Sizing women's KakoBuy finds: turn your own measurements into a size, then check bags and dresses before they ship

Why women's rows go wrong more often than they should

A women's row in a spreadsheet tells you the colour, the price and a letter. It rarely tells you the cut, the stretch of the fabric or the garment's measurements, and those decide whether the item fits. Chinese sizes are also drawn for a different average body, so a letter that means one thing on your local high street means something smaller on Taobao.

The fix is not a better guess; it is a short routine. Measure yourself, read the seller's chart in centimetres, add ease for the cut, and keep the numbers in the row. The rest of this page gives you the chart, the method, the checks for bags and dresses, and a cost example so you know what the finished parcel will cost.

Treat the size letter as a label and the centimetre columns as the data.

KakoBuy's women's top chart in centimetres

KakoBuy publishes a size assistant in its help centre. The women's shirt chart below is taken from it. It is a general chart, so a seller's own chart for the exact garment wins whenever the two differ; KakoBuy itself notes that the same code can deviate by about 2 cm between styles and fabrics.

The same guide lists women's trousers by waist and hip: its S is a 62-64.5 cm waist and 85-87.5 cm hip, and its XL a 77-79.5 cm waist and 100-102.5 cm hip. Some listings give the waist in the "market ruler" unit; KakoBuy's separate waist table pairs 1.8 to 1.9 with an S waist of 55-61 cm. A market ruler unit is about 33 cm, and the two KakoBuy tables do not line up exactly, so prefer centimetres.

Notice what the table says about "run small". A 92 cm bust falls in this chart's XL band and a 96 cm bust in its XXL. If you normally buy an M or L elsewhere, expect to move up a step or two, which is why your usual label is a poor guide.

Read the bust and waist columns first; the letter only helps once you know your numbers.

From your tape measure to a size: a four-step method

KakoBuy's guide describes how to take each measurement: bust at the fullest point with arms relaxed, waist at the narrowest point, hips at the fullest point. Do them over light clothing, with the tape snug but not tight, and write the numbers in your sheet. Then match them to the garment type using the table below, which adds a suggested ease. Ease is the extra room a garment needs; the amounts are our rule of thumb, not a KakoBuy figure.

1. Measure bust, waist and hip and record them in the size sheet CSV, where the seller's value and difference sit next to your own.
2. Add the ease for the type of item.
3. Find the smallest size whose chart value covers the result, on the seller's chart, not on a general one.
4. Check the length against your height. KakoBuy's guide gives dress length as roughly 78% of height, a hint, not a rule.

Hang-tag codes such as 160/68A are a useful cross-check. The first number is height, the second is bust or waist, and the letter is the body type, with A normal and Y slim, per KakoBuy's guide. If the listing offers only a letter, ask the seller for garment measurements laid flat and double the width to get the circumference.

Add ease to your largest measurement, choose on the seller's chart, then check length.

Dress, skirt and top checks in the QC photos

KakoBuy's inspectors check appearance, model, style, colour, size and large-area damage when clothing reaches the warehouse. They do not cover colour difference, loose threads or tiny issues, and the number of free QC photos is not published by KakoBuy (community estimates say three to five per item). What the photos show is therefore a first filter, not a quality guarantee. See our QC photos guide for the full scope.

• Label against order. The size on the neck label or tag should match what you ordered.
• Seams and zips. A visible waist seam that is crooked, or a zip that puckers the back, is the commonest dress flaw.
• Lining and transparency. Light colours and thin fabrics can be sheer. Ask for a photo in daylight against a hand.
• Pleats and hems. Skirts should hang evenly; a hem that rises on one side points to cutting error.
• Fabric tag. A tag that says polyester when the listing said silk is a mismatch worth raising within the return window.

A ¥2 personalised photo (KakoBuy's price, delivered within 24 hours) is the cheapest way to see a specific detail such as the back zip or the lining.

Check label, seams, lining and fabric tag, and spend ¥2 on the detail the free photos skip.

Handbag checks: hardware, shape and smell

Bags are one of the categories KakoBuy opens for inspection, so you should see inside. The same limits apply: colour difference and tiny flaws are not checked. Ask yourself what you will actually use and look for that.

• Zips and clasps. Photos of the zip closed and open, and of any magnetic closure, show whether it runs smoothly.
• Straps. Stitching at the strap anchor points carries the weight, so look for even, tight stitching.
• Shape. A structured bag should hold its shape when empty; a slumped bag usually has a thin lining board.
• Interior. Torn lining, loose threads and glue stains are visible in a photo with the bag open.
• Smell. Strong odours cannot be photographed. If the seller's reviews mention it, take that into account before you order.

