Cap sleeves - YouLookFab Forum

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Cap sleeves

Antje

Veteran

I'd love to get a better understanding of the subleties cap sleeves: what exactly constitutes a cap sleeves, and are all styles equally tricky to pull off? I had a couple cap sleeve tops that I shed when I overhauled my closet, and it was good riddance. But lately I've seen plenty of pictures on this forum of women looking great in their cap sleeves. And while I still believe that I look best in either sleeveless or 1/2 sleeves (or longer), I start getting my doubts passing by all those cap sleeves - and there are TONS of them now in the spring and summer fashions. Some are tiny, in that they stick out just a tad, while others almost look like very short sleeves. So I guess I'm wondering: are all cap sleeves created equal, and am I really best off bypassing all of them, or may there be some cap sleeves that are easier to pull off than others? It would be nice not to have to nix so many dresses and tops because of their sleeves...

General

21 replies

Latest reply was from Angie

Maya

Veteran

OK, I am going to be in the minority and disagree with the idea that cap sleeves are unflattering. I remember Angie's post on this subject and I actually thought the cap sleeve tops she posted were MUCH more flattering than the sleeveless ones.

http://youlookfab.com/2007/05/.....ap-sleeve/

It might just be that I don't like the sleeveless tops for other reasons, but here's my argument for it: I find that short sleeves act as little bookends. The extra bit of width they give at the arm and shoulder makes everything in between look smaller. A top with a cap sleeve tapers in towards the waist more than a sleeveless top does because it starts out further at the shoulder. I almost always feel wide and heavyset in a sleeveless top, and I think this is why. This is just what my eyes see. Perhaps if you have broader shoulders it might not be so great for you.

I was actually surprised when Angie recommended that BR top for skirts a few posts ago. It's a cap sleeve top, but it looks fine to me.

Let me also say I find nothing alluring about shoulder bones, and I don't find myself paying much attention to arms in general. That might just be me but I just really do not share the enthusiasm for them that Angie does.

Horses for courses, as she would say.

As for types of cap sleeve, you're right: there are a whole lot. Putting my own biases aside, I think the rule is that it shouldn't cut across the widest part of your arm. All in all, I don't think it's THAT important. If a dress fits you perfectly everywhere else, I hardly think the effect will just fall apart because of the sleeves. I have never found myself thinking "gosh that outfit would be so cute if it weren't for those darn cap sleeves!"

Ana

(website)

Veteran

Ha, Maya, I find myself constantly thinking "gosh, this <fill in the blank> would be so cute if it weren't for these darn cap sleeves!" That is for me, though, because as you know, I have very broad shoulders, and any type of cap sleeve just seems to emphasize this. It's too bad too, because I dearly love puffy cap sleeves.

I think there are people who can get away with it, but it really depends on your body type.

Maya

Veteran

I understand Ana. I don't think they're right for everyone, everywhere, but I don't think they're really as hard to wear as one might think. I understand completely why you would avoid them, and I certainly support that decision. But I guess since I'm kind of the opposite of you (narrow shoulders and not so narrow waist) it works better for me. I also have skinny arms, so I might be lucky in that regard. I'm just saying that for most women with narrow to average shoulders, I wouldn't rule them out or avoid any and all garments that have them. Try them and see first.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The BR skirt top is what I’d call a "grown -on" sleeve, not a cap sleeve. A cap sleeve is an inset sleeve that is shorter than a short sleeve and slants diagonally across the widest part of the arm. This season is cap sleeve crazy, unfortunately.

Cap sleeves tend to accentuate the widest part of the arm which I find less flattering than when the entire arm is exposed.

Becky

Veteran

I have broad shoulders and somewhat muscular arms, but I have had good luck with sleeves that are, in my mind, a hybrid between a cap sleeve and a 1/2 sleeve. They actually cut across the narrowest part of my upper arm, between the shoulder and bicep (my arms are fairly toned, so I don't know if that would be narrow on everyone). There are definitely some out there that wouldn't work for me. I'm beginning to think sleeves are like everything else...you can't really tell until you try it on and see exactly how it looks on your unique body.

Anonymous

My experience with cap sleeves is that before I started working out a few years ago they were hideous on my arms. Now that my arms are more toned cap sleeves are not so terrible on me but there are other styles that do work better.

Antje

Veteran

Angie, any chance you could link to images of a "grown-on" sleeve vs. a cap sleeve? I don't remember that particular BR skirt top or which thread it was in. I'd really love to understand the differences.
I was at Mango yesterday and they had various different sleeves that kinda look "cap-sleevish" to me but they are actually different in style/length. Since as you say so many tops and dresses right now come with cap sleeves, I'd love to know which ones I could consider vs. which ones I should bypass. I know that many cap sleeves do not look good on me, so I don't really want to waste my time (currently I don't even try things on if they have what I think is a cap sleeve), but I also don't want to narrow my options too much. Does that make sense?
(Maya, I understand your stance, but I think we have different shapes and requirements. My shoulders are rather broad, and I do have a more defined waist; except for the small chest I'm quite hour-glassy. I do like sleeveless tops a lot and find them generally very flattering.)

