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Sleeve Her To Heaven: 20 Sleeve Styles For Shirts And Dresses


Sleeve Her To Heaven: 20 Sleeve Styles For Shirts And Dresses


The Right To Bare Arms

It can be easy to overlook sleeves; after all, they just cover up your arms. But sleeves can do so much more than provide warmth—they can shape the function, mobility, lines, and aesthetics of a garment. Different sleeves can make or break a garment, and by identifying them you can impress you friends at art galleries or fashion shows.

File:Lippincott's- September MET DP864418.jpgWilliam Carqueville / J. B. Lippincott & Co. on Wikimedia

1. Cap Sleeve

Cap sleeves are short and sweet. Typically only covering the shoulder, cap sleeves offer minimal coverage but undeniable femininity. They can help elongate and show off arms.

File:Faux Leather Cap Sleeve Detailing (21694357244).jpgJamie on Wikimedia

2. Kimono Sleeve

Confusingly, these sleeves are closer to traditional Chinese robes than Japanese kimono. Kimono sleeves are set directly into the garment and have a wide opening from neck to wrist. Kimono sleeves give the wearer a flowing and relaxed appearance.

File:Kimono sleeve.jpgDavid Ring on Wikimedia

3. Sleeveless

Sometimes the best sleeve is no sleeve at all. Sleeveless shirts help the wearer look and stay cool. They can be used to show off tattoos or sculpted arms. 

woman in white sleeveless shirtKAi'S PHOTOGRAPHY on Unsplash

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4. Raglan

Raglan shirts are most commonly seen on casual and athletic wear—think baseball shirts. Because raglan shirts are cut in one piece, they allow ample mobility, which is why they're so great for sports. The diagonal seam can slim the upper body and add effortless cool.

File:Raglan sleeve.jpgKelly Hogaboom on Wikimedia

5. Short Sleeve

Short sleeves are often confused with t-shirt and cap sleeves, falling somewhere between the two. Short sleeves are roomier around the shoulder than cap sleeves and end somewhere around the bicep. This look is relaxed, comfy, and unisex.

Artem PodrezArtem Podrez on Pexels

6. Bishop Sleeve

Who knew bishops were so stylish? Bishop sleeves are romantic, both in the sense that they're associated with romance, and they were popular during the Romantic era in the early 1800s and the peasant/medieval revival of the '70s. The high drama, soft silhouette look is timeless and elegant

Karina RymarchukKarina Rymarchuk on Pexels

7. T-Shirt Sleeve

What makes t-shirt sleeves and short sleeves different? Very little. The main difference is that while short sleeves are set in the seam, t-shirt sleeves tend to have visible seams along the underside. T-shirt sleeves are typically also slightly tighter than regular short sleeves.

shallow focus photo of woman in white and black striped crew-neck T-shirtJoão Paulo de Souza Oliveira on Unsplash

8. Bell Sleeve

If you want drama, opt for bell sleeves. A fave during the '70s and current revival, bell sleeves are an unforgettable symbol of boho freedom. These sleeves are rebellious, yet soft, offering tons of arm mobility.

MD PhotographyMD Photography on Pexels

9. Pagoda Sleeve

Similar to the bell sleeve, yet more restrained, the pagoda sleeve is isn't super common nowadays. Named for the tiered roofs of Japanese temples, this sleeve saw its peak in the 1850s/60s, when it was typically worn draped over a slimmer sleeve.

File:Daniel Macnee (1806-1882) - A Lady in Grey (The Artist's Daughter, Later Mrs Wiseman) - NG 1679 - National Galleries of Scotland.jpgDaniel Macnee on Wikimedia

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10. Puff Sleeve

There are a few sleeves on this list that are technically "puffed sleeves" but this still is the simplest. The volume is concentrated around where the cuff hits the bicep, resulting in a look that is soft and dreamy, but still wearable. Puff sleeves are found in a ton of vintage revival and cottagecore pieces.

Thư TiêuThư Tiêu on Pexels

11. Juliet Sleeve

Juliet sleeves are sleeves in two parts: a tight puff at the top, and a fitted bottom. As expected, this sleeve was inspired by Italian Renaissance fashion, with its flowing, swoony shape. After experiencing a revival in the 1820s, Franco Zefferelli's 1968 adaptation of Romeo and Juliet catapulted this sleeve back into stardom.

File:Windswept by John William Waterhouse.jpgJohn William Waterhouse on Wikimedia

12. Long Sleeve

Long sleeves are great for warmth and visual layering, but they have so much more potential than just that. Long sleeves are professional and sophisticated, signalling that the wearer has her life in shape. Long sleeves also have key versatility in their ability to be rolled, pushed, or layered.

Achi MurusidzeAchi Murusidze on Pexels

13. Virago Sleeve

You'd be hard-pressed to find virago sleeves today. Popular in the 1600s, virago sleeves are "paned" or slit to show the fabric underneath, and gathered into puffs by a ribbon above the elbow. The name comes from an archaic word meaning a domineering or ill-tempered woman.

File:Anthonis van Dyck 021.jpgAnthony van Dyck on Wikimedia

14. Cold Shoulder Sleeve

One of, if not the most modern sleeve styles on this list, cold shoulder sleeves are edgy and trendy. The cutouts are playful bordering on flirtatious. For this reason, cold shoulder sleeves are often found on evening wear.

A woman in a black shoulder-cut sweater.Khanh Do on Unsplash

15. Elbow Sleeve

Falling halfway between shoulder and wrist, elbow sleeves are—understandably—great for transitional looks. They're more mature than short sleeves, but not dour; warm enough to wear under a light jacket without catching a chill, and can effortlessly go from day to night.

RDNE Stock projectRDNE Stock project on Pexels

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16. Lantern Sleeve

When it comes to voluminous sleeves, it's easy to get carried away with form over function. Lantern sleeves are a more balanced option that still adds drama to the wearer. The volume is structured, ending in a cuff for architectural drama.

Daniil KondrashinDaniil Kondrashin on Pexels

17. Flounce Sleeve

Girly and romantic, flounce sleeves are most commonly found in boho looks, where they add a sense of whimsy. The flare adds youth and vitality to the wearer. Perhaps for this reason, it's seen mostly at brunch.

Valeria BoltnevaValeria Boltneva on Pexels

18. Three-Quarter Sleeve

Three-quarter sleeves are great for chilly and semi-formal occasions. Three-quarter sleeves are flattering on nearly all body types, slimming the arms and balancing top-heavy frames, but still accommodating for movement. These sleeves work great in office environments.

Monstera ProductionMonstera Production on Pexels

19. Poet Sleeve

A wardrobe staple for poets, pirates, and Jerry in that one episode of Seinfeld. Poets sleeves are bishop sleeves with a little more drama, often featuring ruffles, puffs or both. Poet sleeves are definitely a statement piece, but if you can pull them off, why not rock them?

cottonbro studiocottonbro studio on Pexels

20. Gigot Sleeves

Also called leg-o'-mutton sleeves for reasons that should be obvious, this style of sleeve was at its most popular at the end of the 19th century, after which it immediately fell out of fashion. These are the sleeves that Anne Shirley coveted in Anne of Green Gables and, honestly, we don't entirely blame her.

File:Lippincott's- November MET DP864428.jpgWilliam Carqueville / J. B. Lippincott & Co. on Wikimedia