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Original poster

I know it's been said before-but why oh why are dresses with bloody sleeves so bloody elusive?

61 replies

MissBattleaxe · 29/05/2015 20:47

I know there are dresses with sleeves out there but they are in the minority- you have to scour T'internet and even them it's often slim pickings.

I know there are some sites that sell some dresses with sleeves, but what I don't understand is why, in winter is it all sleeveless party dresses that require a cardigan? and why in summer is it all sleeveless summer dresses that require a cardigan? and don't get me started on cap sleeves which are designed to maximize arm flab.

Maybe I'm stuck in the 90s but I don't get it. A woman either has to show her biffa bacon arms off or spend extra on a cardigan or bolero which in turn adds bulk, OR you have to look in the over 50s catalogue and buy something with an ugly big print all over it that makes you look like you're going to work on your day off.

Even the plus size shops have sleeveless and strappy dresses in sizes that go up to 30. I have never met a woman with large arms who loves to show them off.

I'm just sick of searching and sick of companies making so very few, like its a speciality request or something.

I think that someone who hates women sent a memo to all dress manufacturers saying that nobody wants sleeves anymore so please don't make them.

OP posts:
CuttedUpPear · 30/05/2015 07:44

That's a good website BLOO.
However I am Confused Grin at the review that says, when asked "Would you recommend to a friend? "
"No because I wouldn't want them to have the same dress as me".
Doh!

Minshu · 30/05/2015 07:46

I found a couple last year for work. Mock wrap, with 3/4 sleeves and relatively inoffensive prints from Monsoon and Phase 8 - but both were made of viscose so made me stink. Hmm

goodasitgets · 30/05/2015 07:51

Size 16-32 here, and a fair few with sleeves. I have the lyra which has lovely short sleeves but they're floaty. And the bellatrix which has sleeves
ladyvlondon.com/LadyVoluptuous/

Fairylea · 30/05/2015 07:56

Hmm I'm not sure really... I'm a size 16-18 and I think we've all become overly self conscious of our upper arms. They're just arms....! In the summer I'm not sure why everyone over a size 14 seems to feel they suddenly have to hide their arms to avoid offending everyone ... wearing sleeveless tops etc is cool when it's hot. This summer I am determined to just wear them and sleeveless dresses and try to worry less. I'm fed up with sweltering away in a cardigan or sleeved top.

MyNameIsSuz · 30/05/2015 08:03

I hate it too! I work in a very air conditioned office though, so cardigans are pretty necessary anyway. I'm only a size 12 but have very flabby arms! I just got some nice dresses with sleeves from Joy, £25 in the sale!

burnishedsilver · 30/05/2015 09:58

Why do people hate their arms so much? I hear people needing to hide tummies, bums, thighs, knees, ankles etc. At the rate were going we'll all end up in birkas. Fair enough, long sleeves if it's cold but not in warm weather.

Original poster
MissBattleaxe · 30/05/2015 10:02

SDTG your dress sounds lovely. I love polka dots.

BLOOCow- thanks for the link. At least someone has seen a gap in the market. I don't understand why we sleeve lovers are pushed into a corner and made to do online searches. Anyone would think we were asking for something that was hard-to-make!

armamai making a maxi dress shorter and using the spare for sleeves? Brilliant idea. I can sew a bit but I'm annoyed I should have to.

I just don't get why so many dresses are body con and/or sleeveless when the national demographic is not tall and willowy with Michelle Obama arms.

OP posts:
Athenaviolet · 30/05/2015 10:06

I was just thinking this yesterday when I was walking past a formal dress shop. Not a single one in the window had sleeves.

I have really big upper arms (I'm an hourglass shape with fat distributed quite evenly over my body) so even when I'm slim I'd rather wear sleeves. Plus I have very pale skin and very dark hair so even when just shaved you could see stubble on my underarms.

Another reason why I hate fashion!

Original poster
MissBattleaxe · 30/05/2015 10:07

burnished silver- not asking for a burka- just sleeves.

Many people don't like their arms whether or not they are overweight. I just don't see why we always have to buy a cardigan to go with a dress because there are no dresses with sleeves. Sleeves are fine in summer- you can have billowy ones or flattering ladylike bracelet length, but NO. Clothing companies are dictating that we just don't seem to be allowed them.

OP posts:
MistyMeena · 30/05/2015 10:17

I'm petite size with ok arms but I also hate sleeveless. I can't grasp why winter dresses often have no sleeves or short ones. I don't want to wear a cardigan and a jacket to avoid the cold.

In summer I don't necessarily want to subject everyone to my armpits. And I don't want a cardigan. Elbow length would be good.

I do have one nice light jersey dress from Fatface with sleeves but it's the only one I've ever found.

