Hey girl, let‘s talk about plus size fashion! If you‘re anything like me, finding cute, trendy and well-fitting clothes in a size 14+ can feel like an uphill battle. So many mainstream brands seem to think we don‘t care about style or only want to wear baggy, unflattering pieces. Ugh, no thank you!
That‘s why I was excited to discover Shein Curve, an online shopping destination making waves for its huge selection of plus size clothing in sizes 0XL (12) to 5XL (24). Shein Curve is an extension of the crazy popular fast fashion brand Shein, but with a focus on serving curvy babes.
I‘ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Shein Curve in the plus size community. Known for thousands of trendy and affordable styles and a super inclusive size range, it almost sounds too good to be true. As someone who loves fashion but hates spending a ton, I had to check it out for myself.
For reference, I‘m 5‘4" and wear a size 16/18 or 1XL/2XL in most brands. I usually struggle with pants being too tight in the thighs, tops pulling at the bust, and everything being too short. Sound familiar? Keep reading for my honest Shein Curve review and shopping tips!
First Impressions of Shein Curve
The Shein Curve landing page immediately drew me in with a diverse group of plus size models rocking colorful, on-trend outfits. Yes to the representation! The page highlights new arrivals, best sellers, and current promotions. I was stoked to see sizes up to 5XL and a variety of styles for different aesthetics and body types.
Browsing the Shein Curve catalog is both exhilarating and overwhelming. There are literally thousands of options from dresses to swimwear to lingerie. As of April 2023, a search for "plus size" on Shein yields over 88,000 results! It‘s like the Forever 21 or H&M of plus size fashion.
The prices also blew me away. We‘re talking $12 shorts, $15 dresses, and $20 jumpsuits. As someone used to dropping $50-$100 per piece at Torrid or Lane Bryant, Shein Curve‘s prices seemed almost suspiciously cheap. More on quality later.
One thing I appreciate is how Shein Curve incorporates straight and plus sizes into a single size dropdown, rather than segregating plus as a separate category. It makes the shopping experience feel more inclusive and normalized.
The brand also has a big presence on social media, with over 2.6M followers on Shein Curve‘s Instagram alone. I love the styling inspo and size representation. It‘s empowering to see so many curvy bodies celebrated.
Shein Curve Clothing Haul & Try-On
Eager to test out Shein Curve for myself, I placed a sizeable order of spring and summer pieces. In total, I bought 1 dress, 1 jumpsuit, 1 skirt, 1 pair of shorts, 2 swimsuits, 2 tops, and 1 set of pajamas for $190. For 9 items, that‘s an awesome deal compared to my usual plus size shopping haunts.
Everything arrived within two weeks of ordering, which is pretty typical processing and shipping time for Shein. The items were as pictured online and I‘d say the sizing was accurate overall based on the provided measurements. I did read reviews and size up in a couple styles that were noted to run small.
Here are my thoughts on a few standout pieces:
Ditsy Floral Print Ruffle Hem Belted Dress
I‘m a sucker for a flowy, floral dress and this one does not disappoint! The shades of blue and purple are gorgeous for spring and summer. It has a cute square neckline with ruffled straps, a smocked back bodice for stretch, and an optional sash belt to cinch the waist.
I took my usual 1X and found it true to size with a relaxed, flowy fit. The material is a breezy poly chiffon with a lightweight liner underneath. The midi length hits me mid-calf which is perfect for my height. I dressed it up with nude block heels and gold jewelry for a family event and got so many compliments.
For $26, this dress looks like it could be from Anthropologie or ASOS. It‘s rare to find a plus size dress with this perfect combo of fit, quality, and style for under $50. I‘m very impressed!
High Waist Frayed Hem Denim Shorts
Jean shorts are the bane of my existence as a curvy girl. They always seem to fit weird, create a muffin top, or have a too-short inseam. These Shein Curve denim shorts intrigued me with their high waist, relaxed fit, and size range up to 5XL.
I went with my usual size 16 based on the waist and hip measurements. They fit as expected, with a comfortable high rise and roomy thighs. I love the medium wash and trendy shredded hem. The material is a soft, stretchy denim that feels like it will hold up.
These rival my best fitting denim shorts from Torrid and American Eagle, but for less than half the price at $17! If they came in more washes I would snap up several pairs. The only con is I wish the inseam was an inch or two longer for more coverage.
Open Back Bow One Piece Swimsuit
As a plus size babe, finding well-fitting, fashionable swimwear is a constant struggle. Shein Curve seriously delivered with this retro-inspired one piece though! The black and white gingham print is too cute for summer.
I followed the reviews and sized up to a 2XL for my 44DD bust and 49" hips. I‘m glad I did because this style runs a tad small in my opinion. It‘s double lined and provides a good amount of stretch and bust support. The open back is flirty without being too revealing. I adore the bow detail and cheeky bottom coverage.
My only gripe is the torso is a little long on my short frame, but that‘s a common issue I have with one pieces. For reference, my torso length is 27 inches. I still felt very snatched and comfortable.
To get a trendy, well-made plus size swimsuit for only $22 is unheard of most places. I was nervous ordering swimwear from Shein Curve but this exceeded expectations. I even wore it to a pool party and got asked where it was from!
