Nasty Gal vs. Shein: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Nasty Gal offers a curated selection of edgy, trend-forward fashion at a mid-range price point, focusing on higher-quality statement pieces with a distinct aesthetic. In contrast, Shein is an ultra-fast-fashion giant known for its extremely low prices, massive and constantly changing product catalog, and more variable quality.

Let's break down everything you need to know to choose the right fast-fashion retailer for your style and budget.

Nasty Gal: Edgy and Trend-Forward Fashion

Nasty Gal targets young women looking for bold, confident, and rebellious styles. Originating as a vintage eBay store, it has transformed into a go-to brand for partywear, statement pieces, and on-trend apparel that stands out. The aesthetic is unapologetically edgy, combining vintage-inspired silhouettes with modern glam and streetwear influences for a uniquely curated vibe.

• Product mix: Specializes in dresses, standout tops, bodycon styles, faux leather, and unique outerwear. The selection feels more curated than overwhelming, focusing on cohesive trends and styles.
• Price point: Sits in the mid-range of fast fashion, with most items falling between $20 and $100. It's an accessible price for shoppers willing to pay a little more for a distinctive style.
• Quality: Generally offers better quality and more consistent construction than its ultra-low-priced competitors. Fabrics tend to be more substantial, and pieces are designed to hold up for more than just a few wears.
• Style & Aesthetic: Distinctly edgy, daring, and glam. Expect bold prints, modern cuts, and pieces designed to make a statement, perfect for a night out or a confidence-boosting look.
• Sizing/Fit: Tends to be more consistent and true-to-size compared to many other fast-fashion brands. Their website includes detailed sizing guides to help find the right fit.
• Sales: Holds frequent sales and promotional events, often with significant discounts of 40-60% off sitewide, making its styles even more accessible.

Nasty Gal is ideal for someone looking to build a wardrobe with personality and standout pieces without stepping into luxury price territory.

Shop Nasty Gal: nastygal.com

Shein: The Ultra-Affordable Trend Giant

Shein is one of the world's largest fashion e-tailers, famous for its massive selection of ultra-affordable clothing, accessories, and home goods. Leveraging a rapid, data-driven supply chain, Shein adds thousands of new styles weekly, capturing micro-trends as they happen. It caters to budget-conscious young shoppers who prioritize variety and want to experiment with new looks without a significant financial commitment.

• Product mix: Nearly limitless. Shein offers everything from clothing and swimwear to accessories, shoes, beauty products, and home decor. If a style is trending, Shein likely has dozens of variations.
• Price point: Extremely low. Most clothing items are priced between $3 and $30, making it one of the most affordable fashion retailers online.
• Quality: Highly variable. While you can find some hidden gems, quality is inconsistent, and many items are made with thin materials designed for short-term wear. Reading customer reviews with photos is essential.
• Style & Aesthetic: A little bit of everything. Shein's aesthetic is trend-driven and diverse, covering cottagecore, Y2K, minimalist, and preppy styles simultaneously. It doesn't have one core style but instead mirrors whatever is popular.
• Sizing/Fit: Notoriously inconsistent and often runs small. Shoppers must rely heavily on product-specific size charts and customer reviews to get the correct size.
• Sales: Always running promotions, flash sales, and offering discount codes. The model is built around constant deals to encourage frequent purchases.

Shein's appeal lies in its unbeatable prices and sheer volume, allowing you to try out fleeting trends for less than the cost of a coffee.

Shop Shein: shein.com

Nasty Gal vs. Shein Comparison

Price Comparison

There is no contest here: Shein is dramatically cheaper than Nasty Gal. You can often purchase an entire outfit from Shein for the price of a single dress from Nasty Gal. While a typical Nasty Gal item costs $40-$80 before discounts, most pieces on Shein are under $20.

However, the value proposition differs. Nasty Gal’s pricing reflects a more durable product with a focused design aesthetic. With Nasty Gal's frequent sales, prices can become competitive, but Shein's everyday baseline price remains the lowest in the market. Your choice depends on whether you're looking for the absolute lowest cost or a slightly higher-priced item that may offer better long-term value.

Quality & Materials

Nasty Gal generally provides superior quality. Their garments tend to feature thicker fabrics, more reliable stitching, and better construction that looks and feels more substantial. While still fast fashion, the pieces are not typically "single-wear" items and can last with proper care.

