In today's blog, we are going to have a look at the sleeve designs in Lolita dresses and blouses.

Speaking of sleeves, there are 5 different lengths:

• •Sleeveless: There are no sleeves attached to the clothing. A JSK(Jumper Skirt) is a sleeveless dress.
• •Short Sleeves: The length of short sleeves is between the elbow and the shoulder. They are all types of sleeves that finish above the elbow. They can be plainly cut or gathered, circular or many other variations of the sleeves.
  • •Cap Sleeves: It's a popular short sleeve that just covers the shoulder cap. It is mainly fitted just on the top of the shoulder, but sometimes it can slightly extend up or over the shoulder cap but always not extend below armpit level. They are more like extensions of the collar bones.
• •Half Sleeves: Half sleeves reach a little above the elbow or a little below the elbow.
• •3/4 Sleeves(Bracelet Sleeves): This sleeve has a length between the elbow and the wrist. The whole idea is that when you wear this sleeve you can see your bracelet. From the elbow, it measures about 4 inches(10cm). 
• •Long Sleeves: Long sleeves are long and cover the entire arm down to the wrist.
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10 Sleeve Designs of Lolita Dresses and Blouses:

The types of sleeves may be determined by the cut of the pattern and can be a one-piece sleeve or a separate set-in sleeve. The one-piece sleeves are part of the bodice. Traditional Kimono sleeves and Batwing sleeves(Dolman/ Magyar sleeves) belong to the one-piece sleeves. The set-in sleeves join the bodice with a curved seam, which gives a more fitted look to the armhole.

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• 1. Puffed Sleeve:
• Puffed sleeves are short and gathered to look like puffs of fabric. They give a youthful look to a Lolita top or dress. They are usually gathered into a narrow cuff or finished with elastic for maximum comfort.
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  • Balloon Sleeve:
  • Balloon sleeves are long puffed sleeves. They gather at the shoulder and then puff out and gather back at the wrist. Sometimes, the sleeve puffs out lower than the shoulder, but it is still a full puff rather than a tapered flare. The balloon sleeves are all about extra puff and volume but with a fitted cuff or elastic.
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• 2. Lantern Sleeve: 
• A lantern sleeve has two sections. It balloons out between the wrist and the elbow and then gathers again around the wrist. The two sections are joined by a seam that maintains its lantern shape. Lantern Sleeve is small at the top and bottom, large in the middle and mostly made of light and stiff fabrics. It always adds clothing a touch of warm, romantic, feminine feeling.
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• 3. Trumpet Sleeve:
• A trumpet sleeve is fitted at the top, large at the bottom and it's like a bell shape from the elbow to the wrist. The arm opening is larger than the sleeve body, with flowing characteristics. Trumpet sleeves have a Bohemian vibe and create a soft feminine effect on clothing. 
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  • If you add irregular ruffles and multi-layers of fabric to a trumpet sleeve it can be more gorgeous. This kind of gorgeous trumpet sleeve can also be called Hime sleeve. This kind of cascading trumpet sleeves can bring out the leisure elegance of the dress. Irregular ruffles with a draped texture can not only cover up stubby arms but also give a sense of femininity.
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  • Bell Sleeve:
  • Bell Sleeve is similar to a trumpet sleeve but bell sleeves create a bell shape from the shoulder to the wrist.
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• 4. Leg-of-Mutton Sleeve: 
• Leg-of-Mutton Sleeves are long sleeves. The Leg-of-Mutton sleeve (also known in French as the gigot sleeve) was initially named due to its unusual shape. These sleeves have puffiness at the shoulder and taper down towards the wrist, which gives a leg-of-mutton-shaped outline.
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  • First seen in fashionable dress in the 1820s, the sleeve became popular in the Victorian era.
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• 5. Bishop Sleeve:
• It has a fitted or semi-fitted upper part near the elbow and then the low part opens wider towards the wrist. The sleeves are gathered and attached with a cuff at the wrist with buttons. The wrist can also be secured with elastic. 
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  • Bishop sleeve is similar to the Balloon Sleeve, but Bishop Sleeve offers a more delicate and feminine version of the look. The balloon sleeve is more casual.
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• 6. Virago Sleeve(Multi-section Sleeve):
• A Virago sleeve has two or more sections. Each section is drawn and seamed to fit around the arm. It can give a romantic vibe to the look.
  • It's a vintage sleeve which is fashionable in the 1620s–1630s. 
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• 7. Detachable Sleeve: 
• These sleeves are also called false or fake sleeves. They can be removed to achieve a different look. 
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• 8. Off-shoulder Sleeve: 
• Off-shoulder sleeves give summer vibes to a dress or blouse. They sit below the shoulder bone and can be effective in different lengths. The sleeve hangs on to the bodice from the sides rather than from the top of the armscye.
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• 9. Open shoulder Sleeve(Cut-out/Cold-shouldered Sleeve):
• It's a summery casual style. Part of the sleeve is open to show the arms of the wearer. 
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• 10. Japanese Traditional Kimono Sleeve: 
• Kimono sleeves are inspired by the traditional Japanese dress style. It's a long, wide, and loose one-piece sleeve. This sleeve looks like an extension of the bodice and extends to the wrist. It's often used in a Wa Lolita dress or top.
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That's all the sleeve design this blog wanted to talk about today. However, Lolita Fashion also keeps absorbing different kinds of fashion. In addition to the sleeve designs described above, there must be other sleeve designs that you like but this article hasn't mentioned. Please feel free to leave a comment for your favorite sleeve design!