Cybill asked how the woman who doesn’t want to show off her upper arms can look stylish and hide this asset.
Options to Make Your Upper Arms Look Slimmer
- 3/4 sleeves – they cut off the arms at a slim point and make the whole arm look slimmer.
- Alternatively, try a slightly shorter sleeve, that still covers the upper arm but has a diagonal rather than horizontal hem
- A floaty sleeve is a good alternative too as the sleeve doesn’t encase the upper arm tightly.
- Alternatively, a more voluminous sleeve will make your upper arms look small in comparison.
- If you have slim hips, consider wearing a fluted sleeve to balance your upper arms
Use the rules of scale and line when making decisions about what to choose.
- Remembering that horizontal lines broaden – and most hems are horizontals – which is why choosing diagonal sleeves will move the eye away from your arms and avoid that broadening hem.
- Only putting the hem at a narrow point on your arm if it is a horizontal.
- Making the sleeve larger than your arm so your arm looks smaller.
- Having other large details such as a larger necklace (just as you’d do for a large bust) will also help to create a focal point and balance the upper arms.
I’m a BIG fan of 3/4 sleeves; they’re also great for showing off one’s bracelets!
These are all nice choices, Imogen! Hope you get some cooler weather soon.
I love 3/4 after you taught me it will help shorten my long arms!
I love all these cute blouses except the red one…
This is a very helpful post. I’m going to print it out! I’ve given you an award. Come and see.
Deja – Friday topped 45.4 degrees celicius – hottest day on records in Melbourne. A bird fell out of the sky dead and landed in our back yard. Fortunately we have had a cool change come through and it’s only going to be 30 today
Karen – 3/4 sleeves also make your legs look longer and you look taller!
Tessa – thanks so much! I really appreciate it – and you deserve it too.
Thanks so much for doing this Imogen! After reading the comments in the last post I was completely in agreement with you (and others) that we shouldn’t be ashamed of showing our arms, especially on hot days. For myself however, I have a scar that I prefer to conceal so short or no sleeves is simply not an option for me. Love your choices, thanks again.
I also like the 3/4 sleeve, which my mother’s era called “bracelet length” for the reason Pseu mentioned. They would also wear a cardigan over the shoulders (sleeves empty) which I rarely see today.
Duchesse, I still sometimes wear my sweaters that way. Remember the clasps you used to be able to find to keep the sweater on your shoulders?
Hi Imogen: Thanks for your kind thoughts on my hair!!!
Here in the states all the talk is about Michelle Obama’s arms–they ARE the most beautiful arms in the world. Unfortunately, I have my great grandmother’s waving sag!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I wave at a friend they keep waving after I stop!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I call them the “queen” they wave more than the Queen Mum in a military parade! They wave more than Nicole Kidman on the red carpet….more than……you get it.:):) Thanks for the advice to slim em, mate!
Ah, thank you so much! My upper arms are one of the areas that seems to carry flab even when I'm at a healthy weight (saddlebags being the other one), and I was just wondering what to do with them. I think I read somewhere, though, that wearing 3/4 length sleeves is a bad idea for people with long arms.
Thanks it has been a wonderful support, now to make our upper arms look slim is definitely simple by using your recommendation. Kudos