Bags are light for their size but bulky; a rigid structured bag is charged on volume if the line bills volumetric weight. KakoBuy's help centre gives length × width × height in cm divided by 5,000, 6,000, 7,000 or 8,000 depending on the carrier. The ¥10 fragile reinforcement (air-column bags) is aimed at glass and ceramics, so it is rarely worth it for a handbag.

Judge zips, strap stitching and shape from photos, and watch the volume of a structured bag.

If the fit is wrong: the 5-day window

This is where women's clothing orders lose money. KakoBuy's help centre allows a return or exchange request within 5 days (120 hours) after the item is "stocked in". The seller must accept returns, and the item must still be resalable: tags on, unworn, not washed. Underwear, socks and leggings are excluded, as are custom-made and second-hand items. For a fit problem you pay for the shipping to and from the seller plus a service fee, except that the first return and first exchange in each calendar month have no KakoBuy fee for non-Prime users. Later returns cost ¥5, ¥10 or ¥20 depending on the count. If the seller is at fault, for example a wrong size sent, you do not pay.

The practical rule is to open the warehouse photos on the day they arrive and compare the label with your order. A fitting problem you notice on day 6 is yours to keep. Our returns guide lists the fee tiers.

Check the size label on stock-in day; after 120 hours a fit problem is yours.

A three-item parcel, calculated

This is a hypothetical haul: a dress at ¥180, a top at ¥90 and a handbag at ¥260, together ¥530, or about $74.20 at roughly $0.14 per yen. Assume the parcel weighs 1,000 g (350 g, 200 g and 450 g). Shipping is from KakoBuy's estimator on 12 October 2026 for 1,000 g, destination and weight only. The ¥8 declaration is KakoBuy's typical figure. Sums were run in Python.

The UK parcel is the cheapest here because the line is cheap, not because the items are. For each line's duty position see the UK page, the USA page and the Germany page. Quotes move with the carrier market, so re-check before you pay. If you would rather not open an agent account, scan our WhatsApp QR on the contact page and pay per order.

In this haul, shipping is 18% to 34% of the bill, so weight and line matter as much as item price.

Questions buyers ask

Why does a Chinese M often fit smaller than a Western M?

Because the charts are drawn for a different average body. KakoBuy's own chart lists an M top at 83-86 cm bust and 67-70 cm waist, so a 92 cm bust sits in its XL band. The label is only a code; the centimetre columns are the real information. Compare your tape numbers with the seller's chart and ignore the letter.

What is '160/84A' on a Chinese hang tag?

It is a height and bust code. KakoBuy's guide says the first number is height in cm, the second is bust or waist in cm, and the capital letter is body type: A normal, B fuller, C fuller still, Y slim. So 160/84A suits someone about 160 cm tall with an 84 cm measurement and an average build. Use it as a cross-check against the chart.

Can I return a dress that doesn't fit after it reaches the warehouse?

Only inside a short window. KakoBuy's help centre allows a return or exchange request within 5 days (120 hours) after the item is stocked in, if the seller accepts returns and the dress is resalable with tags on. Underwear, socks and tagless clothes are excluded. The first return in each calendar month carries no KakoBuy fee.

Does KakoBuy open handbags during inspection?

Yes. KakoBuy says clothing, bags, suitcases and shoes are the product types its inspectors unpack, while sealed items from other categories are only checked from the outside. The check covers appearance, model, colour, size and large-area damage. It does not cover colour difference or loose threads, so ask for a ¥2 personalised photo of zips and lining.

How much of a small women's haul goes on shipping?

In our hypothetical three-item haul worth about $74.20, the Germany line quoted by KakoBuy on 12 October 2026 at $23.70 for 1,000 g took 24% of the final bill. The UK line at $16.29 took 18%, and the US tax-free line at $39.28 took 34%. Shipping rises with weight, so bags and coats drive the share.

Should I buy my usual size or one size up from a Taobao dress?

Use your measurements, not your usual label. A rule that works: take the largest of your bust, waist and hip, add 4 to 6 cm of ease for a fitted dress or 8 to 10 cm for a relaxed one, and pick the size whose chart value covers it. If two sizes straddle the number, take the larger and check the dress length.