Recently I ordered 10 different tops from Shein and limited myself to only selecting items that were in the colors black or white. My goal was to try to replenish some of my wardrobe basics, but there was a twist. I wanted to purchase what are called “elevated basics”. What this means is this: take for example a basic black tee shirt. There is nothing extraordinary about it, it is plain and undetailed. An elevated basic turns the basic up a notch. The basic remains but some extra pizazz is added in. The once regular black, tee shirt now has ruffled shoulders, lace trim around the neckline or a cutout near the collarbone. The essence remains, it can still be worn with just about any other clothing item, but there is more visual interest that has been added into the mix.
In this article, I will elaborate on the items I have purchased describing why I added them to my cart and what drew me to them. While I have titled this article “Shein Basics” I would like to note that many of the items I am featuring here are not from their Basics line.
First thing to note, the regular price of this shirt is $8 and I purchased it for $7.03 with a coupon. It only comes in the color black. The features of this shirt that drew me to it were the deep scoop neck and the feminine ruffled shoulders. Typically I wear V-neck cut tops because that cut is the most flattering for my body type. The reason being, I have very broad shoulders (which is typically seen as being a masculine trait) and I have a larger bust. If I were to wear a higher necked top, that would create the illusion of an even larger chest. By wear a V-neckline or scoop neck, this provides the illusion of proportion and visual relief (with the negative space being one’s skin). I usually stay away from items that have detailing in the shoulder area as embellishments draw the eye to that area, but the ruffle detailing seems very relaxed and feminine which I think will counter balance my structured shoulders nicely.
The regular price of this shirt is $10 and I purchased it for $4.83 on sale and with a coupon applied. It is offered in the colors black and green (and the green color is stunning). I was drawn to this shirt first because of the deep V-neckline. I also thought the detailing on the shoulders was very feminine with the almost crochet-looking lace. I think this shirt would pair well with a relaxed pair of dark jeans or could be dressed up for office work with a high waisted pencil skirt and a blazer if desired. I am looking forward to the versatility of this shirt occasion-wise. Another aspect that I recognized was the flowy and breathable looking fabric. Not only do I think this is extremely important for summer, but I often end up tucking my shirts in to provide more visual interest and shape to my body. Tucking in is done much easier with a fabric that falls nicely and is thin enough so it doesn’t create a line or bulge underneath whatever it is tucked into.
The regular price of this top is $7 and I purchased it for $6.16 with a coupon applied. This shirt comes in too many colors to list them, but they do carry this shirt in all of the basic colors and then some! I purchased this shirt because I originally got it in white and it is my all time favorite purchase from Shein. I love the flowy material, the V-neck, the adjustable straps and the overall way that it clings to the curves of the body while remaining breathable. I look forward to layering this shirt with a leather jacket, a blazer or a soft cardigan. One thing to note is that I don’t typically gravitate toward spaghetti straps but I often wear my white tank in this style with a lacey bralette underneath. The lace peaks out along the neckline and the undergarment adds to the outfit intentionally. I ordered the very same bralette in a black to pair with this shirt and various other tops that I have added to my wardrobe.
This shirt is regularly priced at $10 and I purchased it for $8.69 with a coupon applied. It is available in both black and white. There were a few things beyond just the V-neck and the flowy material that attracted me to this shirt. I love subtly sexy details and I think that mesh, when placed properly, can do a really great job of adding a touch of sexiness to a garment. Because the mesh is placed on the shoulders, I again think that this detail will soften my broad shoulders. I also love how the delicate lace along the neckline provides a slight bit of extra coverage because it looks like it is fairly low cut. One other final thing that I observed with this shirt was how it would successfully hide any bra straps. I prefer to never have my bra straps showing, but with some clothing items it is near impossible. I never feel comfortable wearing a strapless bra. Between the lace, mesh and the fabric of the shirt that continues along where the straps would lay, I think that by either wearing a black or nude bra, straps will go unnoticed.
This tank top is originally priced at $11 and I purchased it for $4.02 on sale and with a coupon applied. It is only available in the color black. With this shirt, I will be noting many of the same features that I mentioned above about previous garments. I was drawn to the V-neckline with the lace detail, the subtle mesh on the shoulders, the chunky straps that are likely to hide bra straps and the thin, flowy material. Additionally, the back of this top is a tie back that I think will tie high enough up that it won’t end up showing a bra in the back. I think this is such a sweet addition to an otherwise basic tank top.
The tank top above is regularly priced at $14 and I purchased it for $5.70 on sale and with a coupon applied. It comes in black, white, pink and dusty blue (the dusty blue is such a sweet summer color). I love this elevated tank top for its unique dot-textured fabric and its lace embroidered V-neckline. I also like how the lace embellished spaghetti straps provide more coverage to hide bra straps underneath. I think it would be easy to get away with wearing a nude bra without any straps showing.
This blouse is $14 at full price, I purchased it for $5.70 on sale and with a coupon applied. It is only offered in the color white that you see above. I was initially drawn to this piece due, of course, to the V-neck and the color. I love the lace detaining along the neckline and down the center of the shirt. The shoulders are ruffled, providing a feminine contrast to my broad shoulders. The material of this shirt looks light and flowy, therefore easy to tuck in and a great choice for summer. Thin material also makes garments great for layering in the cooler seasons. I’m thinking that this tee shirt will be great paired with a casual skirt or jeans for a backyard barbecue occasion or dressed up with trousers and heels for work at the office.
This shirt is regularly priced at $8 and I purchased it for $5.28 on sale and with a coupon applied. White is the only color that is offered in this style. I love the thicker straps on this shirt which will cover bra straps effortlessly. Something to be aware of is that the back of this shirt is see-through and therefore, you will have to choose your undergarments accordingly. I plan on wearing a white, lacey bralette with a thick lacey band in the back so that it looks as though it is an intentional part of the outfit.
This tee shirt is originally priced at $7 and I purchased it for $4.40 on sale and with a coupon applied. It is only offered in the color white. I love the very darling style of this shirt with the scalloped lace and the semi puffed sleeves from the pleating on the shoulders. Ever since the show Bridgerton was released, the fashion industry blew up with Bridgerton inspired clothing. The way that this essence has been most consistently echoed through the trends is in the form of puff sleeves.
The regular price of this tank is $7, I purchased it for $6.16 with a coupon applied. The only color this is available in is white. This tank top is very similar to the first white item that I mentioned except this one does not have the dot texture throughout the bodice. The lace along the straps provides coverage for bra straps and elevates the otherwise basic white tank top. The material is thin and flowy and can be easily tucked into a pair of bottoms. This is another very versatile shirt as it is an elevated basic, and can be work for just about any occasion dependent on what it is paired with.
If you found this breakdown interesting, be sure to check out my Shein Basics Haul review where I will include pictures of the items I receive and provide my opinion on each elevated basic top!
Budget Buys and Beauty 