Sleeveless dressing for all: yay or nay

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Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

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Sleeveless dressing for all: yay or nay

— by Angie

on August 14, 2009

I’m going with yay: everyone can look good in sleeveless items of clothing. I don’t think you need to have slim, toned arms, or young firm skin to pull off a sleeveless garment. Plus sized actresses like Queen Latifah and Jennifer Hudson look stunning in sleeveless garments, as do woman over the age of 60 like Helen Mirren, Catherine Deneuve and Vera Wang.

Sleeveless items come in many styles so it’s a question of choosing wisely. The style you choose need not be strappy, sloppy or overly revealing. If you’re shy about showing the top parts of your arms, opt for silhouettes in sturdy, better-end fabrics with good underarm coverage, a fuller shoulder line and a modest neckline. Paying attention to these details makes all the difference.

I’m not saying that you must wear sleeveless garments. If you’re more comfortable covering your arms then that’s fine too. But on the off chance that you had your doubts, I hope you feel encouraged. Baring your arms is an ideal way to beat the heat.

39 comments · Add a comment

Mac

oooh. I’ve always been shy about my upper arms. When I was younger, it was the fact that I had pretty distinct “farmer tan” (lots of freckles on my forearms and milky white upper arms) that looked odd to my eyes. Now, I feel as though my upper arms look too meaty and untoned to be shown. But, I suspect as an 80 year-old woman I’ll look back of photos of myself at this age and wonder why I was so self-conscious. Maybe it’s time to give sleeveless dressing a try…

August 14, 2009 at 2:44 am

RebeccaD

Thank you for writing on this topic. I thought for sure you were going to come up on the Nay side but was thrilled to see that the opposite was true. I’m 51 and I say ‘the heck with it’ – I am going to go sleeveless if I like.

August 14, 2009 at 2:52 am

Wendy

(website)

Almost yay! I’m all about sleeveless myself, but I do have some significantly heavier friends who will not go sleeveless in public, and I do understand their hesitancy.

August 14, 2009 at 4:24 am

Debora

Thanks, Angie, it’s a yay for me! At age 54, my arms are definitely not as toned as they were when I was younger but I refuse to give up my sleeveless tops. I am now sporting the jcrew ruffled top in ivory that you blogged about recently. The ivory was the only color left in my size otherwise I would have picked up a few more in other colors. I’m staying cool!

August 14, 2009 at 5:52 am

Alecia

It’s funny. I’m actually quite proud of my arms. Now that I’ve unlocked their ability to lift very heavy things, they are firm, toned, and fairly shapely. Mostly I’m in awe of what they can really do. But I tend to shy away from sleeveless looks. I think it could be because it seems harder to get a nice layered look in something sleeveless. Help me rethink this, ladies!

August 14, 2009 at 5:59 am

Eternal*Voyageur @ Venusian*Glow

(website)

My upper arms are one of my assets, so I’ve never hesitated to wear sleeveless stuff.
Anyway, kudos to encouraging ladies to wear this fantastic style !

August 14, 2009 at 6:15 am

Danja

(website)

I love wearing sleeveless blouses and dresses, the only thing I have to keep in mind is to stay away from the sun when wearing those or bring a cover. In fact today I am wearing an Angie knock-off: white jeans, navy-blue sleeveless dress and tiny heel ballet flats.

August 14, 2009 at 6:22 am

Lisa

I was shopping the other day trying to find a shirt that would cover my heavier arms but still be cool and comfortable when I heard a young woman with an absolutely perfect body telling her friend she hated her upper arms and needed something to cover them.

I looked at my arms again and bought a sleeveless shirt.

August 14, 2009 at 6:24 am

Joelle

I like sleeveless tops and dresses. Although sometimes it can be a challenge finding items with armholes that are not cut too big. Having your bra show through your armholes is very untidy-looking.

August 14, 2009 at 6:37 am

Marianna

I’m all for sleeveless dressing and I don’t have toned arms (or small arms) by any means. Cap sleeves really don’t cover all that much anyway, just create a strange focal point. I’m chubby and wear sleeveless tops confidently!

