Drape and fit: jackets, dresses, skirts and sports tops, judged by how they hang
Nine picks where weight, lining and cut matter more than any single seam.
What the drape and fit lens looks for
Clothes on this lens are judged hung up, not folded. A jacket laid flat hides its shoulder line, a pleated skirt folded in a bag looks like a different garment, and a training top only shows its flat seams when it is stretched slightly. Ask for hanger shots and you will see most of what matters.
Jackets also carry the biggest freight risk in the catalog. Quilted and fleece-lined coats compress poorly, so their volumetric weight can exceed their real weight. If you are buying one with other items, the Rehearsal Parcel service (20 CNY) tells you the real parcel size before you pay.


Jackets: shoulder seams, linings, closures
Three picks, each with its zoom point
Jackets are the shelf where freight can outweigh the price, because a quilted or fleece-lined coat folds big. Weigh that before you buy. In photos look at the shoulder seam line, the lining at the hem and the snaps or buttons down the front, which should all be the same finish.

Tan corduroy work jacket
¥46 · about $7.65 · 1688, read Oct 24 · month sales in search data: 30
Zoom on: The chest pocket flaps and buttons; check they match on both sides.
Ask for: The jacket from the back to see the shoulder seam line.
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Green corduroy jacket, fleece lined
¥86 · about $14.30 · 1688, read Oct 24 · month sales in search data: 422
Zoom on: Where the fleece collar is sewn on; uneven attachment shows as a wavy edge.
Ask for: The lining at the hem from the inside.
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Olive quilted liner jacket
¥105 · about $17.46 · 1688, read Oct 24 · month sales in search data: 5
Zoom on: The diamond quilting lines and the snaps down the front.
Ask for: One snap open, close up.
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Wider choice for this shelf: the whole jackets & coats category.

Dresses and skirts: pleats, plackets, waistbands
Three picks, each with its zoom point
Dresses and skirts depend on fabric and fall, which a still photo only half shows. Ask for the piece hung rather than laid flat. Pleats should be even and pressed, plackets should close without gaping, and elastic waistbands should be stitched in evenly rather than gathered in lumps.

Long linen-cotton shirt dress
¥38 · about $6.32 · 1688, read Oct 24 · month sales in search data: 159
Zoom on: The button placket; linen puckers if the facing was cut on a slant.
Ask for: The dress on a hanger, full length.
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Satin pleated midi skirt
¥4.28 · about $0.72 · 1688, read Oct 24 · month sales in search data: 43
Zoom on: The pleat edges; satin shows snags and uneven pressing quickly.
Ask for: The waistband stretched gently.
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Black high-waist A-line skirt
¥25 · about $4.16 · 1688, read Oct 24 · month sales in search data: 785
Zoom on: The elastic waistband stitching, which should be even rather than bunched.
Ask for: The skirt laid flat to see the hem circle.
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Wider choice for this shelf: the whole womenswear category.

Sports tops: flat seams and printed details
Three picks, each with its zoom point
Plain sports jerseys and training tops are made from quick-dry knit, and their comfort comes from flat seams that do not rub. We picked blank training tops rather than club shirts. Check that seams are flatlocked, that any reflective strip is straight, and that the size label matches the European size the listing promises.

Quick-dry training tee
¥24.98 · about $4.16 · 1688, read Oct 24
Zoom on: The collar and shoulder seams; flatlocked seams sit flush.
Ask for: The size label against the European size chart.
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Ice-silk running tee with reflective strip
¥7 · about $1.17 · 1688, read Oct 24
Zoom on: The reflective strip edges, which peel if the heat press was uneven.
Ask for: The back of the shirt.
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Long-sleeve compression top
¥13 · about $2.17 · 1688, read Oct 24 · month sales in search data: 2
Zoom on: The raglan seam from neck to underarm.
Ask for: The tag with fibre content.
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Wider choice for this shelf: the whole jerseys category.
Hanger shots and closures to ask for
- The piece on a hanger, front and back, full length.
- The lining or inside at the hem, where jackets and dresses are finished.
- Closures close up: snaps, buttons, zips and elastic waistbands.
- The size label beside a tape across the shoulders or waist.