Statement sleeves are everywhere. The trend is so hot right now that every fashionista worth her weight in Gucci is currently sporting an oversized, over-ruffled, over-the-top sleeve.
I didn’t realise there were so many variations on a sleeve! I have discovered and included 12 types… twelve!!!! And there is more, but I gave up at 12 (sorry, not sorry!!)
There are a lot of mash-ups going on as designers compete to make the wildest sleeves. It took a while to categorise the high st offerings below, so I hope I’ve got it right! At least you’ll be more versed in sleeve variations than before…
Poet sleeve
A long sleeve fitted from shoulder to elbow, and then flared dramatically from elbow to wrist (or to mid-hand).
Bishop sleeve
A long, full sleeve gathered into a cuff at the wrist.
Circular Flounce
A gathered, circular piece of fabric stitched to the end of the sleeve
Calypso Sleeve
A sleeve providing several flounces widening downwards.
Trumpet / Bell sleeve
A long sleeve fitted from the shoulder to elbow and gently flared from elbow onward.
Gigot sleeve
A sleeve that is wide over the upper arm and narrow from the elbow to the wrist. Gigot in French means the back leg of animal which it was said to resemble. The gigot sleeve was meant to help achieve the very fashionable hourglass figure Edwardian women were meant to have.
Tie sleeve
Virago sleeve
A full sleeve gathered into two puffs by a ribbon or fabric band above the elbow.
Angel sleeve
Flared from either the shoulder or the elbow.
Puff Sleeve
Fairly self-explanatory… billowy from the shoulder to the bottom of the sleeve.
Ruffle sleeve
Still with me???
Some of these sleeves are so elaborate, they must make everyday tasks a challenge.
I would think twice before wearing a poet or fluted sleeve out for a meal.. Washing-up is a definite no-no… and serving food… Not a bad thing if you want to get out of doing the dinner one evening!!
Coats are tricky too. Many of these sleeves have to wait to be worn in warmer months, unless you have a cape? But I do like the look of a fluted sleeve or circular flounce poking out of a jacket or jumper sleeve.
I wouldn’t spend too much on a statement sleeve as I do think they are a flash in the plan – a big trend that is likely to reach saturation then disappear as fast as it came in. Like cold-shoulders last year. But I could be wrong…
Let me know your thoughts!
Thanks for reading X
2 comments
Kitty Rose at Bergholt have some on trend statement sleeves just in. I’m not good with that style but like some that you’ve posted ??
I must make a visit to Kitty Rose, I haven’t been for ages…