What is it with the puff sleeves?!? - YouLookFab Forum

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What is it with the puff sleeves?!?

delurked

Veteran

I know, I've been MIA for some time. I'm delurking to rant, but maybe I'm alone?

I can't get away from seeing puff sleeves on everything! They seemed rather prevalent last year as well, but as a broad shouldered IT shape, this rules out so very many things. When looking at my closet, I've determined I have enough sleeveless items and don't want more this summer. So I'm back to looking at short sleeves, and I guess it's good as it really deters me from over shopping. I've seen several clothing items (I'm looking for a casual summer dress) that tick all the boxes until I get to the sleeves.

I hope my narrower shouldered sisters in fashion will enjoy the bountiful gatherings this year, and here's hoping the raglan sleeve finds it way to more favor, since that rare finding is usually my friend.

Rant over.

Shopping

34 replies

Latest reply was from Bijou

BlueJay

Veteran

AHAHAHA! I concur with your rant, you're not alone. I'm also broad shouldered and the puffed sleeves are a deal-breaker. I've looked at LOTS of dresses and bought nothing!

Christina F.

Veteran

I agree! Makes shopping easier actually because I'm a hard pass on all that stuff.

I have narrow shoulders but still don't find them very flattering on me for whatever reason. It also a little sweet-looking for my current style preferences.

kkards

Veteran

Rant away. I haven’t notice a lot of puff sleeves, but like you, I’m not much of a fan, but mostly because they are sooo hard to layer over.

rachylou

Veteran

I do love a puff sleeve. I tried to wean myself off of them but gave up. But that said, I *do* find there to be somewhat of an excess. I said that to myself the other day… *Is there nothing here without puff sleeves?* Lol

delurked

Veteran

Bluejay. Yes, I"m on the quest for a dress, but I haven't even been trying any because I don't want to hassle with a bunch of returns.

Christina - I agree they can trend "sweet." It's also interesting that even those with narrow shoulders may not be a fan either. Who's wearing this trend then? A lot of people must be.

Kkards - yes, larger sleeves won't work for layering.

delurked

Veteran

Rachy - my dad has the saying "Anything worth doing is worth doing to excess" Perhaps you can adopt that motto as well? I can see a puff sleeve working nicely on you.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

I hear you. I felt the same about bell sleeves (so impractical) and cold shouldered tops. Puff sleeves are not my favourite either -- the right puff sleeve is flattering enough on me (or at least not horribly unflattering) but they are hard to layer and if they get too large they overwhelm, plus I don't like the sweetness.

While we are at it, I'm still ranting about non stop earth tones.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

It reminds me of Anne of Green Gables whose fondest desire was a dress with huge, puffed sleeves lol.
Yeah, I'm over it- Laura Ingalls can have her wardrobe back.

delurked

Veteran

Suz - Yes, that's another reason I'm not doing much shopping. Earth tones don't generally look great on me, and even if they did, they don't "feel" like me.

CS - you are making me laugh. I've also considered a ditsy print skirt this spring, but I've hesitated at a midi skirt because it might read a bit too prairie on me. Or rather, that I'd have to work each time I would wear it not to project that look. And at heart, I'm getting very lazy about wanting to put on an item and not have to work hard.

Anonymous

Yes to more raglan sleeves! I'm over the abundance of puffy sleeves too. Between my wide shoulders, non layerability, and overall ingenue vibe, they're a hard pass.

JAileen

Veteran

I don’t like puff sleeves at all. My shoulders are not wide, but I think they just look awful on me, so I feel for you. There are a lot of them out there.

Lana

(website)

Veteran

Raglan sleeves are such a joy to find. I don’t have wide shoulders, but they seem to fit me better than any other sleeve construction. I’m with you on the puffed sleeves (maybe they’re a remnant of prairie style) and also wish the dropped shoulder would go away.

unfrumped

Veteran

Too much puff for me too! I have small shoulders, but puffs don’t work on me, to my eye.
I’m not against them per se, but they are so ubiquitous this year that I’m having trouble weeding them out when looking for tops. .

nuancedream

Veteran

With the advent of spring, we see the return of the puff sleeve. I have a square, not a broad, shoulder line yet puff sleeves hold no appeal for me. Puff sleeve items in sweet, sugary pastels are very twee to my eye. Don't get me started on dresses with puff sleeves and tiers.

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t particularly care for puffed sleeves; they are often far too sugar-sweet for me. But raglan make my shoulders look sadly sloping. That’s a complete no-go for me. If your shoulders are broad, I bet you could find a “puff” that looks like it’s billowy but actually barely extends beyond your shoulders, so it would have an overall effect of smaller shoulders. Not that I can imagine wanting that look. I think big, athletic shoulders are beautiful.

