Do Italian Women Shop on Shein? My Favorite Finds & Tips to Shop Like One

Are you new to Shein and wondering whether it’s time to hop on the bandwagon and finally try a few pieces?

Or maybe your fashion goal is to elevate your style and polish your outfits—so you’re asking yourself whether Shein has a place in your closet.

Perhaps you’re curious whether Italian women shop on Shein, given how much we value quality and timelessness.

Whichever one of those questions brought you here—hi and welcome. I’m Alessia, an Italian fashion lover who enjoys sharing Italian style tips and inspiration, plus other snippets of Italian lifestyle.

In this post, I’ll share my experience with Shein, my favorite finds, smart shopping tips, and answers to all the questions above.

Do Italian Women Shop On Shein?

Let’s start with the most curious question—and one I can easily answer. The answer is both yes and no. Let me explain.

You’ll find plenty of Italian women who shop on Shein. While Italians love quality, we also love a good bargain.

But on the flip side, there’s a large group of Italian women who believe Shein has no place in their wardrobe—because it’s not high quality, it’s mostly made in China, and it doesn’t align with their elevated style.

For many years, I was one of those women. I’d hear coworkers in my old office talk about the amazing pieces they bought on Shein—and how little they paid for them. Here’s what I thought: Wow, that’s so cheap… but the price probably reflects the quality. And because those same women didn’t have a style I’d describe as elegant or elevated, that only reinforced my belief that Shein wouldn’t fit into my closet.

Is that what you’ve been thinking all along?

So what changed my mind? Let me tell you…

When COVID hit, I started shopping more and more on Amazon—even for clothes. Some pieces were a hit, others a total miss. Many were surprisingly expensive for the quality, and shipping was often slow. So I began looking for new places to shop, and Shein came to mind. I told myself: Let’s just try a few simple things for the home and see how it goes. And that’s how I got hooked. I loved the variety, the simple shopping experience, and the unbelievably fast delivery.

But did I like the pieces I ordered?

Hmm… yes and no.

Like with my Amazon orders, my Shein unboxings were a mix of pleasant surprises and disappointments.

But over time, I learned how to search in a specific way, choose the right size (I used to order one or two sizes up “just in case,” and ended up with hilariously oversized pieces), stick to brands I trust, and reorder the items I already know and love. Don’t worry—I’ll share exactly how I do that later in this post.

And that’s how I ended up with many of my current favorite closet staples being from Shein!

I will make one note though – quality on Shein is not always the best (mainly, the fabrics can start deteriorating after a wash or two). However, it provides an easy and expensive way to try new pieces and see if you like them, so you can later invest in them. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean you should buy aimlessly, and fill your wardrobe with low quality items. I will explain more how I avoid that further down.

My Favorite Shein Fashion Finds

In this section, I want to share with you 10 Shein pieces I have been wearing on repeat, along with pictures of most of them.

Houndstooth blazer

While that sounds ridiculous, I think I might cry if this piece were to disappear from my wardrobe. It took me years to find one I really liked, both in terms of pattern and fit, and I have been wearing mine non stop. I wore it in Milan and Bologna, you can see the pictures below and my styling videos on Tiktok @alessiaitalianlife.

I love the fit, the color, the pattern, and how it looks like nothing on a hanger but it comes to life when you wear it and style it corretly.

Although I was impressed with the quality when I received it, it is starting to get worn after each wash. For that reason, this is definitely a piece I would be willing to invest in, if I were to find a similar from a higher quality and pricey brand. In the meantime, I am ordering a second one from Shein! 

Cropped Cardigans (I have in 3 colors, soon 4)

I love cropped button up cardigans that end at my waist. They look polished and help create that timeless Italian elegant outfits I love while being more relaxed than a blazer. They are also the perfect piece to pack for a holiday because they don’t wrinkle, and they keep you warm without the bulk.

I first got mine in black, then in red, and recently in brown. I wanted the sage green but it was and still is sold out.

I packed two of them for my recent Spring Bologna Easter trip. You can see how I styled them below, and in the videos on my Tiktok @alessiaitalianlife.

New Corduroy Trousers

For years, I thought that I couldn’t wear wide leg trousers because I was petite. I was so wrong!

