My daughter introduced me to Shein. It is a clothing company based in China, and the clothes are inexpensive, very inexpensive. As far as quality, it is hit or miss. I have a denim vest and a denim jacket that both are well designed and constructed. I have a turtleneck that is medium quality; and I just got some sleeveless turtlenecks that are lesser quality, very lesser quality. They might make it through a couple of washes. And if that is how you think of the clothes, then you will be just fine with purchases from Shein.
One of the things we teach in our classes on wardrobing is that one must look at the cost of an item of clothing in respect to how much it costs per wear. Example, the $5.00 Shein sleeveless turtleneck that might last just a couple of washings makes that turtleneck cost $2.50. The turtleneck that you purchased from Cabi at approximately $68 (at the time it was purchased) and you have worn it several times a season to equal about 150 times since the purchase makes that $68 turtleneck now, 45 cents. It’s an 8 year old turtleneck, and it still has many years left of wear.
Other inexpensive clothes are found at discount stores such as Target and Walmart. I purchased a shirt at Target for about $12, and thought I’d made such a great purchase. The shirt was trendy and the perfect color, and after the first wash it wrinkled up so bad that even ironing didn’t fix it. That shirt was NEVER worn again. Compare that to the 45Cent shirt, or even the potential of the $2.50 shirt. I have had pretty good success with jeans at Walmart, if I can find a pair that is at the waist. However, I did get a pair of jeans from Macy’s for about $20, at least 15 years ago (but I think it’s been longer). I just recently through those jeans away with uncountable wearings since I wore jeans 90% of the time and they came to my waist! Approximately, 2, 160 wearings, makes those jeans .009 cents. Always look at the longevity of the clothing. And, finding it on sale, always makes it even better!
More expensive is not necessarily better, either. I have Cabi, Bryn Walker, Eileen Fisher, also. I have learned that Eileen Fisher sweaters are too lightly woven for a normal wearing. Perhaps if you don’t do anything much during the day you won’t snag them as easily as I do!! So, those on sale Eileen Fisher sweaters are so lightweight and fine that I pull them very easily. So, that $40 (not on sale upwards $200) doesn’t add up to be as much of a value if I’m afraid to wear it to work, or with jeans for a day of shopping or just hanging out and definitely not hiking or anything like unto that!
Pay attention to the quality of the clothes you purchase. Classic pieces that will never go out of style are priceless, look to Macy’s or Dillard’s. Trendy to fad pieces can be purchased on the cheap, and be aware that you will in the long run spend more on those fad pieces.
Carolyn Bendall 