Shein’s quality is notoriously a gamble. The brand produces items at such a massive scale and low cost that consistency is a major challenge. Fabrics can be thin and synthetic-feeling, and an item's durability is never guaranteed. This is the trade-off for rock-bottom prices, you're often paying for the style, not the longevity.

Style & Aesthetic

Nasty Gal has a distinct, curated identity. Its style is rebellious, edgy, and sexy, aimed at women who want their clothes to make a statement. You shop at Nasty Gal for a specific vibe that blends rock-and-roll with modern trends. It's often the go-to for eye-catching party dresses, faux leather pants, or graphic tees with attitude.

Shein, on the other hand, embraces trend diffusion. It doesn't have one defining aesthetic but instead acts as a mirror to everything popular on social media and the runway. This makes Shein a massive resource for finding dupes or trying out dozens of different micro-trends, but it lacks the cohesive vision of a brand like Nasty Gal.

Fit & Sizing

Sizing is more reliable at Nasty Gal. The brand's sizing is generally consistent with standard US and UK charts, making it easier to shop with confidence. They also offer detailed product descriptions and size guides that are fairly accurate across their collection.

Shein’s sizing is its biggest challenge for shoppers. Sizes can vary dramatically from one item to the next, and their products frequently run small. Successful Shein shopping requires a strategy: ignore the S/M/L labels, check the specific measurements in centimeters or inches for every single item, and read customer reviews to see how it fits on real people.

Sustainability & Ethics

Both brands operate in the fast-fashion space, which is inherently linked to environmental and ethical concerns. Neither is a model for sustainability. However, there has been significantly more public scrutiny and criticism directed at Shein's labor practices, lack of transparency, and massive environmental footprint.

Nasty Gal, while not a sustainable leader, has made some public commitments to better practices and a small collection with recycled materials. For a shopper concerned with these issues, Nasty Gal presents as a marginally better option, while Shein remains one of the most criticized companies in the industry.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice comes down to your personal priorities for style, budget, and quality.

Choose Nasty Gal if:

• You're looking for bold, statement pieces with an edgy, rebellious vibe.
• You prefer slightly better quality and more durable clothing from a fast-fashion brand.
• You want more consistent, true-to-size-fitting clothes.
• Your budget is in the $20-$100 range per item, and you prioritize a curated style over endless options.

Choose Shein if:

• Your primary concern is having the lowest possible price.
• You love experimenting with many different micro-trends and need a large variety.
• You are building a large vacation or event wardrobe on a tight budget.
• You don't mind spending time reading reviews and checking measurements to ensure an item will work for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Nasty Gal or Shein cheaper?

Shein is significantly cheaper than Nasty Gal. Most Shein items cost under $30, whereas Nasty Gal's products typically range from $20 to $100 before their frequent sales.

Which has better quality, Nasty Gal or Shein?

Nasty Gal generally offers better and more consistent quality. Their materials are often thicker and the construction is more durable compared to Shein, where quality can be very inconsistent.

Do Nasty Gal and Shein have the same style?

No. Nasty Gal has a specific edgy, bold, and glam aesthetic. Shein does not have a single aesthetic, it imitates thousands of different styles and trends happening across the fashion industry.

How is the sizing for Nasty Gal vs. Shein?

Nasty Gal's sizing is generally considered more reliable and true-to-size. Shein's sizing is notoriously inconsistent and often runs small, requiring customers to carefully check measurements and reviews for each product.

Which brand is more ethical?

Neither brand is a leader in sustainable or ethical fashion. However, Shein has faced considerably more public criticism and scrutiny regarding its labor practices and environmental impact than Nasty Gal.

Is shipping faster from Nasty Gal or Shein?

Shipping from Nasty Gal is typically faster, especially within the US and UK. Shein ships from a global network of warehouses, which can sometimes lead to longer and more variable delivery times.

Which brand is better for party dresses?

Both are popular for party dresses, but they serve different needs. Nasty Gal is ideal if you want a high-impact, statement dress that's a bit higher quality. Shein is better if you want a very cheap, trendy dress for a single event.

Can you trust the reviews on Shein?

Shein's customer reviews, especially those with photos, are one of the most useful tools on the site. They are essential for judging the real-life look, quality, and fit of a product since stock photos can sometimes be misleading.