6 Tips for Shopping on Shein + My Orders Over the Years

Last Updated on May 4, 2021 by haveclotheswilltravel

Ever since I posted the outfit below on my blog over 3 years ago I’ve been getting questions about shopping on Shein. “Is it safe to order from them? Are the clothes actually that good of quality? How long does shipping take? What is sizing like?” So, for today’s post, I thought it might be helpful to make a post featuring my tips for having a successful shopping experience on Shein, plus the clothes I’ve ordered from them over the years.

I started shopping on Shein over 8 years ago after I noticed one of my favorite bloggers (A Clothes Horse) was featuring many items from them, and they were SUPER affordable. The skirt above was my first order from them and it was just over $20.

Full disclosure, in the past, Shein had been a sponsor of mine and had sent me some clothing to feature on my blog. However, this post is in no way related to that. And as always, all opinions are my own.

What is Shein?

Before I get into my shopping tips, I should probably explain what kind of store Shein is in case you haven’t heard of them yet! Shein is an online women’s clothing store based out of China. They feature fast-fashion pieces…meaning, many items will look similar to pricey designer pieces, but will be VERY inexpensive but also not as high of quality (obviously) as the original pieces. At first glance, Shein’s prices seem too good to be true, and there is always a negative stigma about ordering from online goods from overseas companies.

However, if you follow these tips, you can have a fabulous time shopping on Shein!

• Read next: Is Shein Legit? Honest Shein Review After $300+ in Orders
• Read next: 28 Stores Like Shein for Affordable & Fashionable Clothing

*Disclosure: some of these links are affiliate links. Meaning, if you click a link and make a purchase, Have Clothes, Will Travel gets a very small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

6 Tips for Shopping on Shein

1.) Look at Sizes for EVERYTHING

The sizes on Shein’s website vary…A LOT. I am anywhere from an XSmall – XLarge, depending on the clothing item I’m ordering. It really does vary that much. So, know your measurements and look at every single item’s sizing guidelines.

2.) When in Doubt, Size UP

If you’re in between sizes on an item and not sure what to order…always size up. I have yet to have this method fail me. The majority of items do seem to run on the small side. (They also just recently started carrying plus sizes!)

3.) Check Their Promo Codes

Shein is always running some sort of sale or promo code on their website. I like to just look at Yazing.com for an organized list of their latest coupon codes, as Shein’s website can be a little overwhelming with the multiple flashing “sales.” 

Just be aware, that many promo codes are only valid for full-priced items. Sale items are often excluded from these promo codes. 

4.) Order Several Weeks Before Any Event You’re Trying to Shop For

Shipping on average takes 2 weeks. I’ve ordered from them while in the US, Japan, Australia and Russia. No matter what country I was in my order took about 2 weeks. So, their shipping estimates are quite accurate. However, if you’re trying to dress for a specific event, don’t risk it! Order at least 3 weeks in advance! Also, shipping costs are quite reasonable. It’s free for US orders over $50 and only $3.99 for orders less than $50. Click here to see other country’s rates.

5.) For Best Results – Order Dresses, Skirts & Tops (and Read Reviews)

I’ve had the best luck with swimsuits, dresses, skirts and tops. The quality seems to be higher in these items. They’re also not getting as much wear and tear as outerwear and shoes tend to get. I’ve always been underwhelmed with outerwear orders, and my friend Shannon has ordered their shoes. While they are nice-looking shoes, she, unfortunately, had the heel snap off after a few months of wear. 

Shein also has a pretty good review section. Many people upload helpful reviews and photos of the items they ordered. So, certainly, check out reviews before ordering too!

I also discuss the quality of Shein’s clothing by item in my Shein Review.

6.) Adjust Your Expectations

If you’re someone who normally spends $30+ on a top and then you order a $9 top from Shein…there’s going to be some noticeable differences in quality compared to what you’re used to. However, for $9, it’s going to be a quite nice top. Just don’t expect it to be on the same level as its designer counterpart or the $45 top you just bought from ModCloth. I’m 9 times out of 10 really happy with the quality of the product I get based on the price.

