(Women's fashion) Why 3/4 length sleeves? (supply, substitute, wash, cut)

[hunterseat]

Variety is the spice of life. There's not much in the way of fashion that I find myself hating.

I wear sleeves of all lengths.

[elan]

I love 3/4 length sleeves.

[steiconi]

Since you mentioned styles for older women...
Short sleeves tend to emphasize the bust and make it seem wider. That winds up looking frumpy if you're already wider than you'd like. The tern "matronly" comes to mind.

Sleeveless blouses reveal saggy upper arms.

Long sleeves have multiple issues already covered.

That pretty much leaves 3/4 sleeves.

[gouligann]

3/4 sleeves work great for me.

I can't stand a cuff around my wrist unless it's loose enough to push up and tight enough to stay up where I push it.

My arms get cold in short sleeves unless the weather is hot so 3/4 sleeves are better for me most of the time.

[chiluvr1228]

I prefer 3/4 sleeves over long sleeves. One because I'm petite and long sleeves cover my whole hands unless I buy in the petite section and two because I hate the feeling of things around my wrists especially when I'm cooking or cleaning. Being in Florida most of my life I rarely need to wear long sleeves. I usually wear sleeveless or cami tops but I always keep a sweater or light jacket in the car as grocery stores and restaurants are usually freezing down here.

[Bungalove]

Originally Posted by bondaroo

I love 'em. I have short arms, so a lot of long sleeves hang over my hands and look sloppy. 3/4 can land anywhere from elbow to wrist and look good.

Same here. Even in the petite sizes the long-sleeved tops are just too long for my arms and hang down over my wrists and hands. The 3/4 sleeves are just right.

[goldenwings]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

I love 3/4 length sleeves--I'm wearing them right now. Often short sleeves are too short to be work-appropriate, I don't wear sleeveless often, and as a petite person, often long sleeves are too long (I actually hate long sleeves, to be honest.)

yep! I am always saying, where are the 3/4 length sleeve tops??? I find some and they are sold out in my size and color. I have always disliked the feeling of long sleeves as they feel so cumbersome. Short sleeves dont suit my work environment. One thing to bear in mind is that Clinton allowed the free trade agreement in the 90's and the garment workers union went away.......no more standard sizes and competent pattern making! Now it is very hard to find decent manufactured garments with nice tailoring for ladies. I am over 50 but I find H&M to have nice tops at a good price. I buy almost everything online and because I know the cut of certain labels, I know it will fit. The retail stores are over priced and they make alot of things I dont like.

[Coney]

Hate them and refuse to buy them. I live in an area where there is very little in-between climate. It's either hot or cold most of the time. They are ugly and useless. They don't feel right under a coat. They are really useless to me if they are made from a heavy fabric or knit like a sweater. Too cold to wear them in the fall/winter.

[emm74]

People should really stop claiming that 3/4 are to save clothing manufacturers money - it's about MAKING money for them. More than half the responses in this thread are from women who actively prefer 3/4 length sleeves. Manufacturers make what sells. If no one was buying these shirts, they would lose money on them and stop making them. But people are buying them because we like them.

If you don't like them, there are other options to choose from. I see sleeveless things all the time that I love but I don't wear sleeveless so I move on to something else.

[katharsis]

FWIW, I hate 3/4 length sleeves, too, and will not buy them. My favorites are slim long sleeve tops. (I'm older, so I won't wear sleeveless anymore without a jacket or shrug or overblouse -- unless I am home alone where no one can see my fat "old lady" arms. (I am a 6/8, but my arms and legs are very "heavy".)