In reality, wide leg trousers, lengthen your legs and make you look taller. But you must wear the right shoes with them – I like my wedged loafers but I think a white trainer goes equally beautiful with them.

No longer these fit perfectly around the waist and hips, but they are also the perfect length, which is unheard of when you are short like me (150 cm, just under 5 feet).

My husband complimented me on these, and I think that’s because these look a little cooler than my usual clothing choices. But they equally look elegant and put together, which fits my style while giving the end outfit a more modern feel. This is how I styled them.

The Red Short Sleeve Knit I Wore in Bologna

If you’ve read my 2025 Spring Capsule Wardrobe post, you know mine was inspired by an Asian actress, and the outfit she wore in my favorite Netflix series.

Red was the central color of many of my inspo. outfits, and I was thrilled to find this piece on Shein, which I ordered last minute and took with me for Easter in Bologna.

I was also surprised with how well it fits, and the fact that it has a nice structured fabric that doesn’t feel neither bulky nor too warm. I am planning to order this in more colors.

The Grey Round Neck Sweater I wore to the Airport

One thing you might not know about me is that I hate V neck. I think it looks too casual and doesn’t layer as nicely as a round neck.

While doing my last-minute styling for my Bologna trip, I realized that I needed a lighter sweater in grey, to wear it over my shoulders and also layer over a button up. I found one on Shein, but on arrival I was surprised it was much thicker than it looked in the picture, nice quality but a little too bulky to wear over the shoulder. Nonetheless, I loved styling this with cigarette pants and my blue pinstripe button up.

They have it in 12 colors, should you wish to pick one up!

My loungewear Winter Fleeces

Honestly, I don’t know what I’d do without Shein in Winter. I find their fleeces to be really good quality, so warm and cosy, and they wash and dry so well and quickly. That surely explains why I have at least 10 in my wardrobe, haha.

It gets very cold in Winter where I live, and I suffer from Primary Raynauds – which means I am literally allergic to the cold, and my fingers get inflamed when I don’t keep warm. 

If any of you reading have a similar issue or feel very cold, my tip is to layer a thick fleece over a thermal long sleeve vest, and even a light sweater when it gets freezing cold.

I do the same with Shein fleecy socks, and layer them over thick cotton sponge socks.

This is essential if you like me, spend hours sitting down on your computer and don’t like artificial heating.

Should you be interested, I have linked all my favorite Winter essentials in my ShopMy.

Basic Winter Sweaters

By now you likely noticed that I love Shein’s knitwear and it’s true. It washes and dries well, and because you layer it over a cotton shirt, you don’t have to worry about it being itchy, though I don’t think it is.

I purchased five basic sweaters to pair with monochrome outfits for my Rome Winter trip, which I had to cancel as I got sick. And while I messed up the sizes, and ordered a larger size thinking I needed the extra room for layering, the style and quality are really nice. And a few of them have nice extra details too.

See if you like them and save them for next Winter. We will soon be shopping for that, as Summer usually goes by really quickly!

Cotton Essentials

If you, like me, like wearing cotton, have you ever looked for cotton pieces on Shein? I suggest you do. I love shopping for cotton tank tops, cotton long sleeves, cotton pajama trousers, and much more.

You will find my favorite ones linked in my Shein Collection. I especially suggest the crew neck tank tops that are so comfortable and perfect to layer underneath shirts and dresses.

My Longchamp Bag Organizer

It took me just one trip travelling with my new Longchamp bag to realize that the bag was wonderful but it lacked compartments. So I went on a hunt and saw how people were organizing theirs. Many were buying organizers from Amazon. So I asked myself – can I find a similar one on Shein?

And the answer was yes. I found the perfect one fitting my Le Pliage Medium, and I have been using it every time I travel ever since.

Shein Finds I Have Added To My Italian Home

The beauty about buying on Shein is that you can find anything, or almost!  Everything is shipped together, and arrives pretty fast – in my experience, usually in just 4 days. 

For that reason, I have started shopping there for my home too, at least for those pieces I can’t find locally or are more expensive than I would like to spend.

I love refreshing my home for the season by adding just a few new pieces, which I can buy at low prices and have them shipped to my home without having to spend hours out and about shopping for them.

