Sleeve types throughout the 20th century.

Throughout the 20th century, sleeves on garments have evolved and changed from tight fits and long sleeves into puffs and balloons. However, there were many devolutions and resorting back to old sleeves and reviving them in a new and exciting way.

1900-1910 EDWARDIAN

The Edwardian period of the 20th century featured tight fit sleeves at the shoulder seam loosening down the arm and gathering into the cuff. This was known as a bishop sleeve and was very common in this period and seen on many historical garments.

1020s

The 1920s showed most dresses having long sleeves for more coverage and to be more modest. There were also short capped sleeves which just sit on the shoulder which was found on evening wear or house dresses.

1930s

Sleeves in the 1930s were usually mid-length and slim with wider shoulders. This influenced the puff sleeve to also become very fashionable at the time.

1940s

The forties brought back the cap sleeves seen in the twenties and also included sleeves ending at the elbow.

1950s

This time period on the 20th century featured almost everything from long sleeves, short sleeves, sleeveless and the continuation of the cap sleeves.

1960s

The sixties brought back the bishop sleeve from the start of the century, increasing their popularity and making them a common sleeve on dresses and blouses.

1970s

In the 1970s balloon sleeves and bell sleeves became the normal within the growth of the hippie community.

1980s

Throughout the 1980s, batwing sleeves became popular, these were sleeves that are cut deep and wide at the shoulder, with sleeves tapering to the wrist. Also, the puff sleeve was revisited, and shoulder pads included in that which blew up over the world.

1990s

However, in the nineties, the puffed sleeves and big shoulder pads fell out of style and wouldn't be seen for a couple of decades.

2000 to 2010

In the start of the 21st century, the bishop sleeve was back, this showed a full circle of them from the 1900s to the 1960s to the 2000s. Flounce sleeves also appeared again, and bell sleeves were more extreme. Extra-long sleeves were popular and also off the shoulder became a thing.