Team Sleeveless or Team Cap Sleeves

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

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Team Sleeveless or Team Cap Sleeves

— by Angie

on February 9, 2011

I think we are all clear on sleeveless garments: they showcase the entire arm and often part of the shoulder. Cap sleeved garments have a small sleeve that “caps” the top part of the arm. Cap sleeves are shorter than a short sleeve, but offer more coverage than a sleeveless garment.

I own one cap sleeve garment and it’s one of my favourite dresses because I adore the pattern. I even considered having the dress altered into a sleeveless style at one point but decided that I could live with the caps. On the other hand, I have lots of sleeveless blouses and dresses because I like to showcase my entire arm and shoulder. I also prefer layering over and under a sleeveless dress because the lines of the outfit look cleaner to my eye. At the end of the day, I feel fab in sleeveless and not as fab in cap sleeves. I am Team Sleeveless.

Over to you. Are you Team Sleeveless or Team Cap Sleeves? Tell us why and you can only pick one side.

Team X Team Y

64 comments · Add a comment

LoP

Veteran

Team sleeveless all the way. I feel restricted in cap sleeves more so than short sleeves.

February 9, 2011 at 2:41 pm

Cynthia

(website)

Cap sleeves, even if they’re teeny. Just ever so much more flattering on my body shape. I have really wide shoulders, and somehow sleeveless tops and tanks make them look wider (with a few exceptions) while cap sleeves seem more flattering.

February 9, 2011 at 2:42 pm

Diana

Veteran

I am team cap sleeves. Interestingly, my reasoning is exactly the opposite of Cynthia’s. I think that cap sleeves visually widen my narrower, sloping shoulders and help balance out my pear-shapedness. This is also why I like little puffy cap sleeves, even though a lot of people seem to hate them.

February 9, 2011 at 2:45 pm

yoonbug

Member

Team Sleeveless!

February 9, 2011 at 2:46 pm

Heather

Veteran

Team Sleeveless for sure. I have broad shoulders and muscular arms. Cap sleeves sadly are not my friend.

February 9, 2011 at 2:48 pm

Polly (thunalata)

Veteran

Team sleeveless. I used to be team cap sleeves, but realised that the things I have felt fab in in the past have been either elbow length or sleeveless. Cap sleeve to me now looks neither one thing nor the other and I feel it has nothing specifically to recommend itself to me. But they’re everywhere…

February 9, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Michelle

(website)

Veteran

Ylf can claim 100 per cent credit for my conversion to team sleeveless. Angie’s posts on the subject, plus all her fabulous layering tips, showed me the light when it comes to the versatility of garments that don’t have that extra bit hanging off the shoulders. At the end of the day I prefer a little arm coverage, but the cap sleeve is usually so negligible that it doesn’t really provide any, and if anything has a tendency to pull awkwardly and distort the overall fit. Teem sleeveless all the way.

February 9, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Steph

Veteran

Definitely Team Sleeveless. Cap sleeves hit me at a very unflattering part of my upper arm. I had a friend who once worked for Gap Inc. (at their headquarters, in the fashion section, not at a store) and she once told me that the designers and executives would say that cap sleeves “are not democratic.” In other words, they don’t flatter many people.

February 9, 2011 at 3:13 pm

Maggiethecat

Another wide-shouldered, toned-armed gal batting for sleeveless here. I do have one or two cap sleeves, and I wear them, but I’m much happier sleeveless. Also, over time I’ve learned to love and be proud of my strong arms, rather than feel ashamed that I could not have slim willowy ballerina ones, and now I want to show them off in their entirety.

February 9, 2011 at 3:19 pm

Queen Mum

Veteran

without batting an eye, team sleeveless. I don’t wear cap sleeves well at all. They add visual weight to my bustline. Sleeveless leaves me feeling much more sleek and slender.

February 9, 2011 at 3:30 pm

taylor

Veteran

Team sleeveless also. I like to show my shoulders and arms…they are still in pretty good shape, so I will show them while I am comfortable doing so:)

February 9, 2011 at 3:31 pm

Beth

Veteran

Team Sleeveless, please:)

February 9, 2011 at 3:38 pm

Antje

Veteran

Team sleeveless all the way.

One of the very first things I learned from you is that sleeveless cuts are soo much more flattering on most women (unless you have super lean arms) – it certainly is true for me and I am very happy to have realized that. I now very rarely wear cap sleeves, almost never, and usually don’t even try on anything cap sleeved – saves time shopping, too…

February 9, 2011 at 3:42 pm

Refugee

Veteran

Team sleeveless. My shoulders are broad and my arms fairly muscular. Cap sleeves often feel restrictive on me and I always feel like I’m fussing with them. They always seem to hit me at exactly the wrong spot in the wrong way.

