Puff sleeves have been popular and unpopular throughout history, with various sizes and shapes. They made a comeback in the 1980s and again in the late 2000s, appearing on both formal wear and casual clothing.
The popularity of the puff pastry sleeve has waxed and waned over the centuries. At certain times in history, puffed sleeves were considered the height of femininity, while at others, they were considered excessive and best dressed up in costumes. Often associated with Disney princesses and Shakespearean heroines, the puffy sleeve has undergone many transformations in size and shape over the years.
From the late 1700s to the early 1800s, the puff sleeve was a diminutive design that often appeared on dresses with empire waists, such as the Regency dress. From the 1820s to about 1840, the volume of the puff sleeve varied at different points along the arm and was held up with elaborate materials such as underwire, padding, and boning. Some styles of puffed sleeves puffed more at the upper arm, while others puffed at the elbow, or even puffed from the shoulder and tapered to the wrist, a style referred to as the “gigot sleeve.” At one point during the 1800s, the fullness of the puff pastry sleeve was so extravagant that it was called the “moron sleeve.” The style was even parodied in 19th-century cartoon publications, depicting women unable to get through doors because of their sleeves.
In the 1980s, puffed sleeves made a formal comeback thanks to shows like Dynasty and Dallas popularizing the look. Also during this time, the puff sleeve was a popular feature on many wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, and party dresses, both long-sleeved and short-sleeved. With the exception of children’s clothing, the puff sleeve disappeared from fashion for most of the 1990s, and the term “puffy sleeves” took on a negative connotation indicating that something was out of fashion or out of fashion.
In the late 2000s, puffy sleeves made a comeback yet again, but this time they weren’t limited to ball gowns and other formal wear. Button-down shirts, cardigans, and even T-shirts feature details like pleats and shirring, which gathers the fabric at the shoulder and creates a little puffy sleeve. The popularity of the Pirates of the Caribbean film in the early 2000s also contributed to a revival of interest in the puff sleeve, which tapers at various points along the arm to achieve the pirate look.
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