August 14, 2009 at 6:55 am

Michelle

This is music to my ears! I’m self-conscious about my whole body, arms included, but tend to go sleeveless on occasion anyway in an attempt to conquer my confidence issues through defiance! Some of the comments from the ladies have helped with the sleeveless question, too. One great piece of advice I got was to detract attention from areas of your body you’re not so keen to flaunt and shift the focus to an attribute you’re proud of. In my case, I like wearing sleeveless dresses that show off my waist.

Alecia, that’s interesting about layering… sleeveless pieces are my favourite items to layer with!

August 14, 2009 at 6:56 am

Bitsy

(website)

I don’t wear sleeveless but it’s not because of my arms… it’s because of that fat spot between my arm and my breast. (If my arms are pressed into my side, it looks like I have an extra breast between my chest and each arm!) I don’t know what it’s called, but I hate it.

As a result, I almost always wear sleeves because most sleeveless shirts seem to emphasize that spot for me.

August 14, 2009 at 6:57 am

Chris

Just have to remember to lift the arm and check that side view – so many sleeveless garments are cut low and show off the bra (not the cute strap – the mechanics of the bra side aren’t cute). I like this!

August 14, 2009 at 7:35 am

shiny

Bitsy describes the primary reason I used to steer clear of sleeveless: the undearm flabby bit, not necessarily my arms (which aren’t slim and toned, but nobody’s going to run away screaming in horror). The issue for me is that I am petite, and not only petite, but I’m shortest from shoulder to bra band. This is also where I gain weight first.

However, with patience and persistence, I can find sleeveless tops that fit well. It helps to stick to petite tops!

Also, do get a bra fitting – often it’s the bra. If it fits wrong, it will create this bulge. This is my pet peeve with bras! I’d estimate about 8 out of 10 bras will do this to me.

August 14, 2009 at 7:54 am

Bethany

Definite yay! I’ve always adored sleeveless styles.

Re: your last sentence – I had to laugh. You mean “baring your arms”. Bearing (with an E) arms is owning/carrying firearms – a.k.a. the second amendment! I support the right to bear arms AND the right to bare arms. ;o)

August 14, 2009 at 8:03 am

Steffie

Yay! I think half the reason I work so hard in the gym is to develop nice arms– I live in sleeveless tops. Thanks for a great post.

August 14, 2009 at 8:35 am

Sal

(website)

Definitely YAY. And your tips for wearing sleeveless if you’re concerned about exposure are spot on.

August 14, 2009 at 8:52 am

Kim from Nebraska

I bought a sleeveless shirt dress this summer, first time for sleeveless in forever. I loved the dress, so even though I’m somewhat self-conscious of my arms i got it. However, I do cover up with a jacket because I’m always way too cold. My office, restaurants, theaters, everywhere, too cold for me. I can always take the jacket off when I walk outside, but it goes right back on once I’m inside.

And while I think sleeveless can be OK for “any size”, the “plus size” women Angie mentioned are not the 400-pounders I see here. They tend, sadly, to wear tank tops and knit shorts that ride up the front, which is hideous at any size.

August 14, 2009 at 9:27 am

Lesa

(website)

This was a good topic today. I am about 30 pounds over weight and i Am very self conscious about my arms. However i broke out a brand new cobalt blue shirt (the color was too beautiful to pass up. I tried to wear it with aplomb…..it worked,,,,some ot the time.

August 14, 2009 at 10:01 am

Sabrina

I have a proportions problem that make sleeveless dressing a “sometimes” for me. I am a “slender pear” (longer torso, very skinny on top, with regular length legs with more muscles- think Keira Knightly or Rachel McAdams), and often look very bad in sleeveless tops. I have pointy shoulders and very prominent collarbones, with very skinny (although not super toned) upper arms.. I have to wear some coverage on top balance off my legs, which I prefer to show off more. In fact, on a hot day, I wore something sleeveless, and my coworkers and friends kept asking if I’d lost weight or if I were sick. It’s a difficult terrain for women of all sizes, I’m afraid. (Thank goodness for this season’s summerweight boyfriend cardigans).

