alter sleeves on dress?

Minnie

Hello,

I got this Eileen Fisher dress and am not sure about the bell sleeves.
Do the sleeves make the dress look like a robe?
How do you feel about if I had them altered to be "regular" and tapering?
Otherwise it's a lovely dress in person.
Thanks.

https://shop.nordstrom.com/s/e.....Y-EALw_wcB

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6 years ago

General

9 replies

Latest reply was from shiny

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I do get a bit of a robe vibe from it as it is currently. I know the big sleeves are trending right now, but my instinct would be to narrow the sleeves as well.

6 years ago

Bijou

Veteran

I agree there is a bit of a robe vibe with this style too. Personally, I like it, and would enjoy the sleeve as it is. However, I must confess that I own a similar dress, so I do like the 70’s look of this style. My dress is even more robe-like, in finds below.

Custom Find

by Bijou

View Info

6 years ago

Joy

Veteran

The sleeves look in style for this year, at least, and seem to be balanced by the bottom of the dress.

6 years ago

AndiB

Veteran

You could keep the sleeves for this season, and narrow later when the trend fades? it is Eileen Fisher, so will last forever, right? Unless they feel overwhelming. I've picked up a couple bell sleeve tops and find I do need to tame them by wearing a jacket over them so just the cuffs are fanning out.

6 years ago

RobinF

Veteran

I like it as is. Very pretty dress.

6 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I got a GOOD robe vibe.

6 years ago

Aida

Veteran

I quite like it as-is, though if you're not into the bell sleeve I'm sure it could be tapered.

6 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I think we need to see it on you, not on the model.

I hated this trend when it first came out. I tried so many tops and they just looked all wrong on me...

And now I am the proud owner of 1 jacket, 1 dress, 1 sweater, and 2 blouses with one on order with these types of sleeves. EEK!

My dressing room experience taught me it was all in the fit. Get the fit right, it works. If you are hesitating about this garment, it may be the fit and this particular garment isn't right for you.... not necessarily the style.

A litmus test for me in the dressing room was to tuck the sleeves under: if I could see the garment working with some tailoring to remove the bell sleeve (when the trend passes), those garments overall worked best for me. Did not seem robe-like, because the top was tight in the sleeves to the elbow, then belled out.

Sometimes some of these garments will work great with a bit of tailoring at the elbow point, to shorten a bit. Having a seam at the elbow makes this pretty easy. If the garment is too loose above the elbow, it still can be tailored but I have taken this as a sign the fit just wasn't right for me.

Hope that helps!

6 years ago

shiny

Veteran

Also if you like this dress and what I wrote resonates, try Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren.

This is my velvet bell sleeved dress:
https://www.macys.com/shop/pro.....zes?ID=505

See how it's tight on upper arm, then has a seam at the elbow where it flares?

These are features I look for now.

6 years ago

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