Is SHEIN Legit? An Honest Review
If you are a frequent pinterest-er like me, then I'll bet you've experienced this scenario: You scroll through pinterest and come across a pin showing a gorgeous blouse! It's everything you've ever dreamed of in a blouse. It's got incredible details, a great fit, and you know you HAVE to have it. You are certain it's going to be way out of your price range, but when you click the link, you find out... it's $10. Whaaaaaaaaaaaat???? This has to be a trick, right?
Whenever this happened to me, I'd laugh, close the pin and move on. There's no way a blouse that cute could ever be $10.
The only problem is, it kept happening to me. Every time I found something I loved, it'd be so dirt cheap that I'd feel sure it's a scam. I finally decided to look into the site I kept finding these clothes on - SHEIN.
What is SHEIN? SHEIN is one of a number of sites offering great fashion at rock bottom prices. I've seen articles about sites like these on buzzfeed and other places, and it seems very hit or miss. Sometimes you get what you order, and sometimes you receive a literal trash bag instead of a dress. I've also heard the sizing is also all over the place - you order a large and you get something that should be labeled XXXXS.
I believe SHEIN is based in China (even though it says it was founded in NJ) because that's where my shipment came from, but I can't find anything on their site to verify that.
I did tons of research of my own before purchasing anything from SHEIN, including reading blog posts just like this one! I saw mixed things - some people received bizarre items that did not match the image or description on the site at all. Others received some really adorable and good quality stuff! In the end I decided to give it a try myself. Here's how it went:
I hope you love the products I recommend! Just so you know, My Ocean State of Mind may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.
How did I choose what to order?
The amount of stuff on SHEIN is totally overwhelming. There is SO MUCH to choose from! I sorted through hundreds of pages of clothes, and in the end ordered 10 things. I pretty much only ordered items that qualified for free returns. That meant no bathing suits, accessories, lingerie, sleepwear or bodysuits.
I also only ordered items that had plenty of reviews - preferably reviews with photos! This gave me an idea of whether or not the items pictured actually look the same in real life. I could also tell from the reviews/photos if the fit was accurate.
How much did I spend?
I spent $121 on my first SHEIN order. Seems like a lot for my first order, huh? Here's why I did though: Express shipping is free for orders over $100, and returns are free too! I knew I wanted express shipping, and figured if I didn't like anything I got, it'd be easy to send it right back. The free returns was definitely a huge selling point for me, and one of the only reasons I felt comfortable giving SHEIN a try.
I also got soooo much stuff for that price. It's kind of crazy. I ordered 10 different items, so that's an average of $12 per item!
How long did shipping take?
I received my order in about 6 business days. Because I bought over $100 worth of clothing, I got free express shipping. If you don't get express shipping, I've heard that it takes a very long time for your order to arrive (though I don't know if that's definitely true.)
Items I ordered and kept:
I am a HUGE fan of the show "The Office," and I have a particular love for Jim Halpert's impersonation of Dwight Schrute. I knew I needed to have this shirt as soon as I saw it.
I was so happy when I pulled this shirt out of the box - it's surprisingly soft, and looks and feels well-constructed. It's been through a few washes now, and it still looks brand new. There has been no fading, and the shirt doesn't have any pills or anything like that.
My one complaint is that it runs on the larger side. I ordered the small, and it's quite long. It's the same size I usually wear as a pajama shirt. I still love it though, and if I tuck it and roll the sleeves I think it works.
You can buy it here.
I thought this shirt was so cute, but was really thrown off that it's "one size fits all." I was even more surprised when I received it and tried it on - it's very small! It fits me OK, though the size of the neck-hole feels a little awkward to me. I also don't like where the seams fall on my shoulders. This isn't as soft as the bears, beets, battlestar galactica shirt. It's a thicker material, but it's pretty scratchy.
I kept this shirt, but I haven't actually worn it yet. Just be warned - it's definitely a small shirt, so if you like your shirts a little roomier, don't order this!
I ordered this bodysuit knowing I wouldn't be able to return it (bodysuits are listed in their return policy as "final sale" items.) I've just really wanted a bodysuit for quite a while now, and this one was soooo cheap!
I was very pleasantly surprised that it fit me great, and it's super soft. It's not see-through at all, despite the material being on the thin side. The snap-button closure is nice (especially if you have to go to the bathroom and don't want to take off all your clothes, hehe) The sleeves fit different than I expected, but I like them. They are very loose and not the typical sleeve style on a women's t-shirt. I've washed it twice now, and it still looks brand new!