February 9, 2011 at 3:43 pm

catgirl

Veteran

Team Sleeveless all the way! I look terrible in cap sleeves with my broad shoulders and climber’s arms. And cap sleeves feel too fussy to me.

February 9, 2011 at 3:48 pm

Meg

Sleeveless. Cap sleeves make my arms look even larger. I’d rather go sleeveless as that doesn’t draw attention to my arms as much, but I really prefer longer sleeves that provide a bit more camouflage. But as hot as it is where I am, there’s another benefit to sleeveless tops/dresses that I do appreciate.

February 9, 2011 at 3:52 pm

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Team Sleeveless!
I don’t think cap sleeves are very flattering in general, they add extra warmth (which I don’t need in my desert climate), and they can be uncomfortable when worn with layers over.

February 9, 2011 at 4:07 pm

Mac

Veteran

Neither. I LOATHE my upper arms…

February 9, 2011 at 4:42 pm

Aida

Veteran

Absolutely Team Sleeveless, though I have a handful of capped sleeve tops.

February 9, 2011 at 4:43 pm

puffenstuff

(website)

Veteran

Team Sleeveless too! Agreeing with Kim’s statement about cap sleeves adding visual bulk to the bust line, not good for me!

February 9, 2011 at 4:45 pm

jwomack

Active Member

Without any hesitation, team sleeveless. I walk by any item that has cap sleeves — no matter how cute it may be. Cap sleeves hit my arm at the worst spot and make them look larger. I booted them from my wardrobe a while back.

February 9, 2011 at 4:59 pm

(website)

Veteran

Team cap sleeves for me. I like the versatility of sleeveless, but cap sleeves are more flattering on my generally scrawny limbs.

February 9, 2011 at 5:08 pm

Maya

Veteran

Cap sleeves all the way. Sorry Team Sleeveless. I must be in that .0001% of the population that looks much better in them, democracy be damned.

I can’t stand sleeveless. Sleeveless items are always cut for huge arms and long bodies, exposing not only my bra band but also frequently the cups and straps. Even in petites. I like the idea of sleeveless in theory. It’s nice and cool in the summer, but they just never fit me right. It cost me $100 last year to get 2 sleeveless dresses altered, so it’s just not something I can maintain.

I also have very narrow and sloping shoulders. I love flutter sleeves and cap sleeves that give me a bit of width where I need it. If I don’t have sleeves, my bust comes out further than my shoulders, which I hate. But a sleeve balances things out.

February 9, 2011 at 5:18 pm

Kira

Active Member

Can we be team sleeves? I own a lot of cap sleeve things because I have to keep my shoulders covered (if it’s sleeveless I have to pop something over it before I go out in the sun), but they aren’t that flattering. I like them only because it gets hot in California and cap sleeves are a cooler option if you must wear some type of sleeve. Also, it may balance my pear shape a bit. I’m sure I’ll change sides when I get older.

February 9, 2011 at 5:18 pm

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

Definitely team sleeveless. I think cap sleeves make my arms look much, much bigger than they are.

February 9, 2011 at 5:24 pm

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

I prefer the look of sleeveless, but won’t shun a top that I love (which rarely hapens anyway) if it has cap sleeves.

Having said that, for practicalities sake, in summer I actually prefer tops/dresses with sleeves (cap or not) to sleeveless as less need for sunscreen and less chance of sunburn.

Maybe I’m a fence-sitter!!

February 9, 2011 at 5:41 pm

yublocka

(website)

Veteran

Wow I’ve just read all the other responses….lots of cap haters. Am I right in my definition of cap sleeves….something like this?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/yublocka/4428583514/

February 9, 2011 at 5:52 pm

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I didn’t think that Team Sleeveless would be so strong. Quite a few opposing views too. Some wear cap sleeves to soften a strong shoulder line, whereas others wear cap sleeves to add shoulder width. Very interesting!

February 9, 2011 at 5:53 pm

Marie

@yublocka, that’s what I’m picturing, give or take a little length.

Cap sleeves all the way for me. I’m with Cynthia – I have broad shoulders and somehow I feel cap sleeves are more flattering, even if they’re extremely short. I also feel like it’s hard to wear casual (knit, I guess) sleeveless shirts without it looking athletic – fine but not what I’m usually going for.

February 9, 2011 at 6:00 pm

Alison

I’m definitely Team Sleeveless because my limbs are a bit short and I don’t like breaking up the length of my arm with a sleeve unless it’s below the elbow!

February 9, 2011 at 7:01 pm

ohhaylsno

Active Member

Sleeveless. Even though I have broad shoulders and cap sleeves would probably be more flattering, I feel weird wearing cap sleeves because my armpits feel awkwardly exposed, haha.