Just a few pieces, like new flowers, changing the print in your framed art, and swapping the pillow cases can have such a big impact on how a space looks and feels. I especially love switching up those pieces in my kitchen-living space. But I equally found wonderful pieces to organize my closet and style our master bedroom.

I am sharing my favorites Shein home finds below, and you will find the links all in my ShopMy Shein Home Collection.

Closet Organization & Storage Pieces

Last Fall I organized my closet with these wonderful pieces I found on Shein, and even filmed a Tiktok. Well, my closet has never looked so organized. 

While I am a very neat person, having a tiny walk-in wardrobe with open shelves and hanging space is not very conducive to a neat space. But these pieces help me keep my closet in order without having to organize it all the time. Thank you Shein!

My favourite pieces include the stackable clear shelves organizer I am using for my slippers, my hair tools, my product empties I’d like to share and other random pieces that don’t have a home.

I equally love the clear shelf dividers, as they make the shelves look more organized and stay that way longer.

And I am so grateful for all the pieces I have added to my dresser/vanity. They helped me organize my skincare, makeup, and jewellery beautifully. And they are all in white which makes my eyes and soul happy because everything looks cohesive and so bright and fresh!

I suggest you have a look at my ShopMy to find storage saving solutions for your own closet.

My New Embroidered Bedspread

I have been looking for the perfect bed cover solution for years. I have multiple white duvet covers, but they crease like crazy and I hate that look as much as I hate the idea of having to steam them every other day.

So I went on a hunt for a thick material that was embroidered, white, had a nice fabric that washed and dried well, and didn’t need ironing. I found it on Shein after looking at countless options. I was a little worried the bedspread I chose would disappoint me, but it ticked all the boxes, and it’s even the perfect size, which is very difficult since I have a very large bed.

If you too, are looking for a similar product, give this one a go. It’s really good value and it will instantly elevate your bedroom.

The Gorgeous Tulips on my Dining Table

I love tulips, they are my favorite flowers, but because of my allergies I try not to have fresh flowers around that often. 

These tulips are surprisingly realistic (especially from far) and I love the way they look on my dining table. I like to keep mine  empty, with just a small vase and flowers. It’s a small dining table, since as you might know homes in Europe are much smaller than in the US. In my case, I gave away the dining space for an extra large kitchen and I have no regrets!

I bought more tulips for the kitchen countertops, and the second type are even more realistic and gorgeous. Don’t you think? I just styled them up for Summer. 

The Cute Baby’s Breath Flowers on my Kitchen Countertops

Another flower I adore is gypsophila in white, and I find mine on Shein. They came with a long stem, but I snipped the top parts and added them to a small vintage glass jar. I love this corner moment in my kitchen, with the adorable small lampshade.

In fact, I bought more to add to another glass vase in the living room, and I also plan to add a few of them to my empty wreath, which is still hanging since Christmas. I decided I would do like the American ladies and have a wreath hanging all year long. I love it!

Do you love gypsophila?

The New Summer Poster That Goes Beautifully With My Carrara Marble

I am surprised every time I change the poster in my kitchen at how that little 20×30 cm piece of paper has an impact on the overall styling. So I have decided to change it for every season, especially since I disliked the one I had.

I was pleased to find many options I love on Shein, and after purchasing the Christmas poster I can also say that they really look nice, considering the extremely low price. (PS: I shared my Christmas decor on TikTok @alessiaitalianlife).

I am linking my favorites in my ShopMy collection, in case you are looking for some inspiration for your home.

The blue patterned pillow covers on my sofa

I am usually a neutral girly (if I can call myself that at my age), but for the past few years I have been gravitating towards more blue in my outfits. I have purchased many blue dresses and tops. And I have even considered light blue shoes.

This January I suddenly felt the need to add a little blue to my home, starting with the Spring flowers in my kitchen. I shared a little styling video on Tiktok and the pillow covers on my sofa.

I got those on Shein, and I was really surprised at how nice they are. My husband loves them too since blue is his favorite color.

I would also love to add some blue and white Sicilian style dinner plates to my collection, but I haven’t found any I love yet locally. Sadly, the ones on Shein can’t be shipped to my location. I will add the ones I have saved for you to shop, should you want to.

