Yay! Love them. I feel like they balance out my lower half, and most of the time a single layer is all I need here.

Yay in from me, too. I had a great batwing top from Club Monaco circa 2003 which I loved- it had a banded bottom and these funny little eyelet things under the arms (for ventilation? lol). I wore it very much to death with crazy 80’s looks- pixie heels, my first skinnies, and these big vintage hoop earrings I had.

On second thought, maybe I won’t do this look again. Still love it on others, though!

I was iffy on these until I tried my sweater tunic and I really love how it looks.

I love ‘em !

I can’t leave the house without the option to throw a jacket on if I get cold, so I have stopped buying batwing sleeves.

It is surrendering the torso

I like this look: Yay.

I like the idea of these sleeves, but was always under impression that they make my already small chest look even smaller. Maybe I just haven’t found the right one yet.

Yeay for me, but with the caveat that it has to be during that weird period when it’s not too cold to be without a coat or without fully covered sleeves (most batwings don’t go all the way to the wrist).
I got this cheap and beautiful knit charcoal grey cowlneck batwing tunic at Old Navy (of all places). I have a smaller bust but it is still quite flattering (maybe because of the large cowlneck). I layer it with skinny jeans, or a short skirt and tights.
I think you can still belt a batwing too, so surrending the waist isn’t always necessary. The creative girls at Academichic do this successfully.

I’m finding myself cocking my head sideways and considering it. Which is a positive vote from conservative, boring me!

I recently bought my first batwing. It’s a t-neck sweater with a banded bottom. It doesn’t fit Angie’s requirement of the sleeve hems tapering back. I like that it sort of look like I’m wearing a cape. I can layer long sleeves under it to help keep me warm.

Tanya – I too thought that this style might emphasize my tummy and make my small chest look even smaller but that is not the case. Here’s a pic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/w.....168731522/
All the volume on top actually makes my toso look sleek. If you look closely there’s some seaming detail that goes down the sides of my chest which helps.
So keep looking, flattering ones are out there!

The more I look at the Ben Sherman top (the striped one), the more I like it.

I am loving the black and white shirt.Batwing shirts have always gotten a yea from me.

I find this to be extrememly individual as batwing tops that look almost the same on the rack can look DRASTICALLY different once you put them on.I have owned one or two that I loved and found tons I despised once I put them on. I have stopped wearing them much because I need that layering option and they definitely don’t work for that.

I would say a cautious yay. Yesterday I saw a French Connection dress in gorgeous purple. It had moderate size batwings. I considered it for a moment, but they didn’t have my size to try on. Furthermore, I was looking for a more versatile frock, and the batwing shape could be very limiting.

I’m on the fence. I love playing with volume, but these styles can be so unflattering on my body type …

I am petite yet rather busty, so I have to be VERY careful with batwing sleeves (kimono sleeves, too). They can tend to “bloat me out” and make me look too top-heavy. I need to try these sort of tops on and decide on a case-by-case basis whether they work for me or not, and a lot depends on the drape of the fabric and the overall cut of the top. The Converse One Star brand (at Target) had a couple of great batwing-style tops this past season, made of soft rayon jersey. I also find that because of the inherent “volume” in these tops, I can take a full size smaller in this style vs. my usual size.

Yes, yes, yes. I love these tops. Like any other trends, there will be a whole bunch of women claiming they can’t wear it because they are tall/short/big busted/small busted/broad shouldered/narrow shouldered/shortwaisted/longwaisted/long necked/short necked/and every other kind of body type variable conceivable. I noticed this in the skinny jeans discussion. It’s amazing what kind of restrictions we women like to place on ourselves.

All I can say is don’t knock it until you try it, and try LOTS of it.

Yey for me! This is one of those looks that I don’t love on the hanger. Inspired by one of your earlier posts I tried one on for myself and loved it! I actually wear my batwing top under a longer tailored jacket sometimes. I like the contrast of the slouchy shirt with the conservatively cut jacket.

Yay! I was sorry when they went out of style before. One can always layer a bit with a scarf or necklace if needed. The first ever compliment I ever got on something I was wearing was a rayon or silk woven blouse in this style that was my tiny mother’s. I was 12. It was purchased in the 40’s and I’d found it in the attic and claimed it.

Nay! Fuller figured women like me look even bigger in the batwing. Only for slim women, I think.

I just bought a sweater from Old Navy that I think might have batwing sleeves (hopefully intentionally)! This is it: http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/.....=729959042 in Cream of Artichoke. I like it though! The closest I ever came to roomy sleeves was my Michael Stars dolman-sleeve sweater, which I wear at least once a week. But I do like this new sweater. I’m busty and it makes that area appear smaller, and though it emphasizes my tummy just a tad, I did try it on without a bodyshaping cami underneath so i’m hoping that fixes the problem. If not, it’s ok, I’m still losing weight anyway so it might not be an issue in the future!

