my hesitation with 3/4 length sleeves..... - YouLookFab Forum

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my hesitation with 3/4 length sleeves.....

Queen Mum

Veteran

after seeing Marianna and Briar in their Olivia Moon blouses and realizing that I've had the purple version in my wish list for some time, I was wondering why I hadn't bought it yet. Then I remembered... it's the sleeves. I feel that it's generally too warm to wear a 3/4 length sleeve here during the summer (other than on a cool evening) and come winter, it will be too cold... I need my arms covered in winter. This is my beef with short sleeve sweaters too. If I need to bundle up in a sweater, I need my arms covered.

Can anybody relate? I know that in theory, these types of blouses/sweaters would be great for spring and fall, but it seems that here we go from winter to summer almost overnight. The summer to winter transition is almost the same way, but perhaps a bit more subtle. So I guess around here October and November tend to be more temperate months, but I still don't feel that I get a ton of wear out of lightweight long or 3/4 sleeve blouses.
Anyone else live in a climate like this?

Dressing

27 replies

Latest reply was from Charmian

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I can't personally relate Kim because I LOVE three/quarter length sleeves for half the year. AND I almost always push my sleeves up (unless it's freezing Winter), to make them three quarter sleeves. I love to feel covered.

However, I have a client who feels like you do so it does make sense to me!

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Yes Kim- we get about three weeks of transitional weather twice a year. But, you can still layer under and over 3/4 length sleeves- and I find that if I pair a lighter piece with a warmer piece (ie a 3/4 length sleeve top with shorts and sandals), then I can get more use out of it too.

MNsara

Veteran

I also LOVE 3/4 sleeves, but we have (usually) a transition season in spring and in fall that can each last a month or two.

I will wear 3/4 sleeves in the winter too, if the rest of my outfit is cozy enough to keep me warm.

These particular 3/4 sleeves on the Olivia Moon are a bit blousy and not the easiest to put a fitted layer over them.

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I love 3/4 sleeves! I just push them up all the time to get out of my hand's way though! I like the little scrunch look

rosee

Veteran

I love 3/4 sleeves for knits -- most of my tees are 3/4s and some sweaters. I don't like them for woven shirts b/c they I find them annoying (especially when layering sweaters over, I don't have that problem with layering knits). I do have a blousier peasant top with 3/4s as well and I find that comfortable even though technically it is a woven.
I like how 3/4s cover most of the arm but not completely and I find them more versatile to wear them year-round. I don't find them too hot in the summer (and we do get pretty hot summers) but it does depend on the fabric more than the style. I also like them in winter b/c they do cover most of my arm. I tend to push up long sleeves anyway.

Aziraphale

Veteran

Sorry, QM, but I can't relate. 3/4 length sleeves account for about a quarter of the tops in my wardrobe. Admittedly, I usually push or roll them up to my elbows. I live in a climate where the dominant seasons are spring and fall, so maybe that's part of it? Also, I just like the look.

I have a very tall friend who says that 3/4 length sleeves just make her look like she's outgrown her top, and for this reason she never wears them. I had never thought of it that way, being so short myself! I normally have the problem of full length sleeves being too long.

Mo

(website)

Veteran

I like them but don't really consider the weather when choosing one. I guess I wear them as I would a regular long sleeve. The only thing that can be troubling is sometimes layering over them with a sweater or snug sleeved jacket. You can't as easily hold down the cuff when pulling the other layer over - so they get scrunched up in the other sleeve.

annagybe

(website)

Veteran

I don't like 3/4 sleeve, so I'm right there with you.

lynn

Veteran

Elisabeth, where do you live that is mostly spring or fall weather? I want to move there!!

Aziraphale

Veteran

Vancouver, Canada.

You have to put up with a lot of gray skies, though.

Lisa

Veteran

Oddly enough I like 3/4 length sleeves, they way I sit at the computer, my elbows rub against the desk. With a 3/4 sleeve, my elbows are covered and it keeps them from getting rubbed raw. When I have short sleeves on I have to put a notepad where my elbows sit to protect them! Since I like to layer a lot, 3/4 sleeves work in the winter for me, because I usually have a blazer over them anyway. If I favored one layer, I'd prefer long sleeves.

Jonesy

Veteran

I wear lots of 3/4 sleeves throughout all the seasons. I figure it's about 70 degrees inside no matter the season, so I dress with that in mind. It does get cold in our house at night during the winter, but at that point in the day I have on loungewear layers :).