August 14, 2009 at 10:09 am

Shana

Nope, sorry Angie, I am not convinced. Like Shiny, I am also short from shoulder to bra band and as an inverted triangle, I tend to gain weight and bulk up in this area first. It’s not even that my arms are that flabby – they are quite muscular when I am hitting the gym regularly but I have a wide back & really look look a body builder in sleeveless so I always cover my arms. I think the issue might also be the fact that if you’re covering your arms, you don’t want your neckline to be too low and show too much skin but if you have a big bust, you don’t really want a high neckline either. Maybe I’ve just never found the right sleeveless top??? If we ever meet in person, you can prove me wrong!

August 14, 2009 at 10:16 am

K Lauren

I’m with the Naysayers – also a woman of a “certain” age, with the age spots to prove it! While our first lady looks downright amazing in sleeveless, for me, a little camouflage goes a long way to making sans sleeves a little more able. A filmy top, a shrug, even a outsized wrap will be covering the spotty, flabby, jiggly bits.

August 14, 2009 at 10:25 am

Loulou

I never wore sleeveless tops or dresses till recently when the heatwave up here in BC drove me near to nuts! Now I’m much less conscious of my untoned arms than before. One thing to bear in mind though is the armpits must look presentable too I spent a small fortune on laser hair removal and ‘whitening’ products for that reason.

August 14, 2009 at 10:46 am

mamark

No way. I don’t want to see most men in sleeveless tops, and I don’t want to see most women, either. Myself included.

August 14, 2009 at 11:13 am

Laura

(website)

I agree with you, Angie, and with Marianna – I think awkwardly cut cap sleeve tops draw more attention to a perhaps heavier upper arm than sleeveless tops do. There are just some times where it’s too hot not to go sleeveless.

August 14, 2009 at 11:19 am

Maya

Sleeveless tops are just easier to find for some people than for others. I don’t care for them much, but my mom likes them. She is 58 and her arms are not slim and toned, but she wears them exclusively in the summer. I’m 25 and I have the arms but I find it so hard to find tops that won’t show the bra band or slip off my shoulders. I also feel colder when my shoulder is exposed in an air-conditioned space for some reason.

I saw what Shiny and Shana were describing on the train yesterday and it was not a pretty sight. Perhaps it has to do with an ill-fitting bra?

August 14, 2009 at 11:20 am

All Women Stalker

(website)

Yay, definitely. I live in a tropical country and they’re definite life-savers.

August 14, 2009 at 11:31 am

All Women Stalker

(website)

Yay, definitely. I live in a tropical country and they’re definite life-savers.

-meream

August 14, 2009 at 11:31 am

Sarah

I actually find that sleeveless tops minimize my bust, more so than cap or short sleeve tops. I love sleeveless dresses especially. I have fairly toned arms, but they aren’t willowy, white, and feminine. Meh.

August 14, 2009 at 11:40 am

Taylor

(website)

I love high neck sleeveless tops and dresses, they work very well for me.

I agree with you Angie , I think all women of all sizes and ages can wear them. We all have arms…like faces, some arms are older than others and show some wear…everyone knows that anyone beyond a certain age will not have perfect arms…it’s ok in my book

August 14, 2009 at 12:08 pm

Amy

I will only wear sleeveless when I’m at home so I don’t have to worry about my bra straps hanging out or the arm hole being cut too big. Not to mention that most of my other summer tops are short sleeves, so you can always see a faint tan line. That always makes the arms look wider than they really are.

And I’m with Maya, I get too cold too easily. I need the tops of my arms covered. And, really, aside from this summer, it never gets that hot in Seattle, so I see sleeveless tops as waste of money. If I’m going to layer with a cardigan, I’d rather have short sleeves underneath in case the a/c is just a bit too chilly.