Lesley

Veteran

I concur, I concur! I am being saved from buying everything from the fact that simultaneous with all my favorite colors coming in style at once, is the puff sleeve coming in style. Oh, the things I would have bought, if not for that damned puff sleeve. ENOUGH!

Sal

Veteran

I love a puffed sleeve but have enough - a dress, two blouses and a sweater so I am actively not adding any more. Would love to see more raglan sleeves!!

Kate

Veteran

Puffed sleeves are way too twee for me. Plus I have broad shoulders—not a good look. I remember buying—and wearing (shudder!)—a long prairie style dress with puffed sleeves when I was a teenager. I likely looked like I could wrangle a group of Conestoga wagons singlehandedly.

Anonymous

No puffed sleeves for me & my broad shoulders! What’s more, I don’t think puffed sleeves look good on most people. They look juvenile.

I wish to add that I’m glad cold shoulders are out.

DonnaF

Veteran

Okay, so I bought a few puff sleeved blouses a few years ago because I thought they would disappear and a few puff sleeve sweaters this year. Can you tell I have narrow shoulders? But too many sweaters are full to the wrists. Too much fabric for under tall me and doesn’t work to roll the sleeves.

cat2

Veteran

Too funny, I have broad shoulders and like the look, it’s a lot more flattering to have a properly draped sleeve than a slim cut top. I also love pleating, ruffles and lace. I am definitely not an ingenue, just a fan of ornamentation.

lyn67

Veteran

LOL, am broad shouldered myself, so I can relate, and will even tell you a story. Back in my younger days (think 1990) I was going to the tailor for custom making me a skirt suit for my college graduation. Entered the store wearing a thick bl&w houndstooth peacoat which had enormous shoulder pads as it was so fashiony wearing them then (was tall and slim, so it looked great on me). We discussed the wanted style while me still wearing the coat-and he asked about shoulder pads (and I was nodding) but he didn't see (while taking notes)and quickly reframed and said- "hah, but guess with these shoulders, rather no need"! Bless his little heart, am still LOL any time I remember!:-))

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Personally, I like a subtle, and bold puffed sleeve! The '70s jacket that I got for $40 below feels magical each time I pop it on. It complements my narrow shoulders.

That said delurked, and to your point, the fashion industry tends to saturate the market with a mainstream trend - and there are puffed sleeves on too many tops and dresses these days. I support a greater mix of silhouette variety!

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delurked

Veteran

Suntiger and Lana - It's good to see others who like a raglan sleeve!

Jaileen - yes, they really seem to go on waves. I'm with Angie in wanting lots of variety for everyone.

Unfrumped - we need to be able to sort and eliminate things like that, for sure

Nuancedream - I know most of those tiered dresses can be way too babydoll. I do like the right tiered dress, though what I like a lot more is a tiered skirt. That can be very flattering for me at least. But the line on those tiered dresses seems to start right at the bust. I'm not sure who that works for.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I’m with you. This season’s offerings have little to interest me, between color palette and details like this. I don’t mind a super subtle gathered sleeve on certain garments but I’m just so tired of the prairie look going on now.

Sally

Veteran

Another can't wear a puffed sleave person. I think it makes me look matronly and my bosom even larger than it is.

delurked

Veteran

SF - I understand what you mean about the raglan sleeve. I know others that's the case for too. I'm not complaining about my shoulders. I do appreciate their shape. It just is sometimes hard to dress.

Lesley - what colors are your favorites?

Sal - it does reach a saturation point for trends, even if you're a fan

Kate - that visual is making me laugh

Quinta22 - I hate to say, but I've see a few cold shoulders this year. As if they're trying to make a little comeback. But they were soo overdone a few years ago, I don't think anyone will want them back again yet

DonnaF - I'm glad this is a sleeve that's worked for you. But nobody wants everything the same, so it makes sense to have a variety

Cat2 - I understand. I like detailing and prints on top, but maybe not so much in the sleeve

Lyn67 - it was a rule back then to wear shoulder pads, whether we needed them or not

Angie - I can see a subtle puff would be good for you, and I definitely agree that have choice at retail is where it's at

delurked

Veteran

Sally - yes, the larger bust and shoulders is just a deadly combination for a puff sleeve

Janet - part of me wants a little ditsy print to wear, the other part of me is very concerned about trending too prairie with it. I'm holding out at this point on that part of the trend too

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Idk, perhaps you could hide snacks up in there?

But in all seriousness, I need fitted shoulders which are so hard to find these days - anything not drop shouldered tends to be puffy or raglan. Argh!

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