What is the appeal of 3/4 sleeves?

[pennycarbonara]

It can't just be me who doesn't get it; have seen threads where people use 3/4 length sleeves as reasons for deciding against something.

Surely if it's cooler you want proper long sleeves (3/4 knits are especially strange) and if it's warmer, 3/4 is too warm? I can see some uses for work where you need to frequently look at a watch or roll up your sleeves a bit, but that doesn't account for their popularity.

I've heard they are popular in plus size ranges because some people really want to hide their upper arms - but there are lots of them available in small sizes too.

Do some people's forearms just not get that cold?

(I can understand people wearing short skirts in cold weather because I have some of that cold-tolerance in my legs, and have read that fat distribution in the legs helps with the physiology of it, but arms, no - never developed it.)

3/4 are warm but don't flap around my wrist.

I don't wear them when it's very hot but I love them because I hate full length sleeves and always push them up out of the way. I don't normally need a cardi or jacket over them as they are warm.

I'm petite and as for others they fit better. Full length sleeves either have to have tight cuffs, or be of a material which can be rolled back else they hang over my hands - which is a cute look on a waif-ish teen but less so in a 40 yr old woman.

Also I'm hour-glassed shaped and the 3/4 sleeve length stops at, and emphasises the waist, rather than the boobs (short sleeves) or the hips (long sleeves) and is therefore more flattering. It's a common piece of style advice for the shape. A lot of wrap dresses come with 3/4 length sleeves for probably the same reason.

I love them too. Don't like lots of material round my wrists. And they're perfect for intermediate weather, not too hot or too cold (I.e. 90% of British weather!)

Yet another here who doesn’t like the feeling of long sleeves on my wrists and keeps pulling them up. So only wear them when it’s really cold. Otherwise, 3/4 much better most of the year and have added bonus of showing off my lower arms which are one of my slimmest parts.
But in the current weather I go for short sleeves which only cover top of my arms ( not a favourite area!).

I'm not petite but they just suit me better, possibly because visually the sleeve then ends near my natural waist, i.e. my narrowest part? I always roll up shirt sleeves to 3/4 length too, as it just looks wrong on me otherwise, unfinished somehow. 3/4 sleeve jumpers are great too, and the vast majority of the time weather isn't an issue.

I am small and have a permanent scar on the inside of one of my elbows which I like to cover much of the time and three quarter length sleeves are great for that.

Another petite person with very short arms here
I also like showing off my tiny wrists and bracelets or bangle

I'm a 12 but still have large upper arms and a large chest. They're more flattering than long sleeves on my figure and it means if I wear a nice drapey cardi over the top or my leather jacket I don't have double sleeves round my wrists. Plus, I have hot hands.

I also commute by car to an office with heating so being outside for long spells in winter is far from a daily occurence. You do tend to get a different view on what is necessary for winter clothes from someone who walks a mile to a tube station or takes the train.

I don’t like my elbows so like 3/4 sleeves, wearing them today on a linen blouse.

In winter I think a chunky cardigan makes me look bigger but with 3/4 sleeves somehow I look thinner as my natural arms covered in a long sleeve are showing.

Its all about our own perceptions.

"You do tend to get a different view on what is necessary for winter clothes from someone who walks a mile to a tube station or takes the train."

Or works in an office with arctic air con [grumpy face]. My office is colder in summer than in winter [even more grumpy face]

I think people are right in commenting about what suits you. I have long thin arms that just look gangly in 3/4 sleeve lengths. I look as if my knuckles might graze the ground

I agree love 3/4 length sleeves. Super practical, versatile for all weathers. Can wear another top under a jumper or cardigan, great for layering.

love 3/4 lengths :)
I'm tallish but have very long arms, so "full" length sleeves are often a couple of inches too short anyway, which looks silly.
Outerwear though (coats/jumpers etc) I juts have long, and it doesn't bother me that htey finish at different levels

I actively seek out 3/4 length sleeves. My arms are proportionately short and full length are always too long. When I do buy a jacket, say, with full length sleeves I have to turn them up.
Also I hate the feel of anything around my wrists.

The look flattering on me, more so than an awkward length long sleeve that never seems to hit right on my wrist and flaps about.

I love 3/4 sleeves - I always end up pushing up full length sleeves which ends up distorting the fabric, so a 3/4 length that doesn't need to be rolled up stays looking nicer for longer. Otherwise I just end up getting the cuffs wet/mucky and look a state.

I seem to have reached a point where short sleeves cut my arms off at the wrong place - so I'm starting to prefer sleeveless (living in lands end vest tops this summer) or 3/4 length. They're more practical than full length I'm finding. I like shirts with rollback cuffs too, especially if they have a proper cuff not fake.

I like long sleeves in cold weather but I am big busted and short sleeves direct the eye to the wrong place! Much more flattering for me to wear 3/4; plus I have thin wrists (and the rest of me isn't remotely thin!)

I'm the opposite, I have very long arms so if I wear full length they look like 3/4 on me anyway. True 3/4 sleeves have better proportions....

I'm with you OP. If it's cold I want my arms covered (and I'm tall with long arms so find it hard to find sleeves long enough) and if it's warm I want to wear as little as possible. I just don't get it.

I think it’s a tall vs. short thing, judging by this thread!

I’m petite, and I love 3/4 sleeves. They are very flattering. As are wrap dresses. I don’t care if either go out of fashion, i’ll wear them for ever! i’ll Be one of those old ladies stuck in a fashion time warp.

I wear them for about 3 weeks in spring and 3 weeks in autumn! Otherwise they are too hot/too cold. (Not in U.K. - hotter summers and colder winters here)

I don't mind a 3/4 jumper over a long sleeve t-shirt except when it's very cold - is that a fashion faux pas? For some reason 3/4 sleeves don't feel right under a long sleeved jumper, my wrists still get cold!

I love them , long sleeves are always a bit too long as I'm petite so 3/4 sleeves are just right

I prefer them. I'm also short long sleeves are usually too long for me and require seamstress skills I don't have to shorten them.

The other things I've noticed is they get less grubby around the cuff and it makes washing my hands thoroughly easier; I'm less likely to have a wet cuff annoying me for an hour or two after washing up / washing hands/ washing kids' hands. I don't feel particularly cold in them.

I hope 3/4 sleeves stay forever....skinny jeans however, they can take a hike.

I'm the same as most PPs and love them. If I have anything with long sleeves, I end up pushing the sleeves up to just below my elbows. I've never thought about it much before it just feels natural!