Yay i love them x

I’m thinking nay … I’m not that trendy, sad to say.

Nooooo. I was traumatized by one as a gift from my wacky, thrifting aunt. Black stretch nylon, skin tight over hips & bust, billowed over waist, sleeves adding bulk in the MOST unflattering way. And, sadly, not even the least flattering items she’s ever given me.

Yay, on your terms.

I’m a cautious “yay” on batwing sleeves. I had tried a few last year but didn’t like them on me, so I almost gave up. But then I realized that all the tops I tried were volumnious tunic tops, and that together with the batwings just didn’t work for me. When I tried on a cardigan (light weigth knit, skirt top length, teal color, from Mango) I really liked the sleeves and bought it. Have to admit I haven’t worn it tons, though, partially because it’s so light weight. I plan to don it more when spring arrives!

I am not against volume, but for some reason this style doesn’t appeal to me. Plus I don’t feel like it does anything for my torso. Also for me they look very very 80s, and not in a good way, because I wasn’t fond of them back then. I do like them on other people, but I don’t think I’ll be on a lookout for this style (never say never, of course )
Thanks for answering my question in the yesterday post, Angie!

I like these sleeves. I recently got a heavier sweater with batwing sleeves that are tapered from just below the elbow the whole way down to the wrist (so the sweater is long-sleeved). I’m not 100% sold on the sweater, but that’s more because of the waist and band detailing at the bottom. I like the sleeves of the sweater quite a bit.

http://clothesinteralia.blogsp.....beige.html

Also, my sweater is pretty heavy, so it’s good for winter, but I managed to layer over it by wearing an oversized wool jacket. I would enjoy one of these tops in a much lighter fabric for summer. I especially l like the striped one.

I do have a short-sleeved ruffled top that’s similar:

http://clothesinteralia.blogsp.....olume.html
http://clothesinteralia.blogsp.....f-tea.html

The top and the sweater (and the idea of batwing sleeves in general) are a bit outside of my usual style, but I’m fairly happy with the results of my experiments.

I love the tops you picked, so a yay! But I’m weary of this style in action.

Nay from me, not this time around:)

I have had a few in my lifetime and never felt comfortable in them. I really do not like them. I consider them weird. What is all of that fabric doing under my arms? I might change my mind if I followed your rules.

This look was a definite NO from me until I saw your oversized silk shirt, which incidentally I’m still coveting.

I do not own and probably never will own one of these tops as I love the look when the arms are down by the side of the body but it instantly looses appeal for me once the arm in raised and the excess material is visible.

The striped one by Ben Sherman that you have posted is really the most interesting bat wing top I’ve seen. I like how the stripes go every which way in a flattering way. I would try it on and consider it even though I have had a ban on the bat wings for many years.
You’ve got the eye Angie!

I can be very succinct here: a big yes for batwing sleeves! I love them, always have. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a batwing-sleeved top and banded tunic style in one, it looks fantastic. And of course I’m already in love with the stripes;-)

I say yay. They offer so much freedom. Haha

Love them! I agree they are hard to layer, and even wearing a coat can be difficult, but to me it’s worth it.

I’ve tried some of these on, and many definitely were of the “take off and fly” variety. So I left them at the store. I liked the ones that taper at the bottom much better, but the drape of the fabric is such that the fitted part allows ugly lumps and bumps from the belt loops and fly of my jeans to show through. That’s a problem because all my pants have belt loops. I guess I could just wear them with skirts…

Nay… I have really short arms and this sleeve really makes me look odd by making them appear even shorter

I have a batwing sleeve shawl cardigan that I love to wear over fitted tops and tanks.I love it and wear my wool cost over it.never had probs with it.

Sorry I meant wool coat over it.the sleeves do taper at the hem though so that makes it comfy to wear under the coat in our snowy weather.

Wow…I am loving the style on the right, with the bold B&W graphic. That is extremely tempting, I just wonder if it would be flattering. Hmm…

I love batwing sleeves and the tops you’ve put up there are fantastic, but I’m cautious with this style always. First because I can’t wear anything on top of them and second is the volume problem. I have a wool batwing turtleneck to layer on top of everything else. It almost looks like a cape and it’s enough to go out in San Diego winters.

Yay!

Have never, ever tried one on, but a big YEAH from me on the pictures you posted.

I love the look of them but have yet to find one that suits me. Most of the ones I’ve been able to try on have big scoop necks, which just look awful on my small bust.

Love pulling out the Batwing sleeve for an 80s party. And I’ve been to a few of these! But…when I see the photos I realise that a girl with big boobs risks looking like she has been taken over by her own breasts. On me a chest that reaches from elbow to elbow is really too much of a good thing. So it’s fancy dress only for me.
(My sister in law on the other hand is more pear shaped and rocks this look )

Yay, for the right figured woman like me, everyone has a different body but I feel no matter what yor shape or size you can pull it off with the right size, length, color, and fabric!