Princess Polly vs. Shein: Which brand should you buy? [2026]

Princess Polly offers a more curated selection of trendy, higher-quality pieces at a mid-range price point, while Shein is a global fast-fashion giant known for its massive, ever-changing inventory and ultra-low prices. While both cater to a young, fashion-forward audience, Princess Polly focuses on a consistent, festival-inspired aesthetic and more reliable quality, whereas Shein prioritizes variety and extreme affordability over everything else.

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

Princess Polly: The Trendy, Cult-Favorite Retailer

Princess Polly is an Australian-based retailer that has become a go-to for Gen Z and millennial shoppers seeking trendy, Instagram-worthy outfits. Known for its youthful, flirty aesthetic, the brand successfully captures festival and streetwear fashion with a curated collection of dresses, mini skirts, crop tops, and statement accessories. It appeals to shoppers who follow social media trends and want stylish pieces that feel current without being disposable.

• Product mix: A focused selection of on-trend women's apparel, shoes, and accessories. Strong emphasis on dresses, two-piece sets, trendy tops, and denim.
• Price point: Mid-range for fast fashion, with most dresses priced between $50-$70. Tops are typically $30-$50, making it more of an investment than an impulse buy compared to Shein.
• Quality: Generally higher than its ultra-fast fashion competitors. Fabrics are more substantial and construction is more reliable, offering pieces that can withstand more than a few wears.
• Fit & Sizing: Sizing is fairly consistent and generally runs true to American sizing standards. Detailed size guides and customer photos help ensure a good fit before purchasing.
• Return policy: Offers a straightforward 30-day return policy for refunds, exchanges, or store credit, making it relatively risk-free to try out styles.
• Sustainability: The company has started some initiatives, such as using eco-friendly packaging and highlighting products made with lower-impact materials, but it remains a fast-fashion brand.

Princess Polly is best for those who want curated, on-trend pieces and are willing to pay more for better quality construction and a more consistent shopping experience.

Shop Princess Polly: princesspolly.com

Shein: The Ultra-Fast Fashion Giant

Shein is the undisputed giant of ultra-fast fashion, offering a dizzying catalog of thousands of new items added daily at shockingly low prices. The brand’s model relies on quickly replicating styles seen on runways and social media, making them available to a global mass audience within weeks. Its appeal lies in its immense variety and the ability to build an entire trendy wardrobe for less than the cost of a single item elsewhere.

• Product mix: An almost unlimited selection of clothing for women, men, and kids, plus accessories, beauty, and even home goods. If a trend exists, Shein likely has dozens of variations of it.
• Price point: Extremely low, with most items ranging from $3 to $50. It’s common to find dresses under $15, tops under $10, and frequent site-wide sales and coupon codes.
• Quality: Highly inconsistent. While you can find hidden gems, many items are made with thin fabric that may not last long. Quality control can be a gamble - check user reviews with photos before buying.
• Fit & Sizing: Sizing varies dramatically by item. Reading customer reviews and checking specific measurement charts for each garment is essential, as some pieces run very small while others are oversized.
• Return policy: Offers a returns process, typically within 35 days, but the cost of return shipping is sometimes deducted from the refund, which can be significant on a low-cost order.
• Sustainability: Shein faces significant criticism for its environmental impact and labor practices due to its high-volume production model. The brand has launched some eco-conscious collections, but these are a tiny fraction of its total output.

Shein is ideal for experimental shoppers on a tight budget who prioritize quantity and variety and are willing to take risks on fit and quality.

Shop Shein: us.shein.com

Princess Polly vs. Shein Comparison

Price Comparison

This is the most significant difference between the two brands. Shein is drastically cheaper than Princess Polly across every category. You can often purchase five or more items from Shein for the price of a single dress from Princess Polly. For a graphic tee, you might pay $8 on Shein versus $40 at Princess Polly. If your main goal is getting the maximum number of items for the lowest possible cost, Shein is the clear winner.

However, Princess Polly’s higher price point often translates to better value in terms of cost-per-wear. An item you love and can wear 20 times is a better investment than five items you wear once before they fall apart or go out of style.

Quality & Materials

Princess Polly has a clear advantage in quality and construction. Their clothes typically feature better fabrics, more reliable stitching, and functional details like durable zippers and linings. While still considered fast fashion, Princess Polly’s items are designed to feel more like pieces you’d find at a traditional mall retailer.