February 9, 2011 at 7:04 pm

ohhaylsno

Active Member

Whoops didn’t finish. Even though sleeveless exposes that same part, cap sleeves FEEL like short sleeves and should therefore cover my armpits, whereas sleeveless things are fine because they feel sleeveless and it doesn’t feel weird if my pits are exposed. If that makes sense.

February 9, 2011 at 7:06 pm

Kyle

Cap sleeves do not flatter my arms. Team sleeveless. Though I work out and have muscle I would feel better if everything was a bit tighter. I think my sleeveless days are numbered.

February 9, 2011 at 7:08 pm

Debora

Veteran

Team Sleeveless for me. I would also bat for Team 3/4 length Sleeves if I had a choice.

February 9, 2011 at 7:29 pm

synchronia

Active Member

Team Cap Sleeves. Like Diana, I think they broaden my shoulders in a way that balances out my figure better than sleeveless.

February 9, 2011 at 7:49 pm

Anchi

(website)

Active Member

Team cap sleeves all the way! It’s one of my all-time favorite sleeve lengths! I love the early ’80s vibe they convey. ^_^

For some odd reason I’ve never felt all that comfortable in sleeveless, although I do wear it on occasion, especially for eveningwear.

But I totally prefer cap sleeves.

February 9, 2011 at 8:30 pm

Lena

Active Member

I’m team Sleeveless. I really like my shoulders and arms (plus they are easier to get in shape than my legs, heh). However I also like straight shaped sleeves that hug the upper arm and reach halfway or more to the elbow.

Cap sleeves would probably balance my pear shape, but I really don’t care for the shape and restricted feel. They keep creeping up or end up looking uneven. I compromised on them once because the rest of the blouse was irresistible.

February 9, 2011 at 10:27 pm

CocoLion

(website)

Veteran

For whatever reason I have this notion that my arms look more feminine in cap sleeves while they look like sausages in sleeveless. But I have no idea if this is real or an ancient notion of mine. I know I am more self-conscious of my upper arms now that I passed 50! And somehow I’m thinking that the cap sleeves cover a bit more, and also broaden my shoulders.

February 9, 2011 at 10:48 pm

Marley

Veteran

This is a no-brainer for me – Team Sleeveless 100%. I am just more comfortable in sleeveless clothes and even though menopause has definitely attacked my arms and added some flabbiness to them, I still think that I can pull off a sleeveless look! Also, cap sleeves just look silly on me – sort of like Una’s “girl in drag” description. I really don’t feel like myself in cap sleeves.

February 9, 2011 at 11:22 pm

April

Veteran

I wear both but I’m with Maya — the armholes on sleeveless tops are always enormous, gaping openings. Team Cap Sleeves, please.

February 10, 2011 at 3:34 am

Joy

Veteran

Team Sleeveless because I feel cooler in hot weather with my shoulders exposed and because another layer is put over any top that doesn’t cover my upper arms until I get to warm wearing it. My shoulders are straight (not sloping) and my widest part. Cap sleeves add visual width that just accentuates that and not in a good way. My sister has narrow sloping shoulders and looks better in a cap sleeve.

February 10, 2011 at 6:02 am

BrieCS

(website)

Definitely team sleeveless, or even better, team elbow-length sleeves or proper-t-shirt-length sleeves (by this I mean the actual halfway between shoulder and elbow).

I actually so deeply loathe cap sleeves that I have written short diatribes. I legitimately don’t like them on any body type.

February 10, 2011 at 7:06 am

Barbara

Veteran

Team sleeveless.

I am very proud of my toned arms and shoulders! Cap sleeves make my already somewhat broad shoulders look ridiculous.

February 10, 2011 at 7:19 am

Sihaya

Veteran

Totally sleeveless. Cap sleeves are so not flattering on me.

February 10, 2011 at 7:24 am

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Team sleeveless, my arms can sometimes look distorted by my bustline when wearing cap sleeves.

February 10, 2011 at 7:39 am

jerseyjan

Active Member

Team sleeveless, because I sometimes feel like a little girl wearing cap or puffy sleeves.

February 10, 2011 at 7:50 am

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

Please, please, please give me sleeves!

I loathe sleeveless on me and cap sleeves aren’t much better.

February 10, 2011 at 8:05 am

cloud9

Veteran

Team sleeves.. unfortunately I don’t have skinny or toned arms. Not my best feature so I’d prefer a small sleeve. Also, I just don’t care about showing armpits. Even with cap sleeves, sometimes the arm hole is cut so low, I don’t like those either.

February 10, 2011 at 8:12 am

Nichole@40daysof

(website)

Team: please God, make my arms better or have some darn sleeves come back in style!!!

