A batwing dress has a loose armhole that creates a “wing” effect when arms are held away from the body. It can be long or short-sleeved and is easy to sew. The style has been around since the Middle Ages and became popular in the 1980s, making the wearer’s waist appear smaller.
A batwing dress is a women’s garment with a sleeve that has a deep, loose armhole. The sleeve is not fitted at the shoulder as more tailored garments tend to be, but rather flows freely from the seam where the sleeve and body of the garment meet, creating a “wing” effect when the arms are held away from the body . The sleeve can also be cut as a single piece with the rest of the garment instead of sewn separately to the body of the dress. This makes the batwing dress very quick and easy to sew compared to a pattern with many pieces to cut and fit.
A long-sleeved version of the batwing dress will often taper to fit snugly into a band at the wrist. The sleeves in a short sleeve style usually hang loosely to about the elbow with no tapering effect. The length of the dress itself can vary from a mini dress to a maxi dress or any length in between. The distinctive flowy sleeve is what defines the batwing dress, not the hem length.
The bat sleeve is sometimes referred to as a “dolman” sleeve. The batwing dress is actually a variation on the dolman style that includes larger, more voluminous sleeves. The terms are often used interchangeably.
The style has been around since the Middle Ages, when the citizens of Turkey wore a garment called a “dolman” that had long, flowing sleeves created by the folds of the fabric. When the fashion and entertainment industries became fascinated with the Far East in the early 1900s, the sheath was incorporated into many designs and went through a period of popularity that lasted a few decades. Flowy fabric was considered elegant and comfortable. The trend faded, however, during the cloth shortage of World War II. As shortages improved, the flowing sleeve enjoyed a brief renaissance.
It wasn’t until the 1980s that the trend returned in full force and was renamed “bat sleeve.” It was found on everything from formal wear to casual sportswear. Part of its popularity is due to the billowy sleeves making the wearer’s waist appear small by comparison. The batwing silhouette was also seen in the 1980s fashion revival that occurred in the early 2000s. It was especially popular with V-neck sweater styles.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
