I purchase.  Since then I have been more than satisfied (with one or two exceptions that were my fault) with my purchases.  If you can crack the code to SheIn shopping, it can be a total game-changer.  It’s basically Forever 21 quality clothing for a quarter of the price – so pretty much as cheap as it gets.  You can easily get 10 items (tops, dresses, skirts) for under 100 dollars – a huge bang for your buck. 

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So what’s my secret to successful SheIn shopping? 

Here are my 9 tips and tricks to shopping on Shein:

Refrain From Buying Items that Don’t Have Photo Reviews

SheIn incentivizes its customers to write reviews and upload pictures of the items which is great.  You get Shein Points that you can cash in for discounts on future purchases.  While the written reviews can provides some insight, it’s the reviews that include photos that are EVERYTHING.  These are real customers like you wearing the items so you can see exactly how they fit.  Some people also post pictures of the items up close, which gives you a good idea of what the material is really like.  Crappy fabric is usually the biggest detractor from buying on cheap online sites.  There have been times I have been so excited about a piece and then I see a picture in the reviews and it’s a definite no-go.  If the fabric looks cheap, wrinkly, see-thru, etc. and I know it’s a pass.   While unfortunately not all items have reviews, they are constantly being added.   This generally applies to their new arrivals.  My advice is hold out and let someone else be the guinea pig.  If I find something I think I am going to love and there is no review, I check back in a couple of weeks.  Most of the time my patience pays off and there are reviews with photos that makes my decision super easy.

View Items in ALL Colors

This applies to ALL online shopping.  If an item is available in multiple colors, check the pictures of the item in each color.  Items in darker colors usually photograph better and hide any flaws or “cheap factors” in the fabric and materials.  Again, there have been times I found things I fell in love with that looks great in pictures, but then I go and check it in another color and see the fabric looks wrinkly, cheap etc.   Another HUGE reason to view items in other colors is because SHEIN shares customer reviews by each item color.  For example, there might be NO reviews for an item in red, but 100 reviews with pictures for the same exact item in black.  You only find this out when you switch over to another color online, so make sure you check every time!

Check the Fabric and Material Description

Okay these clothes are cheap for a reason; they are mostly made with low quality fabrics, AKA polyester.  Always check the description and materials its made with. If an item is a little more expensive than similar ones, it’s most likely because it’s made with a better-quality fabric. Usually that fabric is a polyester/cotton mix, however I have gotten lucky and found items made with 100% cotton.  To me, the quality is worth the few extra bucks. 

Set Your Expectations Accordingly

Again, this is an “affordable” website, so don’t expect designer high quality.   SheIn is great for tops, dresses, and skirts, but I tread carefully with items like pants, swimwear, jumpsuits, shoes, etc. where a great fit is key.  Also, these aren’t made to last forever.  I usually purchase trendy items that I know I will only wear for about a year or I am buying for a specific event like a vacation or festival. 

Compare Measurements

Back to the doll-like sizing claims – I personally have never experienced a sizing problem. I do think sizing problems occurred more frequently a few years back, but SheIn has since addressed this issue and made modifications to compete in the US market.  However, DISCLAIMER – since I am petite (5’1) I could be totally bias J.  If you are not petite like me and worried about this, again read the reviews, they include fit.  I also suggest comparing the measurements to a similar item on a higher-end site like REVOLVE, Shopbop, etc.  SheIn publishes all of their measurements so this is really easy to do.  If you know you are a medium in Revolve, and Shein has comparable measurements, go for it!

Petites, Check the Kids Sizes!

Unforunately, SheIn does not have petite sizes, but I figured out this little trick by accident about a month ago.  I was looking at a pair of pants and saw at the bottom of the page what I thought was the same exact pair in “ View similar items.”  When I clicked on it, I figured out it was in fact the same item but….in girl’s sizes.  The pants were $3 cheaper in kid’s sizes so I got curious and checked the measurements.  The girls size 160 was just slightly smaller than the Women’s Small.  The only place it was smaller, was in the length which is exactly what I needed.  I decided to take the risk and ordered the girl’s size instead.  They ended up fitting great.  If you are petite and you find an item you like in women’s, I recommend checking to see if they have the same item in Girl’s sizes.  If they have it, most likely you will find it to be a better fit at an even cheaper price. 

Shipping – Uncheck the Insurance Box

I think shipping is something else SheIn has stepped up its game with to complete in the US Market.  I have placed about 15 separate orders from SheIn and NEVER waited more than 6 days for delivery.  In fact, most of my orders arrive in 4-5 business days, faster than many US retailers.  They also have really good tracking details so you are able to see exactly where/when an item is estimated to be delivered.  However, one thing they try nail you on, if you are not carefully, is insurance.  When you get to the checkout page, there is a little checkbox automatically selected for $2.99 shipping insurance.  I always uncheck this box and save the money.  I have never had a problem with any of my orders arriving. 

Look for Promo Codes

Again, this applies to ALL online retailers.  Don’t buy anything online without looking for one.  SheIn usually has one advertised on the homepage of their site, but I suggest doing a Google search for one too. I can often find a code for 20-30% off living somewhere on the web.  Check out at least 5 promo code sites to see which one can give you the best deal before checking out. 

Returns are Pretty Standard

SheIn does accept returns, but I’ve never returned item.  To be honest, there’s a couple I’ve wanted to, but didn’t out of sheer laziness.  The items cost roughly $10 so the cost/benefit didn’t outweigh the hassle for me.  SheIn outlines it’s return policy pretty thoroughly here.  It’s pretty standard to other clothing retailers’ policies.   They do not pay for return shipping; however, your first returned item is free which is nice.    

Other cheap online sites I occasionally shop on are PrettylittleThing, BooHoo, and GoJane.  I find these sites to be slightly more expensive for the same quality.  Also, the reviews are limited to non-existent which usually deters me.  I will be highlighting and reviewing more items from Shein in my upcoming posts, so stay tuned. 

Do you shopped on Shein or other bargain clothing sites?  Which what ones and what was your experience?  Leave your answers in the comments below!

xoxo

PS.  I am in no way endorsed by Shein (maybe one day 😉 )   I wrote this blog entirely on my own accord based on my personal experiences 🙂