Personal trainer starts next week…

February 10, 2011 at 9:03 am

Monique

Oh boy, reading these comments is beginning to make me wonder if I am making a big mistake in my choice of being on Team Sleeves. My reason for choosing sleeves has always been that I have a very small ribcage and bust, but broad shoulders and (now) heavier arms. I’ve gained some weight over the last few years and I think my arms look like sausages when I’m sleeveless. When it comes to the actual sleeves, if the cap isn’t coming down far enough over the deltoid area, it’s not long enough and seems to enhance the sausage-effect! I prefer three quarter length or at least longer sleeves that come closer to the elbow for this reason.

I feel compelled to go back to the closet and see if I have any sleeveless items to compare. But… I think I’m staying on Team Sleeves. Exposed arms make me feel very cold (I live in Canada, after all), and I’d rather be warm than fashionable in this instance!

February 10, 2011 at 9:25 am

Deb

Active Member

Team Sleeveless!

Cap sleeves just irritate me – on a couple of levels. They’re neither fish nor fowl, so they often appear to be reeeeeeally skimpy short sleeves. In addition, those that I’ve worn tended to chafe under my arms, riding up in their attempts to join Team Sleeveless.

February 10, 2011 at 11:29 am

Inge

I’ve seen lots of cap sleeved tops that I really like, and a number of structured cap sleeved dresses that were divine, but unfortunately this look isn’t so flattering on me, so Team Sleeveless Tops all the way!

February 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm

slythwolf

(website)

Team Cap Sleeve here. It’s just easier. I never have to worry that this bra will be outside the strap, and my work has a rule in the dress code about not wearing sleeveless things so it’s just easier to buy everything with at least a cap.

February 10, 2011 at 12:56 pm

Dusty

(website)

Active Member

Just to clarify – I don’t think that those of us saying that we prefer sleeveless to cap sleeves are saying we prefer sleeveless to sleeves in general. I like long sleeves, 3/4 length sleeves, half length sleeves and I guess you’d call them 1/4 length, I just don’t like the cap (or flutter for that matter, really). I forgot about the shoulder widening effects, but that’s definitely a factor, my shoulders are plenty wide on their own.

February 10, 2011 at 1:57 pm

Cecilia

For many years I only wore sleeveless garments in the summer, as I hate the “farmer’s tan” tan lines… but as I gained weight, I now feel very uncomfortable showcasing my “sausages” in sleeveless styles, so it’s cap sleeves for me…

February 10, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Bianca

Veteran

Sitting on the bench!

February 10, 2011 at 7:49 pm

Ljubica

Active Member

Sleeveless, as a pear, I have fit upper body.

February 11, 2011 at 2:10 pm

Kim from Nebraska

I am team neither. I know the choice is cap or sleeveless, but I hate both on me. I wish “short sleeves” actually went down to the elbow (it’s why I often wear men’s or unisex t-shirts). Prefer long sleeves because in winter (our dominant season) I’m always cold, and in summer, because everything here is way way way over airconditioned, I’m again, always cold. My arms are not hideous, but why expose others to them? Sleeves.

February 11, 2011 at 5:26 pm

Scarlet

Veteran

I think I can wear both pretty well but sometimes I prefer the little extra bit of coverage I get from cap sleeves. I think I am team cap.

February 12, 2011 at 4:33 am

Rachel

Team cap sleeve, for many of the reasons already named. I have slender shoulders and arms so I like the visual weight that they add. I also like things that are “cute” in a subtle way, so cap sleeves are perfect. I like sleeveless looks too, but since I can only pick one…

February 12, 2011 at 6:00 am

Kristine

Veteran

Cap sleeves all the way! I have fairly squared shoulders and slim arms so I find that cap sleeves are flattering. One of the most flattering sleeve cuts on me actually. I think it’s because it gives a gentle curve and transition from my shoulders to my arms. Something about a sleeveless top just doesn’t look right on me.

February 12, 2011 at 8:48 am

Patience

Veteran

Team sleeveless!

February 12, 2011 at 9:07 pm

Lisa

Veteran

I’m certainly team sleeves, so I’ll go with cap sleeves compared to sleeveless. I know it is easier to layer with sleeveless (no lumps) but then I feel I have to wash two garments and not just one. With sleeves I feel the top layer doesn’t get deodorant marks and need washing as quickly. Cap sleeves, I’m not really a fan, I like a longer sleeves than cap style.

February 13, 2011 at 7:00 pm

Lotus

Active Member

Sleeveless! at least, when no one can see my underarms. My shoulders are very broad, and cap sleeves seem to extend them horizontally. At least with sleeveless, with the right straps my shoulders can be minimized.

August 14, 2011 at 7:07 am

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