Shein's quality is a well-known gamble. Materials are often thin polyesters, and issues like loose threads, uneven seams, and poor-fitting cuts are common. User-submitted photos in the reviews section are your best tool for getting a realistic idea of what an item will actually look and feel like.

Product Selection & Style

Princess Polly offers a curated, cohesive collection. Its aesthetic is distinct - think a mix of L.A. street style, Australian beach vibes, and music festival chic. Shopping on their site feels like browsing a boutique where every piece fits within a specific trend narrative.

Shein, on the other hand, is like a massive digital department store with endless aisles. Its aesthetic is broad and eclectic, covering every style imaginable from cottagecore to minimalist to Y2K revival. While the sheer volume can be overwhelming, it also means you’re more likely to find exactly what you’re looking for in any color or style you can dream up.

Fit & Sizing

Fit is one of the most common complaints about fast fashion, but Princess Polly does a respectable job of maintaining consistency. Most of their items run true to common U.S. sizing, and their online size guides are generally reliable. You have a good chance of ordering your usual size and getting a piece that fits as expected.

Shein’s sizing is notoriously unpredictable. An item marked "small" from one manufacturer could fit completely differently from a "small" in another style. This makes reading customer reviews and checking user-provided measurements absolutely necessary to avoid disappointment. On the plus side, Shein offers one of the most extensive size ranges online, including a large and well-stocked plus-size section.

Sustainability & Ethics

Neither brand is a leader in sustainability, as the fast-fashion model itself is built on rapid production and consumption. However, Princess Polly presents a more transparent front. They have publicly shared goals related to using sustainable materials and reducing their carbon footprint, and their higher price point hints at a slightly less aggressive production cycle.

Shein’s business model has drawn intense criticism for its environmental impact and opaque supply chain. The scale of their production and incredibly low prices raise serious questions about labor practices and textile waste. While they have introduced some small "eco" collections, these initiatives are a very small part of their overall business.

Which One Should You Choose?

The right choice comes down to your personal priorities, budget, and shopping style. Both have a place, but they serve very different ends.

Choose Princess Polly if:

• You want specific, on-trend pieces and prefer a curated "boutique" shopping experience.
• Quality and fit consistency are more important to you than the lowest possible price.
• You’re looking for standout outfits for events, festivals, or vacations.
• You’d rather buy one high-quality piece you’ll re-wear than five disposable ones.

Choose Shein if:

• You're on a very tight budget and want to maximize the number of new clothes you can get.
• You love experimenting with many different micro-trends without a big financial commitment.
• You are willing to spend time researching reviews and measurements to find good items.
• You need an outfit for a very specific, one-time occasion and don't want to spend much.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Princess Polly or Shein cheaper?

Shein is significantly cheaper than Princess Polly. Most Shein items cost between $5 and $20, whereas Princess Polly’s items are typically in the $40 to $80 range. There is almost no overlap in their pricing tier.

Which brand has better quality clothing?

Princess Polly consistently offers better quality. Their clothes are made with more durable materials, better stitching, and often have linings and more structured designs. Shein's quality is highly variable and often feels flimsy in comparison.

Which brand is faster for shipping?

Shipping times can vary - however, Princess Polly typically ships from a national distribution hub, leading to faster and more predictable delivery times within the US. Shein ships from international warehouses, so standard shipping can often take several weeks.

Is the sizing accurate on Princess Polly?

Yes, Princess Polly sizing is generally considered accurate and consistent with standard US sizing. You can usually order your regular size and expect it to fit correctly.

Is sizing on Shein reliable?

No, sizing on Shein is not reliable and is one of the most common complaints. It varies greatly between items. Shoppers must read customer reviews and check the measurements on each product page carefully before ordering.

Can you return items to both stores?

Yes, both retailers have return policies. Princess Polly offers a 30-day window for returns, making it quite easy. Shein also accepts returns, usually within 35 days, but sometimes the return shipping fees are deducted, which can absorb a large portion of the refund for low-cost items.

Which brand is more ethical to shop from?

Both are fast-fashion brands with environmental and ethical concerns. However, Princess Polly has been more transparent about its efforts to improve, sharing sustainability goals and brand partnerships. Shein's business model continues to draw significantly more criticism regarding labor and its environmental impact.

Which brand is better for trendy clothes?

Both brands are excellent for trendy clothes. Princess Polly is better for mainstream, curated festival and street-style trends. Shein is better for micro-trends you may only want to try for a few weeks, as their massive catalog covers hundreds of niche styles simultaneously.