When we started to see the puff-sleeve trend pop up in Spring 2018, it seemed like just the season’s newest must-have. Since then, it’s been reimagined in so many iterations and has continually returned season after season, becoming more than just a fleeting trend. The larger-than-life sleeve has presented itself in many variations: the balloon, the Juliet, the leg-of-mutton and so on. It was first seen fixed to Victorian-inspired shirts and romantic house dresses, but the market has since expanded (no pun intended) to anything that has a sleeve. Just look to the Fall Winter 2020 collections for proof. There were mighty balloon sleeves on sweaters at Fendi, billowing sleeves attached to pleated shirt dresses at McQueen, perfectly puffed gowns at Rodarte, and double-breasted winter coats at JW Anderson.
Whether you’ve had enough of the oversized sleeve or not, we can certainly expect these statement sleeves to stick around for another season at the very least. And as far as shopping for a “trendy” item goes, ones with proven staying power feel like a smarter investment. For summer, you’d probably want a billowing dress in a breezy fabric. It is the season of the day dress, after all.
Find 21 summer versions of the pretty puff sleeve you can wear right now and even save for later, too.
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