https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Sun, 26 Apr 2026 17:31:41 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-36175 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 02:07:36 +0000 Angie 36175@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Laura, Nicole and Ana put it well. The right dolman sleeve can look good on most body types. Loads of variables at play. By all means try one on if you take a fancy to a style. </p> <p>Personally, they do not work for me because I can’t comfortably fit them under a coat unless I wear a cape (and I’m not a cape kind of a gal). We are at the stage where we’re wearing coats and scarves every day, but if you live in a climate that’s warmer, this type of knitwear (sans the coat) is ideal. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-36162 Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:33:59 +0000 Inge 36162@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>The sweater Ana posted is very cute, indeed!</p> <p>I think dolman sweaters can look good provided they are fairly form-fitting except in the sleeve area. Or if that's not the case, adding a belt, like Ana suggested, might work too.</p> <p>Laura, I found a few dolman sleeved sweaters in thinner fabrics. Maybe there's something here that you like?</p> <p><a href="http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/saleevents/1121/womens/3aesabstudioanddaisycollections/abstudio/PRD~393395/AB+Studio+Dolman+Sweater.jsp?prtID=pfx&#038;src=k108283&#038;cm_mmc=Performics-_-Affiliate-_-ShopStyle.com-_-Primary#" rel="nofollow">http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStor....._-Primary#</a> </p> <p><a href="http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/3000045/0~2376776~2374327~2378057~2379676?mediumthumbnail=Y&#038;origin=category&#038;searchtype=&#038;pbo=2379676&#038;P=4" rel="nofollow">http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/30.....6&#038;P=4</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/product.jsp?categoryId=140&#038;subCategoryId=164&#038;productId=15460&#038;ref=ab_aff_pf_k108283&#038;source=pf" rel="nofollow">http://www.ardenb.com/catalog/.....;source=pf</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStore/saleevents/1121/womens/3aesabstudioanddaisycollections/abstudio/PRD~396518/AB+Studio+Lurex+Cowlneck+Sweater.jsp?prtID=pfx&#038;src=k108283&#038;cm_mmc=Performics-_-Affiliate-_-ShopStyle.com-_-Primary#" rel="nofollow">http://www.kohls.com/kohlsStor....._-Primary#</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.bluefly.com/Susana-Monaco-evergreen-merino-wool-turtleneck-sweater/cat20190/212824200/detail.fly?cm_mmc=CJ-_-1909792-_-2178999-_-Susana+Monaco+evergreen+merino+wool+turtleneck+sweater&#038;referer=cjunction_2178999_10436858_32572584" rel="nofollow">http://www.bluefly.com/Susana-.....8_32572584</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.armaniexchange.com/product/womens/sale+tops/belted+dolman+sleeve+tunic.do?asc=&#038;sortby=&#038;size=" rel="nofollow">http://www.armaniexchange.com/.....#038;size=</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.revolveclothing.com/DisplayProduct.jsp?product=RBEE-WS159&#038;c=Rebecca+Beeson&#038;s=B&#038;sc=Tops&#038;n=n&#038;source=shopstyle" rel="nofollow">http://www.revolveclothing.com.....=shopstyle</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/180-9565411-0413152?asin=B001DTOKXA&#038;AFID=Shopping&#038;LNM=B001DTOKXA" rel="nofollow">http://www.target.com/gp/detai.....B001DTOKXA</a>|Mossimo_Black_LongSleeve_Batwing_Dolman_Top_Purple&#38;ref=tgt_adv_XSC10001</p> <p><a href="http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-Textured-Stripe-Batwing-Cardigan/Prod/pgeproduct.aspx?iid=406483&#038;cid=2637&#038;clr=Black&#038;sh=0" rel="nofollow">http://www.asos.com/Asos/Asos-.....&#038;sh=0</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.nyandcompany.com/nyco/browse/product_detail_with_picker.jsp?productId=prod840132&#038;parentId=cat760004&#038;subcatId=cat760008&#038;cid=200001" rel="nofollow">http://www.nyandcompany.com/ny.....cid=200001</a></p> <p><a href="http://www.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=334089&#038;BannerID=PD428&#038;PartnerID=LINKSHARE&#038;LinkshareID=J84DHJLQkR4-33a2xGbcMbKPZPiVPRf6Bw" rel="nofollow">http://www.macys.com/catalog/p.....ZPiVPRf6Bw</a> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35965 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:24:12 +0000 Ana 35965@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>That's part of the reason I think the Express dolman sweater needs a waist belt--it helps give definition. It's very blousy though, even with a waist belt, so I think it does "flatten the chest" the way a very blousy belted top would flatten it. It takes attention off your chest and puts it on the sleeves, which are larger in comparison. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35958 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:53:02 +0000 Laura 35958@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>You know Tanya, I was noticing that the model in the sweater from Express looks completely flat-chested in the photo. I don't know if that is just the model herself, or if the sweater shape does flatten her chest. </p> <p>The last thing I need is a chest-flattening sweater!! That doesn't seem to bode well for me and dolman sleeves either. