Bell sleeves and the third piece - YouLookFab Forum

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Bell sleeves and the third piece

BrieN

Veteran

I would love to find a bell sleeve top where the bell would fall only a bit into my hand...a more practical extended sleeve. But then I started to wonder what and how you wear a sweater or jacket with these sleeves. Show a lot or a little of the bell's flounce? Would you put a traditional jacket, blazer, sweater with this trendy type top? Your thoughts appreciated.

Dressing

17 replies

Latest reply was from BrieN

Aida

Veteran

I'd personally opt for longer bells which would show beyond jacket sleeves (blazer or moto for me), or shorter 3/4 length bells which would be completely hidden. No in between stuff for me because that's not quite dramatic enough. Of course, that is if I wore a jacket at all -- more likely I'd skip a topper entirely with this kind of top!

Diana

Veteran

I'd wear a vest!

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I was thinking vest too, Diana!

Brooklyn

Veteran

I like the idea of the bell sleeve extending past the sleeve of the jacket. It looks very 80s new romantic to me. I have a zara top that has flared, extended sleeves and I just wear it peeking out from the jacket (as in this post):

http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....cket-debut

BrieN

Veteran

Diana and Janet- a vest!! I hadn't thought of that. Another reason to wish I could wear wool and that Rag and Bone gilet. Oh my.

Aida and Brooklyn - so it's about right if an inch or so of flounce extends beyond the topper sleeve? I see both of you all with a less traditional style so wondering if this is one trend I shouldn't be mixing with a preppy or traditional blazer.

Thistle

Veteran

I would think the bell sleeve would extend beyond the jacket. The jacket would still end at the base of your hand.

Brooklyn

Veteran

I think you could have more than an inch showing: up to the start of your fingers. I am not sure how well it would work with a traditional blazer. That is one of those looks I would want to try and see. I can imagine the fuller the bell sleeves, the harder it would be to make it work. But I have seen blazers around with slightly flared and split sleeves (but that are otherwise very structured and traditional). eg this one at Witchery (a local chain store). Do these appeal to you? Because I think they would work well with a flared or bell sleeve and it is an interesting update on the traditional blazer.

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Aida

Veteran

Brie, I think it's more a matter of how much drama you want. The more that's sticking out the more dramatic the look

Anonymous

I'd wear a vest.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

It could work really well with a 3/4 length or bracelet length sleeve.

Firecracker (Sharan)

Veteran

I like the idea of a vest, but I might also wear a jean jacket with it and roll up the jacket sleeves if necessary, to show more than a few inches of the bell.

BrieN

Veteran

Brooklyn- I like the idea of a blazer with a split sleeve to wear with the bell.

Janet, Aida and Firecracker: I think I'm maybe too reserved (read: conventional) to show a lot of sleeve... Maybe I just need to see it a few times....

Cococat

Veteran

I wear warm (and not very attractive..lol) underwear under my bell sleeved tops and dresses. I prefer not to wear a jacket because it feels a bit uncomfortable. My bells are pretty extreme though.

Style Fan

Veteran

I would wear a vest or warm underwear.

Staysfit

Veteran

I would wear warm underwear underneath and use some funky jewelry as my third piece. Although, I really like the look Brooklyn wore with a small amount of sleeve peaking out. That sleeve length would drive me crazy when I was typing I think, or writing too. I like the idea of 3/4 length or bracelet length.

Anonymous

BrieN -- you can't wear wool? I can't either. I thought I might be able to wear it if no wool actually touched my skin. Would a vest work for you IF you wore a blouse under it???

BrieN

Veteran

Coco cat, Staysfit and SF -- I like the warm under-layer idea for the bell sleeve too. You all have great solutions

I think I'm going to have to try a few different length bell sleeves and decide where my happy place is. I'm very susceptible to being distracted by too long for me.

Sterling. I really pondered thst question with the gilet. But it is a significant chunk of $ and sometimes it takes a little while before the wool itch registers on my brain-- but once it does I absolutely can't bear it. The gilet collar would likely be sitting on the back of my neck unless the blouse had a higher collar.... I think my search will be for a gilet or vest with no wool, acrylic or cashmere. No wonder I don't have any winter wear