SLEEVES TREND ALERT!

This season, it’s all about statement sleeves. From bell-shaped and extra-long to balloon and cold-shoulder, attention grabbing sleeves are stealing all the spotlight. So, to make sure that you’re not left in the dark, one of the key trends to come out of recent fashion weeks is bell sleeves. Fitted on the shoulder and flaring out wide toward the wrist, the bell sleeve is the same as it always was, yet totally different. Gone are any hippy and bohemian references, instead, the new bell sleeve is modern and utterly chic. From sleek dresses to cool tops and even quirky knits, bell sleeves add a unique dose of fashion to even the simplest of outfits. When shopping for bell sleeves look for styles that are a little flamboyant. Extra-wide flares, ones made of modern, structured materials, flares that tie at the elbow and ruffle designs are all key styles to buy this season. Once you have your statement bell sleeves, remember to keep the rest of your look minimal. A simple silhouette in a neutral color palette is all you need to finish this look.

While bell sleeves look sleek and chic, bishop sleeves appear soft and feminine. Most commonly spotted on lovely dresses, bishop sleeves compliment the outfits to which they belong while remaining a standout feature in their own right. The style, which balloons out toward the lower arm before gathering into a cuff at the wrist, looks best in sheer fabrics such as chiffon and lace designs. As for how this statement sleeve should be styled, there are two equally chic ways. The first embraces the relaxed, bohemian aesthetic of the sleeves, carrying the style, and fabric, through the entire outfit. The second juxtaposes the loose sleeves with sharp designs and clean fabrics to keep the look modern and more tailored. Despite having a similar silhouette to bell sleeves, flounce sleeves tend to be slightly more subtle and feminine. The style is created by attaching a separate piece of circular-cut fabric to the sleeve. This creates a ruffle effect that gives flounce sleeves their flare. This season, flounce sleeves were seen in all sizes. There were the small and simple designs that lightly flared out toward the wrist and then there were the dramatic types that featured large flounces attached at the elbows. Whatever the size, both types were on trend and statement-making in their own way. To wear this trend for yourself, pair tops and shirts featuring small flounces with casual styles such as jeans and low-heeled shoes. The large and dramatic flounce sleeves, on the other hand, are best reserved for standout dresses and times when you’re after that “look at me” style.

To up the ante on flounce sleeves, consider trying statement-making, ruffle sleeves instead. These sleeves are loud, fun and attention-loving. They were spotted on the streets of the recent Spring/Summer 2019 fashion shows, and we haven’t been able to get them out of our heads since. Choose between different sizes and amounts of ruffles for different variations on this trend. Whether you choose ruffles that completely cover the sleeve or ones that start from the elbow, these sleeves is all the statement you need. Forget loud colors and patterns and opt for minimal black and white hues instead. Pair your ruffle sleeve shirt with simple designs such as cropped, straight-leg trousers. The straight-forward style will keep your look super stylish and chic, rather than letting it go over-the-top. Coinciding with the rise in popularity of the off-the-shoulder sleeves has been the rise of cold-shoulder sleeves. Perfect for women who like to bare a little less skin, cold-shoulder designs feature a flash of skin just on the tops of arms. Appearing like a regular design with cutouts at the shoulders, cold-shoulder sleeves are modern and chic. Despite being less impactful than off-the-shoulder designs, cold-shoulder sleeves have the benefit of being more practical. After all, with the addition of the bodice top, there’s more support and sleeves can be looser. This means that there’s no need to worry about your sleeves slipping up or top slipping down! As well as being practical, the style is also gorgeous and looks great when paired with long, flowing silhouettes.