How to Bag a Bargain – Shein

Ah shopping. A favourite pastime of mine, for sure. There is little more pleasing to me than skipping home with a bag containing something I’ve been yearning for for quite some time and finally purchased with my hard earned cash. These days though, that isn’t often quite how it turns out. In my youth, a shopping trip was something that took planning. It was normally a day long activity, if not, at least an afternoon, and it was more than just a functional errand – it was a social experience.

I’m obviously showing my age now, but shopping isn’t quite the same anymore. I can still go and shop on the High Street, of course, but these days there is such an overwhelming choice online that it’s just far too easy to ‘accidentally’ buy yourself a new wardrobe while popping online to pay the gas bill or watch the latest episode of Fear The Walking Dead. On the one hand this is the stuff that dreams were made of to my 15 year old self, who prided herself on getting a ridiculous bargain. On the other, it means it is very easy to spend far more money than you planned to, and it’s incredibly hard to know who is a trusted, genuine store with all that choice out there. So once again, I decided to take one for the team and check out one of those sites that seems to be constantly begging for your attention, Shein. I bought some stuff to see if it’s decent or not, so that you don’t have to. I know. You can thank me later….

The Boring Bits…

The concept of this site is nothing new. It’s a China based site with a crazy amount of varied stock which relies heavily on bloggers and affiliate programmes to promote its products. In short, it’s one of those ‘can this be too good to be true’ type sites that seems to offer an unbelievable amount of stuff for crazy cheap prices. But is it possible to sell decent items for such low prices? We’ll see….

The Purchases…

The Lace Blouse

My search for some dressy tops is well documented. Kids these days just don’t dress up any more, and as much as I’m not a sheep, it’s nice to have some options for nights down the pub that don’t leave you feeling like you turned up on the wrong night for prom (which is a regular occurrence for me, truth be told…) This lace blouse was just what I was looking for – something that looks smart but can be dressed down with the right accessories. The colour is one that features heavily in my wardrobe so would be easy to mix in with my existing items, and the long sleeves were an added bonus as most of my evening tops are a little on the flimsy side.

Lace Blouse, £11.99

The Verdict

While it isn’t the best top I’ve ever owned, I’m pretty happy. The lace is nicely soft and not scratchy like you’d expect a cheap lace to be, and the bow detail at the neck is a nice touch. I wish it was a touch looser and longer so I’d get a bit more wear, but it’s ideal for tucking into my high waisted trousers and pencil skirts, so it isn’t at all wasted on me.

The Monochrome Blouse

For quite some time now I’ve been after a white or cream blouse with a black ribbon tie at the neck. Don’t ask me where this rather specific set of requirements came from, but it’s been in my brain for a while with no sign of shifting. There were more than a few items meeting this description on the site, but in the end I chose this one thanks to the slight volume at the ends of the sleeves, and the fabric covered buttons, which are always a plus in my book.

Bow Neck Blouse, £11.99

The Verdict

It’s okay. The fabric is a little stiffer than I had in mind, but nothing out of the ordinary quality wise compared to a normal high street purchase. I was a little alarmed at first at the sheer number of buttons, thinking it would take an age to get on and off, but thankfully the button loops are made of elastic so that isn’t a problem. I like that the neck ribbon is actually not attached to the garment, so you can use it or not depending on your mood. It is slightly slim fitting at the hips again though, and a little on the short side, so again will probably only be worn in ‘tucked in’ scenarios.

The Tweed Dress

I’ve seen this frock on a few bloggers now and always been enamoured. I love the bow at the neck (quelle surprise…) and there is something about the preppy style that just really appeals to me. I had to give it a go.

Shift Dress, £18.99

The Verdict

Well, obviously it isn’t actually tweed, but I think we all knew that, right? It is a pleasingly heavy fabric though that is far better than I was expecting, and I’m very much taken with it. I was expecting it be obscenely short as mini dresses from these sites often are, but it’s a perfect length, and I love the unfinished, frayed edges. I won’t actually ever style it the way I have here, as the heavy fabric is very much at conflict with how much flesh would be on display. No, it will be a winter dress for me, worn layered over a sweater with thick tights and boots, but it will most definitely be worn. This one was definitely a win.

The Boho Blouse

With my upcoming trip to Morocco I’ve been looking for some loose, airy garments that cover up a little more skin than the usual holiday attire, and as soon as I saw it I knew this was just the thing. I love the blue and white print and the tassel ties, which already remind me of warmer climes, but the flowy, wrap shape looked super flattering while still demure – just the ticket.

Printed Blouse, £9.99

The Verdict

I FREAKING LOVE THIS BLOUSE!! I cannot tell you how pleased I was with this. It is exactly as it appears in the photos and is made from a soft, silky fabric that feels lovely and cool against the skin. Ten out of ten for this one – I’ve already worn it several times and I’m not even packed for holiday yet!

So – the truth? You really can get some great items from this site for very little money. I was very pleasantly surprised how quickly my order arrived compared to most Chinese sellers, and for what I spent I’m very happy with what I received. HOWEVER…. This site can be dangerous. There is just so much stuff, and no consistency to sizing or shape (please pay close attention to the measurements and the reviews – they are vital to making a good choice) that it could be very easy to get carried away and buy things that you either didn’t really need or weren’t quite what you were expecting. As much as I love a good bargain, I’m going to steer clear unless I have a specific need that I can’t get elsewhere – I think for now I’d prefer to get my fashion a little closer to home so that I’m not sucked in to spending too frivolously.

What are your thoughts and experiences?

Love,