While I had a few misses that went back, overall I‘m very happy with the things I kept from my Shein Curve haul. The price to quality ratio is excellent if you check the material details, measurements and reviews. Everything I bought looks and feels more expensive than it was.
Shein Curve Pros and Cons
To summarize my Shein Curve shopping experience, here‘s a rundown of the major pros and cons I‘ve found:
Pros
✔️ Huge selection of trendy plus size clothing in sizes 0XL-5XL (12-24)
✔️ Affordable prices with most items under $50
✔️ Frequent sales and discount codes
✔️ Thousands of customer reviews with pictures for fit reference
✔️ Free shipping over $49 and free returns on first order
✔️ Offers Klarna, Afterpay and Zip installment payment options
Cons
❌ Hit or miss quality, some items feel cheaply made
❌ Questionable labor practices and sustainability as a fast fashion brand
❌ Long shipping times of 1-3 weeks, ships from China
❌ Easy to get overwhelmed by the vast number of products
❌ Limited filtering options for searches
I think it‘s important to acknowledge that Shein is a fast fashion company, which comes with valid concerns around environmental impact, working conditions and overconsumption. Shein claims to be making strides in sustainability and corporate social responsibility, but has faced scrutiny.
As writer Aja Barber said in Vox, "Shein is a juggernaut that shows no signs of stopping… We don‘t yet understand the ramifications of Shein‘s impact on the world, but what we do understand is that it‘s here and people like it. A lot."
With that in mind, I believe Shein Curve can be a helpful resource for plus size shoppers on a budget if used thoughtfully. The reality is most brands still fail to offer cute, well-fitting plus size clothing at accessible price points. Shein Curve helps fill that gap while we push other companies to do better.
Is Shein Curve Worth It?
At the end of the day, I‘d recommend Shein Curve to any plus size babe who wants more trend-forward, wallet-friendly options. No, the quality is not always perfect. Yes, there are legitimate concerns about the fast fashion industry. But for many of us who wear over a size 14, Shein Curve offers a level of size inclusion, variety and affordability that is hard to find elsewhere.
Since I started shopping Shein Curve, I‘ve been able to take more fashion risks and build up a wardrobe of pieces I love without financial guilt. I no longer feel frustrated by the lack of plus options in my budget. Exploring new styles from Shein Curve has made me feel more confident and creative with my look. That‘s a win in my book.
Of course, it‘s all about moderation and personal values. I aim to shop Shein Curve thoughtfully, only buying what I truly need and will wear often. Reading fabric details, measurements, and reviews is key for finding gems. I also resell or donate Shein pieces I‘m done with to extend their lifespan. Using Klarna‘s interest-free installments helps me stick to my clothing budget.
Whether you‘re looking for a head-turning event dress, new bikini, or everyday staples, I think Shein Curve is worth a try. No one should be excluded from feeling fashionable because of their size or income. Shein Curve‘s rapid rise shows the immense demand for accessible plus size fashion.
I hope more brands take note of Shein Curve‘s success and step up to serve plus customers with the same variety, trend selection, and value. In the meantime, I‘ll keep spreading the gospel of Shein Curve to my fellow curvy girls. Everyone deserves to feel confident and cute in their clothes!
To close with some first-hand recs, my Shein Curve must-haves are:
- Plus Floral Print Ruffle Hem Belted Dress
- Plus Tie Front Crop Top and Tiered Skirt Set
- Plus Floral Print Plunge One Piece Swimsuit
- Plus High Waist Frayed Hem Denim Shorts
- Plus Lace Cami Top & Shorts Pajama Set
Happy Shein Curve shopping! Feel free to DM me on Insta @curvygirlchic for more tips or to share your hauls.
Xoxo,
Your Curvy Fashionista Friend
Shein Curve Statistics & Sources
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As of 2023, Shein brings in average monthly traffic of more than 180 million users globally. (Similarweb)
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The Shein app has been downloaded 229 million times globally, racking up 40 million downloads in August 2022 alone. (Apptopia)
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Worldwide Google search interest in "Shein" has grown 1,328% over the past five years. (Google Trends)
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The global online plus size clothing market size is expected to reach $264.4 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% from 2022 to 2030. (Grand View Research)
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68% of American women wear a size 14 or above, but plus size clothing only makes up 19% of overall women‘s clothing sales. (Plunkett Research 2022)
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Shein was the most talked about brand on TikTok in 2020, 2021, and 2022 based on the number of posts mentioning the brand. (Statista)
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Curvy/plus size fashion TikTokers have helped drive Shein‘s success, such as @SheinOfficial ambassador @sarajayneonline with 2.7M followers.
Sources:
- Shein Corporate Website
- "The dark truth behind Shein‘s low prices" Vox
- "The Meteoric Rise of SHEIN: The Unbelievable Growth of a Chinese Fast Fashion Brand," Marketing to China
- "Online Plus Size Clothing Market Size" Grand View Research
- "The State of Curve Fashion in 2022" Dia & Co
- "2021 US Apparel Sizing Demographics" WGSN