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35938 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:14:19 +0000 Tanya 35938@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hmm, I like dolman sleeves in general, but they have never good looked on me. My theory is that, because I have very small chest, the sheer volume of material swallows me up and completely flattens my chest. So I would expect them to work on someone chestier. Of course, I could be completely wrong... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35924 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:53:21 +0000 Anonymous 35924@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>With my hind sight is 20-20 vision, I'd say don't spend a lot of money on a doleman sleeve garment. I went through the doleman sleeve era in the 70's and now when I see the pictures I wonder what was I thinking. The doleman sleeve really does distort the female figure. It's cute and different for awhile but gets old fast.<br /> That's my Mom advice! HaHa! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35917 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 02:31:39 +0000 Laura 35917@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ooh, Ana, that sounds like a great sweater for you. Nicole has a nice idea that I might be on the lookout for - a dolman style in a fine knit. I am horrible at finding items online but maybe one of our really good online sleuths will see this and track some down!</p> <p>By the way, about belting the sweater, does anyone else have the problem with the belt constantly riding up higher than you'd like? I am not sure if this is because my waist isn't as defined as it used to be thanks to two pregnancies, or if it's universal. I have belted cardis recently and felt like all day long I was tugging at the belt. It drove me nuts! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35897 Fri, 21 Nov 2008 00:42:47 +0000 Ana 35897@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>So, I actually just got home from trying that sweater on at Express! :D</p> <p>I like the sweater. It runs big, so if you're interested in trying it, I'd go a size down. It really needs a waist belt, so Nicole might be onto something when she says you need a long waist. It's very blousy and exaggerated, but I think that adds to the funkiness factor, especially when you add a belt--it sort of pulls the look together and keeps it from being sloppy. With a waist belt, I think the sweater would work with a skirt or jeans, but I'd keep the bottoms streamlined--a pencil skirt or skinny/straight leg jeans would look best. I tried the cream color on with my red pencil skirt. The chunky knit of the sweater makes the sleeves a bit more stiff than if they were made out of merino or something. But they fluff out lower on the arm, near the elbow, so I don't think it made my shoulders look too big (and I have very broad shoulders). I didn't buy it this evening.......but now that I am typing about it, I think I might go get it because I just found a $10 off coupon. Heh. </p> <p>Anyway, I say give it a shot, if there is an Express near you, and see how you feel. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35890 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:41:41 +0000 Nicole 35890@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think Dolman Sleeves, like a lot of other trends, have a lot of variables that will affect how they look on each personal individually. For example, the sweater Ana and Laura posted is very exaggerated dolman sleeve. I'd think you'd need to be long waisted (or at least not short waisted) to wear it. Also the knit is pretty chunky, which adds to it's volume.</p> <p>A more gentle dolman in a drapier, thinner fabric would probably be more universally flattering.</p> <p>I would think that pears could benefit from the balancing effect an exaggerated dolman sleeve can offer. My inverted triangle shape can wear dolman sleeves so long as they are very minimal--with small arm openings. I have owned a few in the past that made my bust look small and my upper arms less pronounced. But that was years ago. I'm glad to see them making a comeback this season though--I think they are very interesting visually. Now that empire waists have tapered off, we'll probably see a big resurgance of dolman sleeves--just for the breath of fresh air they will bring. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35886 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 23:24:10 +0000 Amanda 35886@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm wondering the same thing. My mom just passed on to me a beautiful handmade cropped sweater -- that has dolman sleeves. I love the sweater but I'm not sure the style works for an hourglass. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/dolman-sleeves-and-body-type#post-35883 Thu, 20 Nov 2008 22:51:13 +0000 Laura 35883@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Ana posted such a cute dolman-sleeved sweater on her thread about Docs:</p> <p><a href="http://www.express.com/catalog/product.jsp?productId=1817&#038;parentCategoryId=2&#038;categoryId=20&#038;subCategoryId=20" rel="nofollow">http://www.express.com/catalog.....egoryId=20</a></p> <p>But I am hesitant because this style isn't one I've tried before and I'm not sure it will be flattering on me (I am an hourglass). Are there rules about dolman sleeves and body type? </p>