Hello everyone!
I'm a fashion enthusiast who's always on the lookout for the latest trends. I spend my free time watching style bloggers' reviews, browsing through clothing stores, and trying on outfits to develop my personal style. Sometimes I nail it, and sometimes I don't, but the process is what matters.
After a disastrous trip to Modis, I found myself wondering if it's possible to find stylish, on-trend pieces at budget-friendly stores.
Today, I'm sharing my experience with the Sinsey chain, or as they now call it, Sin.
I'll be showcasing the items I tried on, and at the end, I'll reveal my purchases.
The Store
I'd heard a lot about Sinsey, particularly about how affordable their prices are – especially during sales – and how they offer a wide range of home decor items. Until recently, we didn't have any stores in our city, but they've finally opened up, and I decided to check out what all the fuss is about.
The store is massive, and the layout is spot on. Everything is neatly organized into sections: men's, women's, kids', home goods, and more.
One thing that caught my eye was the huge metal letters signing off each section. I think the underwear is pretty hard to mistake for a Panama hat or boots, so it's probably just for show. Maybe it's to give the customer a hint about where to find the actual underwear, although that's usually not a big deal in a store.
Assortment
Spring has been ridiculously slow to arrive this year. As I'm writing this review, it's minus 7 outside, and it's snowing and freezing.
I'm not sure why, but the store had an enormous amount of winter gear – coats, jackets, parkas, and what I initially thought were duffel coats. Can you imagine it's the end of April, and the store is basically just selling winter clothing?
Want to take a walk with me through the store and check out the assortment?
The product display is spotless. Everything is hung up in neat rows, and the sizes are all in order, from smallest to largest.
I love the idea of the Trends stand, but the items on it are usually pretty far off from the actual trends. Maybe it's just a way to get rid of some old stock?
I was really impressed by the amount of knitwear stacked neatly on top of each other.
There are also some eco-friendly pieces in the mix.
I'm a big fan of cardigans, so I was excited to check this one out. But to be honest, it didn't quite live up to my expectations.
But then I spotted this quirky little number and decided to give it a try.
Now that summer's here, I'm loving the new arrivals. This yellow blouse caught my eye – I'll have to try it on!
I have to admit, I'm a sucker for bags, regardless of their quality or price. They've got shoppers, backpacks, and even cute little cross-body bags.
Everything in this package is super budget-friendly.
I'm not even sure how long this little pouch will last.
These are some pretty basic items, but I'm not exactly an expert in this department.
But the home clothes – slippers and robes – are a different story.
I didn't pay too much attention to the undergarments, to be honest – usually, online stores only have small sizes.
And, yeah, there's even some shoes in here.
Ballet kicks were the big hit this spring, but I wouldn't risk buying these – they feel like they're made of cardboard. They're a cheap and feisty option for those who want to try out the Bratz style, but I think the trend is already over.
There's a huge selection of decorative trinkets and interior design elements. It's all pretty cheap, which is great for those who want to quickly decorate a temporary apartment.
The organization section is pretty extensive – they've got a ton of organizers, boxes, containers, and baskets.
I really liked this basket.
There's a whole section dedicated to cups and saucers.
Prices
The prices are super low. I mean, you can get a sweater for around 500 rubles, a blouse for 700-900 rubles, denim for 800-1700 rubles, a handbag for 500-1000 rubles, and shoes for as low as 400 rubles.
Seriously, this is a store for people who want to save their money and don't want to overpay.
You can find a pair of jeans, a handbag, a welcome mat for your entrance, and still have enough left for a shawarma.
Fitting area
Size range
I noticed that the selection is mostly geared towards young, petite girls, but I'm a woman with a bigger bust and wider hips. I wear a confident M, which, if I relax, easily slips into an L, so I don't relax.
In the store, I came across items only up to size L, or, using another marking, 42 European, which corresponds to our Russian 48. Although, there are some items up to 52 (I double-checked with a sales associate).
I have to say, I felt like I was a bit on the wider side for the Sinsey size range while trying things on. I had to go for the largest size with some items, and they were pretty snug.
But if you're a smaller gal, XS and XXS are where it's at.
