Shein Activewear Haul & Honest Review
2021 Workout & Activewear
When I first saw their prices- I was like.. Is Shein a scam?
It’s literally half the price of Dolls Kill and Fashion Nova - their two main competitors.
And is Shein trustworthy? It almost seems like the sort of company that would disappear and the website will close after you purchase- (and yes that did happen to me once)
A year later- my Shein goods have held up. They haven’t shrunken or faded and it didn’t fall apart. I can’t say that about the good from Dolls & Fashion Nova (who charge double the price).
Shein def became one of my BFFs over quarantine.
Their massively affordable clothes helped keep my spirits and booty bright- without breaking my tiny furloughed piggy bank.
If you haven’t heard of them- they are a fast fashion brand and online retailer. The company is headquartered in Shenzhen, China- and uses algorithms to predict & strategize 150,00 yearly new releases. Chris Xu, is the American CEO & founder of this decacorn e-commerce brand, and under his leadership, has swept the USA & European Millennial & Gen Z markets.
I discovered them about a year or so ago on instagram. I had ordered sweats, lingerie and tops and adored everyting that arrived
Of course I found myself eyeballing their activewear and I decided to test them out.
I desperately needed sports bras- and these were so cute- with tons of strappy details- they are perfect to peak through a tee or wear on their own. I had to have the TikTok leggings everyone is chatting about
As soon as I posted workouts in these on instagram I got tons of comments asking where I got them, so I new it was time to post a full review here on the blog.
The deets
The shipping was always pretty quick and they have a size chart AI guide.
You can input your stats and it can help you pick your size for almost all the pieces. I highly recommend using it- I have found some pieces run a bit small- this is an Asian company and things to tend to be sized smaller.
They held up in the wash -
I do not recommend throwing them in the dryer. I do not ever recommend you throw your workout clothes in the dryer. Spandex and other stretchy fabric is made of plastics and other manmade material, the heat warps the fabric and it will weaken any sort of wicking action it may offer as well as the seams.
TLDR
The leggings are so bright and fun and fit great! I love the texture and they made my cheeks look super cheeky- at prices I really couldn’t believe. I only tried lower support style bras but they were the update my tatas needed.
Prices I am showing DO NOT include the coupons Shein gives pretty generously.
Sign up for an account with them and the ap or site.
The more you buy the bigger the percentage off gets.
The Magic Circle Workout is here
Waffle Tie Dye “TikTok Legging” 13.00
These are the ones that are all over the internet & TikTok for making your butt look amazing. They enhanced by lower body a bit but I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle worker. I did get TONS of comments on Instagram and I love the funky colors! To know me is to know I love a good neon rainbow!
Ribbed Bra 2-Pack 9.00
This textured padded sports bra will be a staple in my Pilates workout outfits. The other color was black and they were excellently comfortable. At less than 5 bucks each how can you resist? The fabric and ribbing is quite soft.
Mesh Panel Sports Bra
Love the detailing on this- great for Pilates. Not sure if I would suggest for running- and keep in mind I am an A cup. You may want more support. This is a sexy look in time for summer and will get you through activities like Pilates and Yoga looking sharp.
Tie Back Sports Bra $8.00
This was my favorite purchase out of the haul! If I was to see it I would think it was a LuLu or a Sweaty Betty sports bra. I played around and tied it a few different ways. The strap is not attached so you can wrap it into a center bow or around your ribs.
Even more bang for 8 bucks. This will give decent support, even on higher intensity activities.
Strappy Backless Bra
This one is super sexy and will double as a fun one for a summer night. The color was a bit muddier than the photos they showed on the site, I would order this in a dark color next time.
Also one that is great for low impact activities like Yoga or Pilates. Not so sure about cardio of your bigger chested
See it in action in this workout
Tie Dye Long Sleeve Tee & TikTok leggings 20.00
This will be a staple in my workout wardrobe this spring! Felt great on and loved the bold color combo, I have worn it a few times and I got compliments on it each time. The fabric is thick so better for colder months then summer months
The jumpsuit leotards are not necessarily made for workouts- but they suited my pilates practice perfectly.
Letter Graphic Jumpsuit
This long sleeve one has a thicker buttery texture that will look great under a chunky sweater
Pop Art Unitard Romper
And this will sizzle up your sweat session or summer streets. I had purchased one similar in a different print for my Cheetah cosplay which os over on Tik andf IG and it is extremely comfortable
Full disclosure- one of the straps burst at the seem and I had to sew it together-
at 5 bucks I didn’t think it was worth trying to return it- and it literally took me three minutes to sew back up. Shein does offer returns. This jumpsuit was 5 bucks- the time it would take for me to box it, get to post office to return it and receive a new one would be way greater then sewing it
Some people will say that Shein is not sustainable.
I’m aware that faster fashion means these clothes are more likely to be made at factories that don’t use the greenest methods of manufacturing. I know the fashion industry is one of the world’s largest polluters.
If you choose to spend your money on ethical and handmade pieces, that is a wonderful choice. But it’s not a choice all of us can afford to make.
Working out in cute athleisure keeps me motivated. If I feel motivated- I am more likely to stick with my fitness plans and routines. If you're a happy and healthy person on this planet I say it’s actually better for the planet. You can try to offset your purchases by driving less, recycling and using reusable water bottles.
And keep in mind- lululemon is made in China, expensive doesn’t always mean it’s more sustainable. These two companies could be manufactured at the same facilities, we don’t know. Lulu would be made of higher fabric and more labor intensive details, but the impact of global goods transportation- is the same. And low cost doesn’t always mean low quality- I shopped a ton at Forever 21 and I have pieces from there that are over ten years old.
Here are some tips to make fast fashion purchases easier on the planet and our resources.
CHECK THE REVIEWS- this is the best part about Shein. They incentive you to review items with a point system- but its not biased. You do not receive any more points for a positive review over a negative review.
Treat the garments with care. If you smash it over concrete or sandpaper of course it will pill.
Don’t swim in them as the salt or chlorine will break down the fabric.
Don’t wear them for just a year and toss them.
If you don’t love them- don’t buy it, you’ll just throw it out.
Wash everything on cold and hang to dry.
Do not tumble dry, iron or dry clean. Or any sort of heat treatment. The fabrics are manmade and likely plastic derived, it literally melts and becomes misshapen under high temps, distorting the fit.
I hope you enjoyed the review!
Comment below if you’d like to add anything about your experinces with Shein and hit the button below to check them out. Please note I am not an ambassador but the link will earn me “points” on their site but no payment