Plus Shopping Tips to Make Sure Your Cheap Clothes Don’t Look Cheap!
I wanted to write a SHEIN review as, after posting on my Instagram stories about ordering from SHEIN I had a few questions about if the extremely low prices really are too good to be true. My third order arrived last week so I think I now have enough knowledge to give a proper review.
** I originally wrote this review in 2020 but decided to update it for 2021 as a couple of things have changed!**
The super cheap pricing is really what grabs people’s attention, combined with 1000s of items to choose from. Is it a scam? No. Are the prices too good to be true: Not necessarily! Read on for my complete SHEIN review and Shopping Tips to Make Sure Your Cheap Clothes Don’t Look Cheap!
READ MY 2021 COMPLETE SHEIN REVIEW HERE:
Quality:
This was the most asked question. To be completely honest, the quality isn’t perfect and I do believe it can be hit and miss. Things often look better in the photos than they do when they arrive, as the saying goes, “you also get what you pay for”.
In previous years, I’ve had a couple of items that haven’t been great quality and have returned them but most items I have been really pleased with. My latest order (mainly summer dresses) was a disaster and I returned everything. They were all really thin and just looked so cheap!
Personally, I feel Primark does budget fashion better but I have had some items (like the dress in the photo) that are favourites in my wardrobe.
Sizing:
This was the second most asked question. Each item seems to have its own size chart and measurements. When doing my first order I spent a while trying to measure myself but couldn’t really make sense of it so decided to just risk it. I’ve ordered everything in a size 10 (10 is a Medium on SHEIN) which is my usual size and pretty much everything has been true to size.
Shipping:
The shipping does take a while, usually 1-2 weeks but it is free on orders over £35. They try to get you to pay a 99p shipping insurance fee (automatically ticked at the checkout.) I’ve always unchecked this box and have had no problems but obviously, the choice is yours!
Returns:
You can return unwanted items easily with Royal Mail just like with most other popular brands. They used to charge £2.50 to make a return but now it’s FREE! So you don’t really have anything to lose if you don’t like what you order!
I’ve always opted for a refund to my account rather than shop credit and this has never been an issue.
Customer Service:
I contacted customer service once, via the app. A beautiful skirt that ripped the first time I wore it. I sent photos and within 24 hours they had come back to me and offered a free replacement. The replacement was much better quality!
Overall:
For the price, I have no complaints. I’m trying to move away from super cheap brands and buy fewer better quality pieces. Saying that I’ve been very pleased with some of my purchases and will probably order again at some point!
I have learnt a couple of things along the way so read on for these!
SHOPPING TIPS:
Download the App. I found the website is slow to load, the app is much quicker. SHEIN always has extra discounts and promos but they are often App exclusive. You can also earn points each time you shop, posting product reviews and “checking in” daily. The points can then be used as money off future orders. I got around £9 extra off my most recent order!
Use Filters. This will save you time by hiding any items that are irrelevant to you. For example, if you know maxi dresses aren’t flattering on you, hide them! I usually filter by colour and size as well.
Save Items to Your Wish List. There is so much to look at; you probably won’t have time to browse everything in one go. Saving to your wish list will allow you to come back and purchase later. You can also keep an eye on reductions on these items easily.
Read the Reviews. Click “Read All” and filter to ones with a photo. This gives you a much better idea of the quality as these photos are from other customers. Most things come crumpled which can be easily fixed with an iron but if it looks see-through or poorly fitted, AVOID IT!
Sales. SHEEN is one continuous sale. Things seem to be reduced one day and back to full price the next so you do need to be quick to grab an extra bargain. Another benefit of the App/ saving to your wish list is that you get a notification when something gets reduced.
I hope my SHEIN Review has been useful to you, happy shopping!
DISCLAIMER: Affiliate links have been used on this post. This means that if you click on a link through to a retailer and purchase something I may receive a small commission on your purchase. This does not add any additional cost to you as a customer.
[…] For me, autumn is definitely jumper rather than t-shirt weather. I’ve picked a few in different styles and thicknesses so there should be something suitable for every occasion! I think my favourite is the bargain high neck one from SHEIN. If you’d like to read my full review of SHEIN, you can find it HERE. […]
Older lady with bohemian taste. Have ordered several times and have been pleased with my purchases. Flattering fuller cuts hide a variety of old lady lumps and bumps without feeling dumpy. Overall very satisfied with whole shopping experience.