I have three tops with Maximal sleeves, and have ordered a fourth. The bossing contest has had different results with each one. 1) velvet floral top; 2) chambray blouse; 3) black cotton knit

The velvet top has wide bell sleeves that hit just at the wrist bone. I've only worn it once, to a holiday party last December. The sleeves are thin and drapey so I had no problem fitting them under a topper. I actually had to add a fitted sweater under my coat because the blouse sleeves provided no warmth and the coat sleeves were not snug so the cold went right up my arm. It was surprisingly easy to navigate the food buffet once I got the hang of it. Not bossy at all.

The blue blouse has no problems fitting under topper sleeves because it's only a little bit blousey. However, the second time I wore it, out to dinner with friends, one of the ties fell into my coffee! Boy did I feel silly. It washed out fine but I decided to alter the ties, to basically shorten them. They were shaped like a human eye (oval with points at each end), and I altered them to be more like a man's bow tie, and much shorter in length. I haven't worn it yet in the new configuration. Bossy but I think I have won the bossing contest. The photo shoes the ties after alterations.

The black sweater (from LOFT) has cuffs in the same mid-weight knit as the body of the sweater, but they don't get in the way. The problem is that getting it into topper sleeves is a LOT of work so I haven't worn in much. I find poncho type garments way too fussy so that's not an option. I wear black a lot less than I used to for every day and it does not seem like a spring/summer color to me, so wearing it without a topper doesn't work well either. I'm going to play with outfit creation to see if I can come up with something that would work for spring, like wearing it with light wash jeans and black footwear, maybe a light scarf, but I'm very skeptical. A denim vest (like a sleeveless denim jacket) might work too but I don't own one. It's still bossing me around.

I've ordered the white blouse, which I expect to be a spring/summer item that won't need a topper. Expecting to be the boss.

As the eldest daughter and second-to-eldest sibling from a large family and someone who was in management roles for more than half of my career, I have generally mastered the concept of "bossing someone or something around" but I would love some bossing advice on the black sweater !!