What do you wear with sleeveless dresses when you dont want your arms out?

[Ethela]

So many wonderful dresses are sleeveless - what sort of cardi looks best - style and colour if you dont want your arms out? I am short and broad shouldered.

Kind of depends on the dress. If the dress has a waist, I’d wear a slightly boxy cardie that sits at the waist or just slightly below. Either V-neck or crew neck depending on what suits you.

Would you wear the same colour as the dress? I am looking at a fit and flare midi style and trying to work out if the same colour flattering (looks like the arms of the dress) or if a contrast is more flattering IYSWIM?

I like a long sleeve shrug personally, like this Navneet Women Knit Shrugs Long Sleeve Bolero Cardigans Cropped Arm Sleeves Shawl Shrug Sweater Going Out : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion or this Totatuit Women Shrugs Cropped Cardigans Bolero Long Sleeve Shrugs Women Elegant Bolero Cardigans for Stylish Layering White S : Amazon.co.uk: Fashion. I have one in Black and one in white and match with what goes with the dress best.

I'm broad shouldered and don't like shrugs, they look weird from behind.

My friend wears a white tshirt h see strappy or sleeveless dresses and I think it looks quite good. Better with thin or spaghetti straps or dungaree top types.

I wear a long sleeve bodysuit underneath. Usually a black one, but I have different colours.

I have several of these in different colours : https://amzn.eu/d/1ocTU0J

Agree - for me I look like a hod carrier - too many horizontal lines chopping upmy already blocky physique.....though the second one linked above Totatuit has a nice low dropped back which would be nice.

Long sleeves underneath. I only own one sleeveless dress though as I hate arms out and also hate chucking a cardi on over a lovely dress, totally frumps up an outfit imo.
So basically I tend to steer clear anything with sleeves.

Like this

https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-honor&sca_esv=f3bcd2ee2bfd0ccb&sxsrf=AHTn8zrBEG2KiD3ubsoXi8ZDgs_MWqU5Zw:1744472203734&q=black+sheer+long+sleeve+bodysuit&udm=28&fbs=ABzOT_AMv1UB0-0zthZR1n-86rXxlr7RuXSU8cu0UVzUi4qJQF5K_7MS_AXmg8Mvcn2NV8P97llUg6K4znu2d_Eh2OX2ndtx2winS00EyS9HpBChWEdVJoW75nFnWWPartT6LP5KHHWlc0kkUZnR4f1YKzSlO9uKKQ7g2V7-nvsiFbfmSdJiHXYP3BWDH2ohcBiPi6PSRORbjBQBcPuFSCdyk6-HcxGEGiWrmTGZ5uDio-X6I1FwQDx3xsxFR0itMJ8CE9lZ5PVK&ved=1t:220175&ictx=111&biw=360&bih=713&dpr=3#ip=1&piu=ps:36&oshopproduct=gid:15785376708453861364,mid:576462783052617234,oid:9979759486399022939,iid:4431458748760280342,pvt:a,pvo:3&oshop=apv&pvs=0

Underneath that should say.

If a casual sun dress I put a linen shirt (unbuttoned) on . When I gain weight it goes straight to my arms 🙄

https://amzn.eu/d/0NxrgKR. What about something like these? You can also buy just the sleeves.

DD23 wears a t shirt or longer sleeved plain top under a lot of her dresses. Looks nice.

I hate sleeveless dresses so I don't buy them, and write bad reviews of them. For a shop to sell some is obviously good, but more and more shops seem to mostly have sleeveless, even in winter (looking at you Toast). I suppose they must be cheaper to manufacture.

https://onehundredstars.co.uk/?srsltid=AfmBOopRN_GCHvdFY-uX6Yzts0dYVEAkC0gUIC6slPW3Z_xAaBvyqIAI

I love short kimonos from one hundred stars for the summer. I have several designs and colours, I usually buy a new one from the sales every year.

You write bad reviews of dresses you don't buy just because you don't personally like them?

These are really pretty and can see them working well with a plain long slip dress but wouldnt work on my shape with the tailored fit and flair dress.

I imagine they are also easier to sell - all those long, toned, skinny, tanned limbs make the dress look great and no sleeves is more flattering on a dress as the eye is drawn vertically - maybe I just need to get down the gym.

But you are right they are sold all year round which is ridiculous in the UK when they dont help you with styling it!

@xmasdealhunter no ,I write bad reviews of the stock in shops where I used to spend a lot of money and now don't because I love dresses but don't want to go out all year round in a sun dress. It's not just personal taste, many people for many reasons like to cover their arms even in summer, and in winter I prefer to be warm. The OP is quite right in thinking that wearing a cardigan or jumper over a dress mostly does not improve the dress.

It really just depends on the dress doesn't it?
I will wear short or long sleeved tops or bodies under slip style or pinafore dresses.
A shorter length thin cardie or light shirt can also look good.
Alot of the time I just leave my bingo wings flapping in the breeze for all to see! (I have really bad loose skin on my upper arms from drastic weight loss. But I also have nice shoulders so I choose to think about that instead!).

I will wear a cardigan or a denim jacket.

Thanks all. I think I will go for a thin short cardi for the tailored fit and flare dress.

The dress is black does anyone have an opinion on whether a black cardi or another colour would look better - ie black looks like sleeves of the dress whereas another colour might complement the dress shape?

I bought an item of underwear in the last M&S sale, lacy arms joined by a full back and low front. A bit like a shrug which meets in the centre front.
It was described as shapewear and make my upper arms look firmer.

It’s black, and worn under a black sleeveless dress makes it look like I’m wearing a plain dress which has lacy sleeves. If something similar is in stock in M&S I’m hopeless at searching, but they might be available elsewhere.

It’s cooler to wear than a dress and cardigan or jacket, and probably smarter, but it’s not as easy to take off if you get too warm.

Currently heavily pregnant and this is my new style. It hides all the bits I've gained weight and feel so much more comfortable with the shirt on.