August 14, 2009 at 12:57 pm

Rosie

I read the part of Kendall Farr’s book that says for older women to skip sleeveless. So I tried it for a while. I live in a part of the country where it sometimes gets hot and sleeveless is the only smart way to dress. So I disagree with her, and agree with Angie.

I have worked on my arms though, I swim several times a week and have a small weight I use. It doesn’t take much to make arms look better, ladies, really. And although Angie isn’t a fan of sunless tans, they work to even out that farmer look.

August 14, 2009 at 3:53 pm

desmo

I just can’t do it. I am overweight with pretty big arms but that’s not fully the problem because I’ve seen women with arms as big or even bigger than mine looking great. I think it’s the color of my skin, I’m naturally very pale but I do have a slight olive cast so that even with sunscreen my arms always have a slight tan. I’m still pale but there is a noticeable difference. I feel like it puts a spotlight right on the biggest part of my arm and nothing looks good if you aren’t confident.

August 14, 2009 at 6:01 pm

Lyn67

Previously (life before Angie’s blog:-)) I never thought i can wear sleveless things as well. I think I am a busty hourglass (size US12), and have a sort of broad shoulders, meaty and not really toned upper arms and have ever worn sleeves when possible, before.

BUT then I tried and saw clearly the sleeveless tops can look good on me, too.
I now definetely think, I can wear my sleeveless LBD with grace(thanks Angie).
A short sleeved top is covering my upper arms, but can broaden further my back and shoulders, and somehow can make a bigger bust, too.

If carefully choosen (wide enough strap, which cover maximum of the shoulder (and not showing the bra is also very important) can make the difference.

When wearring a sleeveles thing it also feels better to me having a higher neckline on the front, a bit more coverage on the bust, so the amount of skin exposed will stay the same as with sleeves and a V neck, for example..

August 14, 2009 at 11:46 pm

Joy

Thank you for this post, Angie. I don’t want to show my arms (combination of loose skin and scarring/old brusing from dog attack) but it’s often just too hot here. I hadn’t thought about the details of the sleeveless garment before, but what you say makes sense. I have problems finding garments, with sleeves or not, that come up high enough under the arm. I guess it’s a matter of finding the right top and not worrying about the rest.

August 15, 2009 at 3:39 pm

aurora

My arms are not the best looking, but when it is hot out i really don’t care anymore. there is always someone who you thinks looks worse than you and if you are that person to them so be it, you will never know.
This summer i had to layer a few tanks under other tanks because they showed more than i wanted.

August 17, 2009 at 9:41 am

Sleeveless business casual: yay or nay

(website)

[…] Sleeveless tops, shirts, blouses and dresses come in many styles. Even if you’re shy about revealing the top parts of your arms and the area under the arm, some of these styles will work for you. Sleeveless doesn’t necessarily mean strappy, sloppy and overly revealing. Instead of skimpy styles, opt for silhouettes in sturdy fabrics with good underarm coverage, a fuller shoulder line and a modest neckline. That’s what I call “covered-sleeveless” dressing. By paying attention to the details, anyone can go sleeveless. […]

June 23, 2010 at 7:22 am

Polly

Every sleeveless item I find is flimsy with a gigantic armhole. Aside from sewing vintage patterns ( which fit SO Nicely around the arm) — where can a person find nicely made sleeveless garments?

June 23, 2010 at 1:36 pm

GoddessMel

Active Member

I have often used the ‘bingo wings’ excuse to not wear sleeveless items without a cardigan over or a shirt under; I am also uncomfortable about going sleeveless in the office. However I recently found that compared toa cap sleeve – which so many of the dress I love seem to have – a sleeveless option is far more flattering on those of us with less-than-toned upper arms. So while I’m still getting used to the look – and continuing to work on getting some tone – I am thinking that a classic sleeveless shift is going to be one of my new go-to wardrobe items. I can still throw a light cardi on top or a crisp shirt under to feel office appropriate but will no longer assess these items with a view to automatically covering up. Thanks for the encouragement Angie

August 8, 2013 at 4:41 pm

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