My Travel Pouches and Liquids Organizers

I have always been an organized traveller, but Shein has helped me up my game. My makeup pouches, and toiletries have never looked so gorgeous, and I love that.

I have recently started packing liquids in my checked luggage. I used to only pack 100 ml in my carry on and then buy the rest when I arrive, but with my allergies lately, I am having to be more careful about the products I use.

Although I was afraid everything would leak out, I am grateful I found the right storage piece that has the perfect size and thickness, and is also waterproof. It looks beautiful too, which is always an added bonus.

I have a similar pouch to hold all my skincare while I travel. I like to pack them with the liquids and then transfer everything in it when I unpack. It makes getting ready in the mornings and evenings really easy and pleasant. I don’t have to take anything out and make a mess. I just keep it open in a space next to the sink and take what I need, and then I put it back.

I am still to find a matching makeup bag that’s small enough to travel with. I would love something similar to the one I have in my closet, but smaller and more flexible, so it doesn’t take too much space in my carry on.

The Containers for Storing My DIY Fabric Conditioner

Let’s end with a random storage piece I recently found on Shein. Because I am allergic to fragrance, I am making my own diy fabric conditioner, with oranges or mandarins. I also plan to try it with fresh eucalyptus leaves.

And to do that I needed a container that would hold the liquid well, both while it rests and gets infused (around two weeks), and later on for using and pouring out of it. That’s precisely what I found, and I got two, so I can make one and let it sit to infuse, while I use the other one.

Even if you are not making your own DIY detergents, you could decant the liquid out of the ugly detergent bottles into these clear ones!

How I Search for Quality Pieces to Add to My Wardrobe & Home

While I love shopping on Shein, I don’t love when I receive pieces that look cheap or just don’t fit with the elevated aesthetic I’m after.

Luckily, with the right eye for detail and a few tips to keep in mind, you can avoid wasting money and time—and skip the hassle of returns (which is, in my opinion, the worst part of online shopping).

Here’s how I go about finding the best pieces on Shein:

• I make a list of what I want to shop for, rather than aimlessly browsing for something I “kind of like” but don’t actually need.
  
• I spend time searching for each piece, comparing different options, checking all the customer photos, reading reviews, analyzing fit and measurements, and more. When you focus your attention on one item at a time and compare similar ones, you’re much more likely to find the best version for you.
  
• When looking at customer images, I ask myself:
  
  • How does the fabric/material look?
    
  • How does the color look?
    
  • How does it fit them?
    
  • Does it look cheap?
    
  • Could it look better if steamed or styled nicely?
    

You’ll often see a big difference between the brand’s images and the customers’. Sometimes it’s just bad lighting or creased fabric—but if the fabric looks cheap or the color is totally off, skip it and move on.

• If I’ve shopped a specific Shein brand before and loved the fit or quality, I’ll stick with them. It’s more likely I’ll love their other pieces too. (Still ask yourself the questions above, though!)
  
• Don’t be afraid to buy the same piece again—either in another color or as a backup in the same one. If you truly love something, why not? You can style it differently or save one for later.
  
• My final and most important tip: know what fits you best—and know your measurements. Fit often makes or breaks an item. Too oversized or too tight, and it won’t look right. Compare the listed measurements to pieces in your closet you know fit you well. Also, know your style boundaries: if you’re petite and know oversized blazers don’t flatter you, don’t click on them. Just because it’s cheap doesn’t mean you should buy it!
  

Let me end on this note: just because Shein offers fast, cheap fashion doesn’t mean we should buy more of it. Instead, focus on finding pieces that truly add value to your wardrobe and help you create outfits you love. Keep a minimalist, quality-first, and timeless mindset—no matter where you shop—and your style will always look more elevated, I promise.

Love Budget Shopping & Italian Style?

I hope you found this post useful and maybe also spotted a few pieces to help you style yourself and your home like an Italian woman without breaking the bank.

And if you ever have any questions, reach out by email (see my contact page). I plan to start my newsletter this Fall, so we can have a direct way of communicating regularly. If you are interested, make sure to join my list.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. Please share this post with a friend who loves a bargain as much as she loves Italian style.

For your next read, I suggest this – What’s In My Italian Pantry.

Ciao,
Alessia.