Julia

I believe this is the BR top Angie and Maya referred to:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=564967

I bought them online and had to return them because they were too long for me to wear with skirts. However, the sleeves were very flattering and I loved the fit and everything, too bad they were too long and I didn't think they were alterable because of the knit material.

My issue is not with the cap sleeves but the right sleeveless style. I found that if the width of the bands (not sure what the correct name is) is too narrow or if they are too close to my neck, I'd look chubby; however if they have the right width and cover me from the edge of my shoulder inward, they work for me. I don't have strong shoulders and my arms are in OK shape so most cap sleeves look fine on me.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks Julia. It’s a shame that the top was still too long, even in petites. And you make a great point as to which sleeveless styles look best on you. You’ve got your thinking cap on!

Antje, above is the link to the BR sleeve with “grown on sleeves”. It doesn’t hit the model at the widest part of her arm. These are cap sleeves:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=552506032

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=564983032

This is a “flutter” cap sleeve because it flares out and is capped:

http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....pid=565131

Antje, trust me, you look fabulous in sleeveless styles. Leave the caps alone and look for short sleeves or longer sleeves instead. And carry on rocking sleeveless!

Antje

Veteran

Thanks Angie, this is very helpful indeed. It's good to see the different styles. And I've definitely stayed away from them; the only one that I'd been getting curious about is the one in the white top you posted (http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=552506032). It's the one I call the "almost short sleeve", and it seems to be EVERYWHERE this spring. I've seen so many cute dresses and tunics with that type of sleeve, so I just wanted to see if maybe I could get away with it. But yes mam, I will try hard to stick with sleeveless. Glad I checked

anne

Veteran

Maya - just wanted to say I agree with you re those examples of Angies - When she posted them I prefered the cap sleeves too! And your reasoning resonates with me completely.
I have never liked cutaway shoulders on anyone except the thin shouldered and thin armed

I do see the problem with the examples that Angie posted most recently, but I still don't prefer the cutaway shoulders that she favoured.

Incidentally I only like halter necks (the 1950's variety) on people with narrow shoulders and a decent bust. For people like me with strong shoulders and (a usually very) small bust they don't look good.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Glad it's clear Antje! I can't see the BR link to help you along?

Anne, which post are you referring to?

anne

Veteran

Angie - I meant the tops in the link Maya posted originally - as opposed to those in your recent post - sorry for not being clear

Antje

Veteran

Sorry about link. It's the one you posted, the white v-neck tee. http://www.bananarepublic.com/.....=552506032

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Give them a bash Antje. Hopefully the short sleeve is longer than a cap sleeve. I know how much you love dresses and tunics

Thanks Anne. You and Maya are in the same cap sleeve camp!

anne

Veteran

Angie - seems so. Want to emphasise though, that this (disagreeing with you) is rare event!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

And I'm honoured Anne!

Maya

Veteran

Well I'm glad someone agrees with me! But let me emphasize that disagreeing with Angie is a rare event for me as well. I must say I absolutely love flutter sleeves, even more than regular cap sleeves, and they are probably even worse...but I just adore them. I'll stand alone in the corner on this one

Anonymous

Maya, I love flutter sleeves too. (ie. the last top Angie posted from BR) For some reason, I feel like they balance out my large chest. Come out of the corner...or maybe I'll just come stand with you.

I do agree mostly with what has been said. If you are broad shoulders and it hits you at an unflattering part of your arm, caps sleeves aren't the best. However, I think if you love a top, try it on and see how the sleeves work on your body.

Nicole

Veteran

Hmmm I can't help but think that a person's individual perception of how anything looks on them has to do with the parts of their body they dislike the most. When I try on tops, I find myself obsessing over how it fits over my bust. I don't really pay as much attention to the arms and stomach and length. (well I do NOW...but before YLF).

I think it's much easier (and more accurate) for someone else to determine if something looks good on another person because they don't have that same obsession and magnification of the disliked body part. They are more objective and therefore look at the person as a whole, instead of focusing on their hips, boobs, shoulders, waist or whatever least liked body part you have.

I have read that cap sleeves are good for a full bust--and in some ways I do think they make my boobs look smaller. But objectively, they make my shoulders and upper arms look broader. Something I don't need.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

The flutter sleeve is a better option because it doesn't cut into the arm - it floats away. Does that make sense?

Lissy and Becky you are completely right. At the end of the day, it's the ENTIRE ensemble and cut of the top plus your body type that makes or breaks the outfit. Another one I like to say “the devil is in the detail” .

Another astute conclusion from Nicole. Well said. There have been loads of cap sleeves in ensembles on this forum and I have not focused on them specially because they end up working quite well. Probably because they are border line short sleeved as opposed to capped.

Maya and Anne, bring on the disagreement (*chuckle*). Feeling welcome and worthy on this forum is a goal that we strive for.

(Phew! I think I’m all capped-out)