LifeOfBriony · 30/05/2015 10:23

Thanks for the links. I do like some of the White Stuff ones, but they are in a jersey fabric which clings - I have a too-large tummy which I would like to conceal.

I don't like my upper arms, but apart from that, sometimes (often) the British summer is not warm enough for a sleeveless dress, even if I wanted to wear one.

SweetAndFullOfGrace · 30/05/2015 10:59

I think it's because sleeves are (relatively) complicated to set in properly. It's a lot cheaper to make a short sleeveless dress both from a fabric perspective and from a sewing piecework perspective.

I'm with you though, I only buy dresses that are knee length and with (non-cap) sleeves. I've become very proficient at speed-skimming websites in search of sleeves!! And yyyyy to frigging viscose and polyester. I refuse to buy clothes that will make me stink. And viscose isn't very stable in water so to add insult to injury they often have to be dry cleaned.

I'm still wearing a lovely wool blend dress with sleeves from Reiss a few years old that has really gone the distance. And I have a few sleeved fesses from Hobbs although lately the preponderance of viscose there is annoying me. And Jaeger as a pp mentioned, although they really need to produce a skirt shape that isn't pencil - anyone with any kind of hip or thigh imperfection isn't going to be happy in a pencil.

It shouldn't be this hard. Sigh.

Original poster
MissBattleaxe · 30/05/2015 11:10

SweetAndFullofGrace- I agree they are a bit trickier, but it baffles me that they can make such beautifully tailored sleeveless shift dresses and then can't be arsed to add sleeves. I looked at a website recently and in 50 dresses they only had 2 with sleeves. Where are all these willowy women in sleeveless dresses? I never seen them. I see a lot of women in cardigans though. Why should we have to buy a cardigan when all we want is just a dress?

Dresses with sleeves are in the minority and those that have sleeves often look like workwear.

OP posts:
SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 30/05/2015 11:31

Not to mention the fact that, in the summer time (or in a hot venue, any time of year) a cardigan just makes you feel hot and sweaty!

House of Fraser does have some very dressy, posh frocks with sleeves - I love this one, but at knee length, it is too short for me to feel happy or comfortable in it. But for people who like knee length dresses, there are lots of lovely frocks there - with sleeves, in quite a lot of cases!!

I am trying to find a pattern, so I can make a skirt like the one that dress has, in a plain dupion silk, and then I will team it with a wrap jersey top - I know I have the skill to make the skirt, but a jersey top is beyond my skills.

Dancergirl · 30/05/2015 11:46

I like the Greek WS dress garden, what colour do you have? How does the sizing come up?

VivaLeBeaver · 30/05/2015 11:56

Sea salt met be worth a try?

meglet · 30/05/2015 12:01

burnished air con offices can be miserable places in summer. The air con is often on when it's only 20 degrees outside, we freeze our tits off. I couldn't do it in a sleeveless top.

pinkfrocks · 30/05/2015 12:13

some of the more expensive brands like Jigsaw and LK Bennett do sleeves. But not that many.

Floisme · 30/05/2015 12:29

Fairylea and burnished I agree there's a discussion to be had about arms and body image but there should also be choice. Manufacturers are denying us that choice, not because they care about our self esteem but because they make more profit from a sleeveless dress, especially if they can sell us a poxy acrylic cardigan to go over it.

And I disagree that sleeveless is cooler when it's hot. I burn easily; my arms feel like they're frying in the sun and I get sick of slapping on suncream. I feel much more comfortable if they're covered - provided it's with linen or cotton, not viscose.

mrssmiling · 30/05/2015 12:36

Toast has some dresses with sleeves - in cotton, or cotton mix.
Link

HappenstanceMarmite · 30/05/2015 12:58

Yes it's not always about being overweight and wanting to "hide". I am a size 12 but my arms are ageing faster than the rest of me Shock. So I prefer not to have them jiggling around especially at work when I am presenting to, or training medics.

FickleByNurture · 30/05/2015 13:07

Personally speaking my arms are a mess of ancient scars. I don't feel it is professional to show them in a work place and I am uncomfortable showing them around people I don't know so well. As someone in my late 20s finding nice summer clothes that cover everything up is horrifically tricky and I end up frumpy.

ginorwine · 30/05/2015 13:50

Boden do long and 34 sleeves .
Toast.
Bit expensive - I'm learning to dress make .
It's for speed and money saving I think

mrssmiling · 30/05/2015 15:48

Peopletree also have a few lovely dresses with sleeves!

JessiePinkman · 30/05/2015 16:37

I can't bear cardigans, also don't like fitted sleeves in summer, I need air as I sweat so much! I always buy dresses with floaty sleeves I don't know if they're called angel sleeves or something?? But it's the only thing I can wear in summer. I have a sewing machine but haven't dared make anything yet though saved some links. I'm sure once I mastered one id be well away making lots of them Smile