My Shein Orders Over the Years

Looking through my blog, I have A LOT more pieces by Shein..more than I realized. So, I’m only going to chat about my top 6 favorite pieces, and then I’ll make a gallery of all the items I have. I’m also going to show the one and only time I had an order not match the photo on the website. (I get questioned a lot about whether the items look like they do on the website, so I can definitely say yes, except for one time several years ago.) You can click here to see all my blog posts featuring Shein clothing.

1.) Tropical Floral Print Ruffled One-Piece Swimsuit

I actually love all of the swimwear I’ve ever ordered from Shein. This swimsuit I had packed for my recent trip to Turks and Caicos, and I got so many compliments on it. It’s true to size and great quality! It’s super comfortable to wear too. 

Click here to shop this suit. Click here to see the outfit post it’s featured in.

2.) White Eyelet Midi Skirt

I’ve had this midi skirt for over 2 years now, and it gets A LOT of use. It’s versatile, it’s held up well in the wash and I am pleased with the quality…especially for the crazy low price tag.

Click here to shop it. Click here to see the outfit post featured above, and click here to see all the ways I’ve styled this skirt over the years.

3.) Color Block Shirt Dress

This shirt dress is honestly probably my most used Shein piece. I wear it for EVERYTHING. Corporate events, dinner dates, parties, exploring, everyday life, etc. I’ve had it for a couple years too, and it still looks like new, despite all the washing it’s gotten over the years.

Click here to shop this dress, and click here to see the outfit post pictured above.

4.) Floral Maxi Dress

I’ve had this maxi dress for years and have worn it on countless adventures! It works great for hot weather, as it’s breathable, but can easily be layered for fall. (You can see how I style if for fall in this post or in this post.)

Click here to shop this dress, and click here to see the outfit post pictured above.

5.) Exercise tank top and leggings

I am super impressed with Shein’s activewear section! The tank top and the capris above are from Shein, and they are AMAZING quality. The tank top is really soft and breathes well. (It runs a little large, though.)

However, the leggings are my favorite. These are just as good of quality as a pair I had ordered from Nordstrom last year, and these Shein leggings are less than half the price. I like that the Shein pair also has usable pockets! Just note, they are a heavier fabric, though (which I, personally, like). 

Click here to shop my tank top. Click here to shop my leggings.

6.) Tropical & Floral Striped Mesh One Piece Swimsuit

This another swimsuit I had packed for my recent trip to Turks and Caicos that I absolutely loved. The neck is a little bit scratchy, but other than that it was comfortable to wear all day hanging out on the beach and snorkeling. I get a lot of compliments on this one too!

Click here to shop my swimsuit. Click here to shop Shein swimwear.

My only item that didn’t match the website photo…

This dress looks A LOT longer on the website. In reality, it’s quite short. The material was also a lint magnet and always looked kind of wrinkled. This one I ended up donating to charity.

Click here to see it on the website, and click here to see the outfit post above.

Check out all my Shein pieces in the gallery below!

You can see all my Shein outfit posts by clicking here

• Check out my friend Erica’s post on the Best SHEIN Buys for Summer 2021 for an updated list of products to buy for this summer!

Click here to shop Shein.

• Read next: Is Shein Legit? Honest Shein Review After $300+ in Orders
• Read next: 20 Stores Like Shein for Affordable & Fashionable Clothing
• Read next: 18 Amazing Stores Like ASOS That Are Available Online
• Read next: My Experience Ordering Inexpensive Evening Gowns Online
• Read next: Fun Delivery Services & Subscription Boxes to Try Right Now
• Read next: How to Have a Relaxing DIY Spa Day at Home
• Read next: 10 Cute Loungewear Sets Available Online
• Read next: What to Wear When You Work From Home – Comfortable Yet Stylish Outfits

Have you ever tried shopping on Shein before? What was your experience like? And if not, would you consider trying this site? Let me know in the comments!