Sleeve please I’m a H/O shape, and always wonder if I should have my sleeves shortened as a full sleeve makes me look bigger.
The shape of the sleeve that you wear can make you look larger or smaller, depending on where it ends (watch this video for tips on that topic) and also how wide it is, which is just as important.
Wider sleeves add width to the part of the body they end on. A slim sleeve won’t add bulk to your frame in the way a voluminous sleeve will.
When considering the sleeve, you also want to consider:
- Do you want to broaden your shoulders?
- Do you want to make your shoulders look narrower?
- Do you have a defined waist?
- Do you have full upper arms?
- Do you have a large or small bust?
Then you can start to narrow down the sleeves that suit you.
Shoulders:
Puffed sleeves and gathered shoulders are great to make your shoulders look broader. If you want to make them look narrower, then try raglan, dolman and dropped sleeves.
Waist:
End your sleeves on your narrowest point to draw attention to it. The eye fills in the horizontal line between the hems of the sleeves. If you have a defined waist, end sleeves around your waist height. If you have large hips, avoid ending sleeves at the wrists. If you don’t have a defined waist end your sleeves above or below your waist. Remember too, that a higher armhole and slimmer sleeve will make your body look longer and slimmer too.
Bust:
Because the eye draws a horizontal line across your body where sleeves end, then if you large busted, avoid a sleeve that ends near your bust peak, instead go for a shorter or longer sleeve. If you have a small bust and want it to look larger then and sleeves at the bust peak.
Arms:
Full upper arms need a sleeve that either covers, or doesn’t have a horizontal hem. Diagonal hems work well as they move the eye away from the arm and don’t create a broadening effect.
T
