When did sleeves stop being a thing? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

When did sleeves stop being a thing?

purple8

So, it seems general agreed upon that dresses are a good bet for short plumpsters such as myself. And this would be the case if anything had sleeves!!!!

I tried on a bunch of dresses, and I thought the structured sheath look was flattering, but they were either sleeveless or had these dorky little cap sleeves that made my arms look like bloated anacondas.

They brought me blazers and cardigans; the blazers were lovely but maybe a notch too formal for most days at my office. The cardigans made me look droopy and ruined the nice crisp look. The only look I liked was a silky shirt buttoned all the way up underneath the sheath, but I don't want to do this for every dress.

Are sleeves that out of style? Is there a powerful armpit lobby I don't know about? Do I work in the only office that doesn't allow sleeveless?

Oddly, wrap dresses were the only sleeved style, but they were too boobarific for work.

Arggh...

General

26 replies

Latest reply was from Mander

Deborah

Veteran

I hear your pain... and I relate. I have simply embraced going sleeveless for summer. But even winter dresses are sleeveless???? Have you looked at Dobbin? See Angie's blog post (there was a series)

http://youlookfab.com/2013/01/.....ollection/

I have not tried them but they are US based and I was very impressed with their dresses.. and sleeves

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Hilarious post -- that expresses a sad truth. You will find many sisters to sing in your anti-sleeveless chorus here, and Angie does a regular roundup of fab dresses WITH SLEEVES because she knows that they are scarcer than snow-less days during a polar vortex .In fact, you can find blog posts on this very subject in the archives.

You are not imagining it. It's very difficult to find sleeved dresses.

You might consider a knit blazer as a topper for these situations. A little more casual than a woven one but more structured than a cardigan.

unfrumped

Veteran

I have ranted about this before !
My theory is that it is cheaper to construct and will fit more people than shoulder seams and sleeves.

Linda

Isn't that a pain? I admit that I find those sleeveless dresses a powerful motivator to include strength moves for my arms in my workout regimen -- but I am afraid my age and hormones are fighting me all of the way.

This is part of why I wear so many separates. I can better conceal my upper arms by wearing a looser top over a camisole or some such. If I DO wear a dress, usually it's with ... again ... something over the top. Admittedly, that often robs the dress of any particular style points.

I also find that most wrap styles seem to dip too low at the neck for me, even without significant boobage.

rabbit

Veteran

Yep, I've noticed this, and as a result cardigans that are very inexpensive, long lasting, and fit in a flattering way (and don't stretch out) are one of my HEWI's.

The only advantage I can see is that armless can mean the dress needs to be washed less frequently which extends the life. Also it probably reduces cost quite a bit for the manufacturer :p

purple8

Has anyone here ever just hired someone to make them a dress with sleeves? If so, how did it turn out?

LoriFLA

I have definitely noticed this. It seems that every time I am shopping for a cocktail dress or Christmas party dress, I run into this problem. Sleeves are difficult to find on dresses, even in winter.

Perhaps it has something to do with the silhouette of the dress, or what designers prefer. I remember watching a Tim Gunn show one time where he advised a woman to wear sleeveless or long sleeve when it came to dresses, nothing in between. This particular woman was tall and slim. He mentioned that short sleeves and 3/4 sleeves ruined the line or something and cut the arm in an unflattering way. I don't remember the reasoning as clearly but I remember the advice of no sleeves on dresses.

purple8

That's interesting about the lengths--I don't mind sleeveless for weekend sundresses--it's just too cold and not allowed at work. I never like cap sleeves though.

Thanks for that dobbin link--the Juliet dress is great.

Anonymous

I feel you on how hard it is to find dresses with sleeves! I can kind of understand the reasons for making dresses without sleeves, since it saves fabric costs and removes an element that may make it harder to fit like people have mentioned, and also opens the door to more layering options. But it's annoying. If nothing else, don't people get cold?

I mostly just layer things over dresses for work. Knit blazers would be a great option. I also do a ridiculous amount of cardigans. Weirdly, I find that longer boyfriend-style cardigans sometimes make me feel less "droopy" with dresses than shorter, fitted ones. Something about the long, slim line, plus the v-neck that doesn't clutter up the top of the dress.

Gigi

Veteran

All I can say is that yes, it's terribly frustrating. I don't know what site I was on the other day (BR, maybe?), where I was looking at the dresses and there was row after row after row of sleeveless. The funny thing is, I don't see that many people walking around in nice sleeveless dresses! Casual tank tops and loungewear, yes, but not nice dresses. So I don't know who is buying all of these. My guess is that the designers think that sleeves on dresses probably look frumpy. I think that sleeveless garments are supposed to emphasize the visual line and make you look taller, so that may be the reason. And they probably suppose that you can just buy a cardigan to put over the dress if you work in an office (and I agree that sleeveless is not appropriate professional wear for most offices). It's just another example of not having enough choices.

cinnamon fern

Veteran

I think unfrumped is on to something - sleeveless dresses are easier to fit. It suddenly occurs to me that this is probably why I love sleeveless anything!

Well, that and a hot climate and casual workplace.

DonnaF

Veteran

You are so right!!!! Which is the reason I've given up on dresses. In addition to wrap and faux wrap styles, I've seen sleeved versions of shift dresses and knit dresses, neither of which flatter my particular build. You don't have bunching sleeves if you layer a cardigan or jacket on top, but I run cold so I really want some type of sleeve under that jacket! Plus, getting the proportions, cut, and color of a topper just right is so tricky!

