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Style & beauty

Three quarter length sleeves.

(36 Posts)
JessM Fri 16-Oct-15 17:31:38

These seem to be a major feature of the "winter collections" in shops (M and S for one). Warm looking jumpers and jackets with stubby sleeves. I have long arms and they feel the cold. (My Gran, a short person, who knitted for us, once said "Jessica! You have arms like a gorilla!") 3/4 is more like 2/3 on me.
I have a couple of summer weight jackets with shorter sleeves. But why would anyone want to these short sleeves in the winter?

kittylester Fri 16-Oct-15 17:34:14

And, I always thing that you'd have to be careful to co-ordinate, wouldn't you? confused

Coolgran65 Fri 16-Oct-15 17:37:03

I only ever wear 3/4 sleeves, or use a rubber band to take my sleeves up to 3/4 length. Can't stand anything around my wrists.
Even jacket sleeves will be pushed up above the wrists and held in place by a rubber band (which can't be seen)
The only sleeve I'd wear at wrist length would be a heavy winter overcoat.

Ana Fri 16-Oct-15 17:45:13

I don't like 3/4 length sleeves at all, especially on jumpers! I have long arms too and my skinny forearms and none-too-small hands just sort of dangle out of the ends! grin

I've only got a couple because I was caught out and thought they were full length sleeves when I bought them.

NotTooOld Fri 16-Oct-15 18:18:39

I like 3/4 sleeves in spring and autumn but for winter I definitely need long sleeves as my wrists get cold. Sometimes I wear a long sleeved t-shirt under a 3/4 one which can work quite well.

Alea Fri 16-Oct-15 18:18:56

I have a theory no doubt entirely erroneous, that if your wrists are cold, the rest of you feels cold and vice versa. So the only way to wear 3/4 coat or jacket sleeves would have to be with very long glamorous fine leather gloves, channelling your inner Audrey Hepburn .
Bracelet length is of course so called to show off one'so diamond bracelets grin .

Elrel Fri 16-Oct-15 18:21:41

I spent some time this week trawling a big shopping centre for a jumper with 3/4 sleeves. I am small and have short arms so they are the right, comfortable, length for me. In one shop I was told that they don't do 3/4 sleeves in winter clothes as it's colder. M&S were sure they'd had some but, I guess, had sold out. I can roll up normal length sleeves of course but would rather have shorter ones. Still looking. I don't think I'll try the rubber bands!

Indinana Fri 16-Oct-15 18:23:14

I don't mind a 3/4 sleeve cardigan in summer but hate them in winter - the most irritating thing about them is putting a coat or jacket on and trying to stop the 3/4 sleeves underneath from riding up my arms angry

Pittcity Fri 16-Oct-15 18:23:21

Then there is the acrobatics required to get a cardigan or jacket on over 3/4 sleeves without them riding up!

Elegran Fri 16-Oct-15 18:23:57

I think that it a theory with foundation. At your wrists and ankles the blood flows quite near the surface, so it cools fast if they are exposed.

Thosee who prefer three-quarter sleeves all year must live somewhere the temperature doesn't fall very low.

JessM Fri 16-Oct-15 18:28:56

Elrel you and I were obviously in parallel universe versions of M and S. smile
There was one nordic style jumper I quite fancied but no - 3/4 sleeves.

JessM Fri 16-Oct-15 18:33:01

Quite a few examples if you look on the Autograph bit for instance including this little retro number:
www.marksandspencer.com/twin-pockets-knitted-tunic-with-wool/p/p22409452

Alea Fri 16-Oct-15 18:47:50

I would really like that if it came in other colours. Since my hair has gone grey silver, warm colours like tan and ginger really don't suit me any more.

Elrel Fri 16-Oct-15 19:10:03

I wear gloves which come over my wrists!
JessM - thanks, will look at Autograph online!

Elrel Fri 16-Oct-15 19:14:13

Very elegant little retro number! Would prefer to try on as I'm now 4'10'' and shrinking, it could be dress length on me!!

Nelliemoser Fri 16-Oct-15 19:36:43

No grey or browns suit me at all. In colour analysis terms I am a winter.
Its often hard to get clothes in the colours that suit you best as the fashion shops just have a limited range per season of whatever colours are deemed as fashionable at the time. I can't afford a personal seamstress.

rubysong Fri 16-Oct-15 20:04:05

I have a really nice coat with very silly sleeves which are far too short. When I bought it (from Next) I thought I might be able to alter it but I haven't been able to think of a way. This summer I bought another nice coat which had very long sleeves and, with the aid of YouTube I was able to shorten them.

Luckygirl Fri 16-Oct-15 20:29:34

3/4 sleeves are bonkers in the winter - I do not know why they do it. You need long sleeves in the winter.

grannyqueenie Fri 16-Oct-15 22:18:17

Like you elrel I've got short arms so 3/4 length sleeves are perfect for me too. I live in Yorkshire elegran and don't find it a problem in the winter but maybe Scottish winters as a child have toughened me up grin

Deedaa Fri 16-Oct-15 22:18:39

Most of my sleeves are three quarter length and if I wear long sleeves I tend to hike them up a bit - don't really know why confused The coat I bought last winter had rather short sleeves but I didn't notice feeling cold (Obviously spend too much time in the car!)

rosesarered Fri 16-Oct-15 22:26:40

I like the 3/4 sleeve, on just about anything, it frees up the hands for whatever you need to do, and you can wear a bracelet.smile

jogginggirl Fri 16-Oct-15 22:31:44

I have quite long arms but still prefer 3/4 sleeves. Yes - they are a pain under a jacket or coat but if I have long sleeves I just end up pulling them up!! I just feel too constrained ... maybe I'm just weird ...???

ninathenana Sat 17-Oct-15 00:12:14

3/4 every time for me, otherwise I push my sleeves up and stretch them.
I do like a coat with long sleeves though but have trouble finding them the right length. As I am + size they assume I need extra long sleeves. I have a nice jacket that I had to take about 4-5 inches off the bottom of the sleeves.

EastEndGranny Sat 17-Oct-15 08:49:09

I have short arms and I know the 3/4 sleeves look elegant but I feel he cold far too much to enjoy wearing them. I've been thinking of knitting some cuffs to wear indoors for days when I'm wearing a jumper with them. Having cold hands is I'm afraid 'down to the tablets' but when you're wrists and hands Re cold it makes the rest of you feel cold.
P.s. Unfortunately my knitting isn't up to making something round!

suzied Sat 17-Oct-15 08:55:19

I quite layering a long sleeve cotton t shirt under a 3/4 sleeve tunic or sweater. You can then get a colour contrast. Primark, Gap and Uniqglo do lots of long sleeve tops in loads of colours which are really useful as base layers.