This shirt is super cute, and looks just like the photo. I think you could get away with wearing a nude strapless bra with it because the bow is thick enough at the back that it will hide the bra. I wish the bottom of the shirt was a little bit smaller - it really flares out quite dramatically. I think it's cute though, so I kept it!
I ordered this in a small, and I'd say it fits like a typical size small shirt. The straps and bow make it so you can adjust it to the right fit easily.
I love this dress. It's so comfortable and soft, and perfect for lounging around the house on a hot day. It's got a flattering fit, unlike a lot of t-shirt dresses that make you look boxy and shapeless. This one really emphasizes my waist in a nice way. Also, it's comfortable. A dress that's comfortable! Who even knew that existed.
I ordered this in an XS, and I think it's just right. It might be a little on the short side, but I think the small would have been too loose on me.
This is the shirt I was most excited for, and it did not disappoint. I wore it to the Taylor Swift concert with my BFF and fellow blogger, Paige (check out her blog here!) It was SUPER humid that day, so it was nice to wear a mesh shirt like this. I ordered this in an XS and a S, and the small ended up fitting much better. Even though the XS fit my torso better and I liked the length, the sleeves were so tight I couldn't move my arms, and that's a big no-no for a TSwift concert obviously. So, I went with the small and I was very happy with it.
I washed this after the concert though (delicate cycle, air dry) and all the embroidery got a little fuzzy. There are also a few strings hanging off now. I probably should have hand-washed it but I'm way too lazy for that nonsense. I got the shirt for only $9, so even if I only get a few wears out if it, I think it's worth it.
Buy it here! You won't regret it.
This shirt is great quality and I like the embroidery. I think it fits well, though it is a little boxy so I like to tuck the front in. It's also a very deep v in the front, so I have to wear it with a cute lace bralette, or tape it down so I'm not flashing the world.
I ordered this in an XS and I'd say it's true-to-size.
Items I ordered and returned:
I really wanted to like this shirt, but it just didn't work for me. I ordered it in a size S, and it was soooo snug around my chest. This is evidence that their sizes are all over the place since I'm XS in some tops, and for this shirt I'd defintely need a M or L.
It was also, surprisingly, see-through in the embroidered part! I have no idea what to wear under it because of the shape of the shirt. The arm holes go pretty low on the sides, so a tank top would definitely show. I guess now, looking at the photo, I can see that the embroidery is over mesh so it makes sense you can see through it. I just didn't realize it before I ordered it.
If you want to try it, buy it here!
I should have listened to the reviews for this dress, but I decided to ignore them and order it anyway. All the reviews said the dress was totally see-through. Turns out, they weren't lyin'! The sleeves were also oddly snug, but the ruffle part REALLY ruffled out and made me look like a weirdo. This one went back sadly. If you also want to ignore the reviews and give it a try, you can find it here!
I wanted this dress so bad. Isn't it adorable? I love how simple it is, but also fun and colorful. I placed this order right before we attended a wedding, and thought this would have been great for the rehearsal dinner.
I was so sad when I went to try it on - I couldn't get it up over my rear end! I had carefully checked the measurements of the dress before I ordered it, so I was certain it would fit me. The weird thing is, the waist has no stretch to it at all, and there is no zipper in the back, so there is no way to get it up over your butt, or over your head & shoulders.
After about 15-20 minutes of trying to contort my body in weird ways to get this dress on, I realized there was no way I could succeed without altering it and adding elastic or a zipper. I didn't feel like doing either of those things (plus this dress was $27, so definitely on the expensive side for SHEIN.) I returned it :( You can find this dress here.
Tips:
- Pay very close attention to the measurements of the clothes you are ordering! If you are a small in one shirt, don't assume the other shirt has the same measurements. Check every single item you are buying!
- Only order clothes that are refundable
- Check for coupon codes on the SHEIN website (usually on the main page!)
-Order at least $100 of clothes to get free express shipping. I've heard without the express shipping, it can take weeks to receive your order.
- If you return something, just make sure you select that you want the money refunded to the original card (otherwise you just get a SHEIN credit.)
Final thoughts:
I would definitely order from SHEIN again. I loved the majority of what I ordered, and returns were super easy. I received my refund within 5 days of sending my items back. These aren't high-end items by any means, but for what you pay they are pretty great. I would say the quality isn't too far off from some of what you'd find at Marshall's or TJ Maxx.
I do wonder about who makes these clothes - are they made in a sweat shop where everyone is underpaid and overworked? I googled the heck out of it before I placed my order and I couldn't find anything. Still, the cheap prices make me uneasy.
Have you ever ordered from SHEIN, Romwe, or other similar sites? Did you get anything you absolutely love, or anything unbelievably awful? Share in the comments below!!
