Roksanda Ilincic’s ladylike pink crepe dress gets oomph from the big bows on the flared sleeves. $1,665, mytheresa.com.
Get in touch with your inner pirate in Zara’s short, flowy floral print blouse. $39.90, zara.com and 1238 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC.
Take a tip from Melania Trump with this bell-sleeved white dress, $99.90, eloquii.com. The e-tailer has a pop-up in Virginia’s Fashion Centre Pentagon City, offering on-trend fashion for women sizes 14-28.
Madewell’s linen and chambray top lets your shoulders shine while sheathing your upper arms. $70, netaporter.com.
An of-the-moment embroidered peasant shirt with a louche look thanks to oversize fit and big sleeves. $49.90, zara.com and 1238 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington DC; and 1715-17 Walnut Street, Philadelphia;
In this spring’s favorite color, a dropped-shoulder silk top with ruching at the waist and sleeves. $450, tibi.com.
A casual dress from Belgian designer Sophie d’Hoore with blousy top that camouflages a few unsightly upper arm bits. $580, erdon.co and Erdon boutique at 162 N. 3rd Street, Philadelphia.
Feminine, layered bell-sleeve top comes in sizes 14/16 to 26/28. $59.95, lanebryant.com and numerous Lane Bryant stores in Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
Stripes and ruffled sleeves give this MSGM top right-now appeal. $425, nordstrom.com.
& Other Stories print blouse with elongated flared sleeves. $65, stories.com/us. Also, 3241 M Street NW, Washington DC.
EVER SINCE Michelle Obama bared her arms at her husband’s first address to Congress in 2009 (in February, no less), the quest for toned triceps and biceps has been the holy grail at gyms across the country and a sine qua non for wearing sleeveless sheaths a la the former first lady.
To be expected, though, the fashion pendulum has shifted. Note: Melania Trump‘s Roksanda Ilincic’s Margot white dress with bell sleeves and nipped-in waist that she wore to the GOP convention last summer. Along with oversize coats and sweaters, leg-o-mutton, puffed-shoulder, trumpet, balloon and extra-long sleeves with cascading ruffles starred on fall 2016 runways. And the voluminous trend in tops is showing no signs of deflating this spring.
Proof positive that the trend has, er, legs, is that’s hard to walk by a women’s clothing store window that is not displaying a mannequin in a billowy blouse or an off-the-shoulder-style shirt. The latter seems to me the equivalent of wearing a strapless bra and always having that sinking feeling that it’s slipping. The former can not only camouflage less-than-firm flesh but also flatter. Plus you don’t have to spend hours lifting weights to wear half- or three-quarter sleeve blouses that flutter gracefully over the upper arms. Covering the arms with long floating sleeves is elegant and forgiving. Keep in mind that stand-out sleeves need to be balanced with an unfussy silhouette, be it slim pants, pencil skirt or sheath. And think toned-down colors and prints.
Exercise caution when eating in some of the more exaggerated and elongated shirts with ruffles and flounces. Don’t dunk a donut in your coffee, and instead of a bowl of soup stick to a burger.
Flattering, feminine sleeves are available across a wide range of price points from Marni and Sonia Rykiel to Madewell and Zara. See our picks above.
—Janet Kelly Janet Kelly most recently wrote about new styles and ways to buy bras.
Photo on front: From left to right, MSGM striped blouse, Roksanda crepe dress and Nehera wool blouse.