Oh, and I think Angie is right that a sleeveless garment can be more flattering than a short sleeve one that cuts across the widest part of one's arm and/or is at full bust level. But with sleeveless, one has to make sure that it doesn't shift and show all manner of undergarments. Sigh.

MsMaven

Veteran

Ah yes, the sleeveless thing has been going on a long time now. And if a dress does have sleeves it's likely to be a wrap, which will never fit me right and will require a camisole, or else it will be too short, or too long, or frumpy-looking.

There was a time when? In the 80s and early 90s when I had a closet full of dresses with sleeves--long sleeves. And they reached my knees, and the waist hit me where my waist is.

Sigh. I'm glad I have lots of good company.

kerry

Veteran

Funny! Very funny! I feel your bloated anacondas!! As a short plumpster myself I feel I can do sleeveless if the neck line works. Sheaths, for me, do not fit into this category.

Echo

Veteran

MsMaven makes some excellent points, because it isn't only sleeves that are missing, IMO. There seem to be fewer options in terms of sleeves, hem length, waistlines, etc. Indeed, I was just out trying on dresses today for an upcoming dinner, and was so disappointed in how difficult it is to find anything that comes past my knee.

I think there is a conspiracy between dress makers and those who make toppers to keep us buying twice as many things! So many department stores and dress shops have entire sections of toppers in every colour and fabric because they know that many women want their shoulders covered. One might think that would translate into more dresses with sleeves, but although the selection is nominally better this year, it is still pretty paltry.

adorkable

Veteran

I have a suggestion, although YMMV. I've got a few of this dress - am wearing it today - comes in various colors and prints:

http://www1.macys.com/shop/pro.....ss?ID=1269

It's inexpensive and comes in plus and petite. The fabric of some versions feels a bit cheap and tends to stretch out, but other versions hold up very well.

One warning (that you'll see in the reviews): the shapewear panel is slightly oddly designed and needs to be tucked into something.

Still: has real sleeves, looks fine at work!

Thistle

Veteran

Sing it, sister!!

I totally hear ya, and as others have said, it is a major issue for many of us. I have sworn off sleevelss dresses. If they want my $$, they will make clothes I want rather than settle for

This is a factor in my switch to skirts and tops.

ironkurtin

Veteran

I won't swear to it but I think Eileen Fisher does dresses with sleeves for every season but summer.

Lisa

Veteran

I am with you, sleeved dresses that will layer easily (and I don't find wrap dresses easy to layer over) are tough to find.

purple8

Adorkable, that dress is cute, and affordable!

Someone mentioned a conspiracy to make us buy more and I would add that I think there is also an unholy alliance between blouse and camisole makers--everything is so low cut that it demands an undershirt.

SW Ann

Veteran

I was discussing this with my favorite SA last weekend. This is why, in the last week, I've spent a boatload on three new dresses--I liked them and they all had sleeves. I know if I wait, they will be gone! I just walk around (and look around online) ALL THE TIME for sleeved dresses. And act quickly when I find them.
Good Luck!!!!

always trying

Veteran

Stein mart has some for $50.00 on their web site today,,many have elbow sleeves. I too haven't bought a spring, summer dress in ages as could not find sleeves. Have only 2 dresses with long or 3/4 sleeves, one wintery and one can wear thru the cooler spring , so am tempted to try the stein mart, as it would be nice to have a warmer weather dress, or one that did not require wearing a blazer or cardi, and I would be comfortable taking off the cover up indoors.

Care

I vote for the powerful armpit lobby. They must also be responsible for sleeveless bridal gowns. Completely sleeveless bridal gowns tend to make a little bulge in the underarm, no matter how slim the bride is. Something I know photographers keep an eye out for, because they obviously get blamed for unphotogenic bulges, not the armpit lobby.

ATLynn

Veteran

I am contantly on the hunt for sleeved dresses.

I do most of my dress shopping online. Nordstrom, Zappos, and 6pm.com all let you search by sleeve length. I'm a big fan of 6pm if you're willing to pay return shipping. The sleeve filter is only about 70% right

http://www.6pm.com/girls-dress.....o?s=isNew/

Jcrew also has a sleeved sheath almost every season. I've tried on both a wool and a poly crepe that were very well made. Neither fit me just right, though.

MRL

Veteran

Oh I so agree. I would love to see more dresses with sleeves that are not wrap dresses (I like that style, but the V neck does not flatter me). I did manage to buy one dress this winter, a black knit from Ann Taylor with long sleeves.
The only consolation is that sleeveless has been around for several seasons again, and that has to change...

Mander

(website)

Veteran

Urgh. I hate this too! Even though I have flabby arms I'm not that self conscious about sleeveless things, in the right circumstances, but what really gets my goat is the dippy little cap sleeves that dig into your arm right at its flabbiest part, giving you a lovely bulge on either side. And those weird sweater dresses with short sleeves. I wanted a sweater dress for the holidays but it seemed crazy that I would apparently need to wear a cardigan over my sweater if I wanted my arms to be warm.

And the fact that apparently plus size women only want sleeves that cover half of their forearm. I am mightily sick of 3/4 sleeves, especially in sweaters. I've been hankering for a cashmere sweater for ages but have not found a single one in fat lady sizes that is not either crew neck (or the dreaded mock turtleneck) or 3/4 sleeves, and usually both.