Fitting
I didn't have high hopes for this sweater, but it ended up being a pleasant surprise. It fit me really well, and I've got a bit of an unconventional figure. This cropped model is a great choice – it shows just a hint of skin. I felt like a carefree college student the moment I put it on. And the best part? It was only 500 rubles.
I fell head over heels for these jeans. First of all, they fit me perfectly. I love the style where the top is fitted through the waist, hips, and back, but the wide legs flow freely down the legs and drag a bit on the ground. And to top it all off, they were distressed. The price? 900 rubles.
If you think ripped jeans are a thing of the past, think again. Dig out those old favorites from the back of your closet – they're back in style.
Want to try out the trend without breaking the bank? Welcome to Sinsey. A hole in the right place – just below the knee – is a beautiful thing on most people.
Needless to say, these jeans came home with me.
I'm really loving the color of this blouse – it's like a ripe banana. The wide sleeves are also super fun. I'm not sure if the relaxed fit is intentional or if it's just the thin, semi-sheer fabric, but either way, it's a great summer look. Pair it with white shorts or a flowy maxi skirt and you're good to go. The price is 700 rubles.
I initially thought this was a duffle coat, but it's actually a lightweight, eco-friendly parka with a faux fur trim and a print that mimics the style of a tay dai. It's a tiny thing, not meant for warmth, and it's really only suited for girls taller than me. I'd recommend wearing it with boots, not sneakers, for a more put-together look. I don't remember the price, but I think it was around 1.5 thousand rubles.
I rolled up the jeans to make it easier to try them on – I don't usually wear them like thisThe parka is a standard beige color with an oversized fit. The color is nice, but I'm not a fan of the type of stitching. The price is 1.5 thousand rubles.
I was really excited about the color of this down-filled jacket – it's a gorgeous creamy beige. What I loved even more was the clever design feature inside – it's got a fake second lining that adds extra warmth. I've seen something similar from Top Top, but that one was a lot pricier, around $100, whereas this one is a steal at $2000.
Unfortunately, this jacket was a miss for me. The color itself is sort of an olive-chocolate brown, which I'm not a huge fan of, and the shiny material doesn't help. My usual good eye for sizing let me down this time – I got the smallest size, but it ended up being tiny and I had to squeeze into it. The result was me looking like a giant stuffed animal.
This is exactly what I'm talking about when it comes to a classic denim jacket. It's like something your mom used to wear back in the 90s. The thick, slightly stiff denim is perfect, and the light blue color is spot on. The loose fit with wide shoulders and the front pockets are all just right – it's a true vintage-inspired piece.
I have to say, this jacket matched my Biffy jeans perfectly, and we created the ultimate spring 23 look in total denim style. But there's one thing to note – this jacket should fit a bit looser, and it would be absolutely perfect. I did take the largest size, though.
The price of the jacket was 1700.
And finally, the bag. I also tried it on, but I don't remember the price – it was around 500 rubles.
That day I only bought the sweater and jeans, but I came back later and got the yellow blouse. It somehow caught my attention.
My purchases
I've already put all my purchases to the test.
I wore the jeans and sweater to the movies. And let's be honest, this kind of outfit might not be suitable for my age)
The yellow blouse looks quite spring-like and lifts my mood)
The quality of the items... Well, in general, it's worth the price. For example, there are some threads on the back of the sweater, but they're easy to remove with a trimmer.
I've got to say, the jeans are really great. In terms of quality, they're on par with my Bifry jeans, but those cost over three times as much.
Pros and Cons
Honestly, I don't see any reason to complain about the store. It's not trying to be some high-end boutique, it's just doing its job of offering trendy clothes for young people.
The prices really surprised me – 900 rubles for jeans, 600 for a blouse? I haven't seen prices like that in over 10 years.
The fabric is great, it hugs my body in all the right places.
There's some synthetic stuff, but you can find some decent trendy pieces for a steal. If your goal is to refresh your wardrobe for the upcoming season without breaking the bank, Sinsey's your best bet. The denim's a winner, but the knitwear didn't impress me.
The cons are that the selection's pretty limited, and there are a lot of tiny items that seem designed for pre-teens. Maybe they'll add more stuff closer to summer, though.
That's all for now, thanks for reading.