Queen Mum

Veteran

Perhaps part of the difference is that I spend my days at home, or out running about, rather than in a temperature controlled office. I just couldn't imagine spending my summer in sleeves of any type.... I would feel suffocated. And come winter when I don't want to run my heater all day, I like to have my arms covered warmly. I would probably feel much differently if I were working in an office.

MsMary

Veteran

That's funny, because 3/4 sleeves are my faves largely because long sleeves are almost guaranteed to be too long on me!

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

QM, I understand why you feel that way. When I lived in a climate with more of a hot summer I would have agreed with you. Here most of the year is spring/fall type weather, so 3/4 sleeves are really handy. I don't wear them in the summer, though, even on the cooler days where I could. I like having some summer-only clothes, and I don't spend most of my time in climate control either, so when it's hot I want to be comfortable.

I find 3/4 sleeves a mixed blessing - it's nice not to have to worry about hems but I think that's one of the reasons manufacturers make so many 3/4 sleeve blouses now, so they're not too short or too long on anyone, and it gets a little boring. Being tall I do have that "do I look like my sleeves are just too short" question sometimes; the same reason I don't like wearing cropped ankle-length pants.

renae

I'm the opposite of MaryK. I love 3/4 sleeves because long sleeves are almost guaranteed to be to short for me. I usually need sleeves all year long because I am cold in the winter and cold in the air conditioning in the summer. For some reason, though, as long as the sleeves are to my elbows, I am okay.

Mamapicklejuice

Veteran

I totally hear you, QM, I feel the same way! Three-quarter length sleeves drive me batty.

anne

Veteran

Kim - I'm with you and MPJ. And I particularly dislike how they feel under other layers as well (I like how they LOOK though)

Freckles

Veteran

I love 3/4 sleeves but use them more in the winter. My climate is either frigid or sweltering but in long sleeves at home and about I usually scrunch them up. Funnily enough it is not that part of my arm that usually gets cold. I tend to keep feet, back and neck/shoulders toasty if I'm cold. I also find in winter I always have at least two layers on so if I'm about the house the top layer is off and on. They're great when you're scrubbing the tub, washing the floor, doing the dishes, doing art, etc.

modgrl

(website)

Veteran

I love 3/4 sleeves year round. I tend to push them up to just below my elbow to make the looks even more casual. I think it is a flattering and lengthening look for me.

Dashrashi

Veteran

I'm also a 3/4-length devotee. For the most part, long sleeves actually drive me nuts. I push everything long-sleeved up to 3/4 length on my forearms. For one, I like my wrists/lower forearms and think they're pretty, and more importantly, having my wrists and forearms covered makes me SO OVERHEATED. (I really do sweat more in a long-sleeved shirt.) If a shirt has long sleeves that can't easily be cuffed or scrunched up, I have to think long and hard about buying it.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

QM, I have the same issue. Where I live it seems the transitional seasons are all too short. I get a lot of wear out of my hot-weather clothes and cold-weather clothes, but in-between items are tougher to get much wear out of. It's a bummer, because I'm really not a fan of either temperature extreme.

And here we are, entering another week of 90-something degree days and nights that don't cool off... YUCK.

Anonymous

I love 3/4 length sleeves, but I'm always cold so I prefer them in the summer to short sleeves or sleeveless!

Kyrania

Interesting...! I never really thought about it but I don't have many 3/4 length sleeve anything! I do have a few and thanks for reminding me! ^_~

I wear mostly long sleeves, even in the summer but I also have a lot of short sleeves. I usually layer a light lace top with long sleeves under the short sleeve pieces. I did recently purchase a 3/4 length sleeve top (did I say that right o_O) and although I like it, it feels strange.

It's funny because I also push the sleeves up...hmmm....more to think about!

Carole

Veteran

I love 3/4 sleeves as long sleeves are usually to short ( I think I was pulled out by my arms and legs when I was born). Also, I live in the damp and never sunny or warm Pacific NW and can wear 3/4 sleeves almost year round or a good 9 months of the year.

renae

LOL, Carole. "pulled out by my arms and legs when I was born". Me too, me too! by the arms, anyway.

Charmian

Veteran

I live in Seattle, so 3/4 sleeves works beautifully for my climate. But I totally agree, if I lived in an area that had a "proper summer" (or so the out-of-towners call it), I would boil! Clothing was invented so we could deal with seasons, and it still comes first when it comes to what we can wear!

I used to hate the look of 3/4 sleeves (looked wishy-washy to me), but I tried them on one day and feel in love with my forearms :). So count me in for Team 3/4 Sleeves