Stupid magpie #1 - bell sleeves

Just to be clear, I use "stupid magpie" affectionately But it's also a warning to myself to not buy so many of these things at once!

Category #1...bell sleeves. Not trending now, but still in my closet...in abundance!

The dresses: green velvet- great for holiday parties, Christmas church...hopefully I'll be able to wear it this year!

Burgundy sheath- mine is more purple IRL. Was part of my first Killer Sleeves are heavy though and problematic under coats, but the dress is warm.

Black shift- it's very lightweight. Good for easy witch costume or holiday parties when it's mild out. Definitely too thin for real winter.

The blouses: black- can't have too many black blouses right? It's been a workhorse.
Hot pink- I like with burgundy and brown, but not with black/navy/purple. Wouldn't buy again.

The maxi cardi. This thing is as warm as a wool coat, but too long to wear under coats. Swishy and fun ocassionally, but the sleeves are damaged a bit.

Anyone else go overboard on stuff when it's trending?

Custom Find

View Info

Custom Find

View Info

Macy's

Calvin Klein Bell-Sleeve Sheath Dress

View Info

Top Pick

2 years ago

Star

Veteran

Great pieces. However I have no bell sleeves on my do not buy list for different reasons. I just find that they so get in the way of living your life ie; cooking, eating, cleaning, layering neatly, etc. I actually had a tailor turn a bell sleeve into a regular 3/4 sleeve on a cotton top last summer and it so much more practical and as pretty.

Janet

(website)

I have a couple of bell sleeve items and have learned to curb any urge to buy another. One is sequined and a definite occasion piece (it’s been my holiday party staple for a few years now and I think I’m a little tired of seeing myself in the same top in friends’ photos!). One is a lightweight white cotton shirt that is good for warm weather wear, and I’ve resigned myself to it being something that won’t get worn once I need a jacket. I think I have another patterned silk blouse that has bell sleeves but they are super lightweight, and I can get a jacket sleeve over them so it’s easier to layer.

They are pretty but not the easiest to work with!

Anonymous

The purple dress has the hardest sleeves to layer, the others are thinner. Most aren't full length either so stay out of the way- and DH does the dishes on the days I work!
I didn't wear any of them last year, so will have to try the lot and see how I feel about them- but some may go in HZ.

cat2

Star, I did the same thing when I realized I really hated the bells! My tailor took the bells off a white cotton blouse and a cream silk top, and I been happily wearing them.

ophelia

I used to LOVE bell sleeves but have sworn them off. I either dip them in food, get them wet when washing hands or most annoying, caught on doorknobs. That’s a graceful look.
I ignore trends & buy mostly 2nd hand anyway but do overbuy things I love. I have a stupid number of skirts. I should count them some day; maybe it will deter me from buying more.

nuancedream

Nodding along with Ophelia, but I still love my bell sleeves. I was just looking at my skirt collection yesterday and decided to put skirts on my "do not buy" list. I've had a lot of fun with midi skirts this summer.

Helena

Lol on the stupid magpie ... high fiving from my stupid cardigans lol!

These are beautiful pieces but I get what you are saying ... it's easy to over duplicate! I'm sure you will get lots of wear out of these pieces ... the sleeves are not so over-the-top that they will date quickly, I would say.

slim cat

I've got one or two for my daughter and that was it - like it on her but feel it's too fussy for me ( but very pretty ). She used to love it but haven't worn much this past 18 months ;( .

rachylou

Yes. I do this. Get an idea, go all out, then burn out

Guilty of a large skirt and cardi collection too
Anyone else have "stupid magpie" collections to share?

Renee P

Active Member

I sympathize with your Magpie tendencies! I have that, too!

Jenni NZ

I have only one bell sleeve item, my only Zara item, 2015 blouse from my 2015 70s obsession. It’s hardly ever suitable to wear since no good having those sleeves for work days or home days when I am cooking. So only for out to dinner days- hello lockdowns!
I am forewarned to never buy another.
I did have magpie tendencies yes but have reined them in

Peri

Well, your magpie items are mine too. I love the assym tunics and I love the bell sleeves. And I get tired of fashion dictates, so I will still wear everything I like. The last magpie thing I went wild on was tiers maybe 10 years ago and I really did overdo it on those. It still took me several years to get tired of them though.

I've missed where the Wise Woman thing started but I'm looking at 62 and I don't feel wise at all!

Jessikams

I do go overboard when I like something and it’s available. I buy one jumpsuit, wear it once, decide I only want to wear jumpsuits from now on, buy a few more, then…they sit in my closet. To be fair, none of us were expecting pandemic, so….anything that isn’t sweatshirts may be languishing unworn.

Joy

Me. I have too many assymetrical tunics and cropped pants, but those pants are my “shorts” I also have too many booties but I wear them all.

Barbara Diane

Occasionally I buy something more trendy after I make sure the item will still work if I later remove the part that makes it trendy.

Exactly Jessikams! If 1 is good, 5 are better...till the next things comes along. F5P from now on for me to avoid that!
I don't think I'll remove the bell sleeves, but definitely won't add more.

Wise Woman came from a discussion about words like "crone" and "hag" a while back. I said I like the phrase Wise Woman instead! I was thinking a lot about what it meant when I was hiking a couple days ago.

Cardiff girl

Bell sleeves,so pretty yet so impractical .That is why like a moth to a flame or should l say ,a magpie to a shiny object l am drawn to them and all the other pretty things l have bought when l should have been buying basics,sigh.

Jaime

Yes. Usually my weakness is shoe related.