Is Shein—the cheap clothing brand seen all over Instagram—a scam? (2024)

For as much as I love high-end brands like Lululemon and Tory Burch, I love getting a good deal on fashion. When it comes to clothes, I like to get a lot for a little: Give me a $3 tank top or a $12 bathing suit and I’ll choose it over something 10 times that price any day. So naturally, when I noticed all the big influencers posting about the pieces they bought from Shein—for what seemed to be too-good-to-be-true prices—I was intrigued.

But I was also skeptical. I've read too many accounts of people who have attempted online shopping at similarly cheap retailers only to get clothes that look nothing like their pictures, show up months late, or, worse, fall apart while they're wearing them. Is Shein legit? Would it live up to its promise of inexpensive clothes that look—and feel—like expensive ones? Itching to find out for myself, I decided to give it a try. Two years later, it's become one of my go-to places to find budget-friendly fashion (though it's not without its faults).

What is Shein?

Shein is an online fast fashion company based in China that started in 2008 and is known for offering super-cheap clothes. With its motto of “everyone can enjoy the beauty of fashion,” Shein mostly sells women’s apparel but also offers an increasingly wide selection of accessories, shoes, children’s clothes, and menswear. The brand shot to fame on social media because it markets its products to content creators, sending them free clothing to review in paid advertisem*nts.

Shein has also been at the center of controversy due to its lack of transparency regarding supply chain issues, and its "real-time" model that gathers customer data to craft new designs in as little as three days. The brand has also come under fire over the years with allegations of copying the work of both established and emerging designers and artists, as well as contributing to a crisis of overconsumption and perpetuating the greatest ills of the fast fashion industry.

What is it like to order Shein clothes?

The amount of clothing available on Shein’s website is overwhelming, to say the least. So while the site is easy and intuitive to navigate, know that a “shopping trip” won’t be quick. I spent nearly an hour clicking around before I settled on three pieces: an oversized leopard-print cardigan, a green button-up dress, and a teddy jacket.

(Editor’s Note: Since this review was first published, all three of the products that were originally tested have sold out, and comparable products have been shared here instead.)

When it comes to shipping, Shein offers both standard and express shipping. Standard shipping can take anywhere from six to eight business days, while express shipping can be delivered as soon as the very next day. While shipping costs between $3.99 and $12.90, Shein offers free standard shipping on orders over $29 and free express shipping on orders over $129. Additionally, if you live in the U.S., you’re entitled to free returns within 35 days of purchase, so long as the products are unworn and in the original packaging.

How do Shein clothes fit?

One of the hardest things about online clothes shopping is determining what size to order. I had heard nightmare stories about the sizing at Shein so I was extra-cautious. Fortunately, each item has an in-depth sizing chart with the specific measurements for every size, so it’s less of a guess. Even if you know your usual size, I suggest checking the chart just to be safe—multiple reviewers have complained that they ordered a small only to get something that fit more like an extra large, and vice versa.

My pieces fit fairly true to size. The dress, which I ordered in my usual size, was fitted in all the right places and hit exactly at mid-thigh. The teddy jacket, ordered one size larger than my usual, was roomy enough to fit over other clothes and the sleeves came right to my wrists as promised by the sizing guide. However, the “oversized” cardigan was a little more snug in the sleeves than I’d like, even though I ordered a size larger than I usually would.

Are Shein clothes good quality?

Yes and no, depending on the product

In my experience, the clothing quality at Shein is as inconsistent as the sizing. For example, the leopard cardigan I ordered is thick and cozy and isn’t at all scratchy or stiff. Additionally, it didn’t shrink or stretch out even after wearing it for two straight days and washing it numerous times.

I was hopeful that the dress would be just as much of a winner—but it wasn’t. While it looks just as it did in the photos, after washing it just once, one of the buttons fell off and some loose threads popped up near the seams.

And as for the teddy coat, I’d rate it subpar. It’s soft, sure, but the material itself—a polyester fleece—is very thin. I wore it on one chilly fall day and it didn’t keep me very warm. That being said, it held up in the wash without shrinking and looks nicer than it feels.

Are Shein clothes worth it?

Only for pieces you won’t wear often

With Shein, you get what you pay for: low-cost, trendy clothes that can be hit or miss when it comes to actual quality. It’s the online-only equivalent of mall stores like Forever 21, H&M, and Zara. I’d recommend shopping Shein for flash-in-the-pan trends that are in one week and out the next as well as items you only plan to wear a handful of times. When it comes to coats, jeans, workwear, or other pieces you’ll want to get a lot of use out of, it’s better to spend a bit more for better quality clothing that’s made to last.

If you do decide to shop with Shein, make sure you do your research before buying. Know that the sizing, quality, and look of an item may not be what you expect or what you see in the pictures. To avoid any unfortunate surprises, always check the sizing chart and read any reviews of the item first. I found product reviews that included photos to be the most helpful so I could see what the pieces would look like in real life.

What to shop from Shein (if you absolutely must)

At the end of the day, you never know exactly what you’re going to get with Shein. With major sizing discrepancies, less-than-stellar fabric choices, and build-quality that sometimes begins to unravel from its very first wash, it can be easy to write off the retailer in its entirety. This is to say nothing about the environmental impacts of the fashion industry, a rapidly-expanding culture of overconsumption and Instagram-ready haul videos, and the ethical implications of supporting fast fashion companies.

If you choose to shop Shein (and other fast fashion retailers), do so with care and consideration. Basics that you have to replace more frequently, like underwear, undershirts, and base layers, are a great place to start. Similarly, look at the fabric composition. Something made from 100% cotton or wool will typically last longer than synthetic fibers or blended fabrics. Another place it makes sense to turn to Shein? When you want to get in on short-lived trends (looking at you, Mob Wife Aesthetic). But as always, once the trend has passed, challenge yourself to continue wearing the pieces in new and interesting ways!

Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.