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Style & beauty

Bare arms -yay or nay?

(59 Posts)
gettingonabit Sat 08-Apr-17 10:29:00

Over the past year I've managed to lose some weight. It's only about a stone and a bit, but I'm gradually feeling a little more confident about putting previously-hidden bits of myself on display again.

I've also been doing some weight training. I'm a little more toned all over my body, but I have been noticing the difference in my arms particularly. There is much less bingo-wingeage now.

I'm slimmish, with straight shoulders. I'm not used to seeing myself with bare arms unless in sports wear. So-should I?

And another thing-I was brought up with the notion that you NEVER went bare-armed in the office. Is this still the case?

Thoughts, o wise, stylish ones?

Lostmyglassesxx Sun 09-Apr-17 11:14:15

Seriously
Why are you asking this in 2017!
Unless you have a horrific skin condition get your arms out ...presumably they look ok after your weigh training .exfoliate slap on a good moisturiser and go forth with your biceps !

Anniebach Sun 09-Apr-17 11:09:51

The one thing my mother banned from the house was my afghan coat, had to keep it in an outhouse, if wet it ponged.

Off topic but this was so,like many mums, I was going on a big demo, my father said take care , don't get involved in any trouble, my Mum ? Don't get arrested you will be on tv grin

gettingonabit Sun 09-Apr-17 10:31:11

I think I may have a Great Aunt Jinny equivalent shaking her finger at me too!

I remember going to a nightclub back in the day decked out in my father's shirt, green footless tights and a very high pair of stilettos.

My mother hid from the neighbours for weeks!

Anniebach Sun 09-Apr-17 10:24:05

Anya, I haven't worn even short sleeves since my early forties and for years I cover my flesh ,as instructed by g aunt Jinny, I wear floaty, skirts and dresses to ankles , sleeves three quarter or long but again floaty, if i like a dress with sleeves just above the elbow I use silk shawls , always have loved floaty wear in summer and straw hats with scarves or flowers around the brim, and I am very skinny and quite tall. Love kaftans

annodomini Sat 08-Apr-17 23:00:29

I never had to suffer office temperatures but in College, the classrooms I usually taught in were overshadowed by a neighbouring multi-storey car park, so were not conducive to bearing flesh.

NonnaW Sat 08-Apr-17 22:39:09

In my experience office temperatures were always way too cold for me to have bare arms! Otherwise I would have done,

Judthepud2 Sat 08-Apr-17 21:30:48

I don't like seeing the cellulite on my upper arms so prefer to keep them covered. Wish I could go sleeveless like when I was in my 40s. Ah well. Tempus fugit!

Anya Sat 08-Apr-17 20:38:51

I'm of the opinion that your Great Aunt Jenny was a wise woman Anniebach and LadyGracie speaks sense too.

cornergran Sat 08-Apr-17 20:08:05

Exactly so, if you feel good in something then go ahead and wear it. As long as it doesn't get you arrested. grin.

Anniebach Sat 08-Apr-17 19:17:20

I am reminded of my great aunt Jinny, - the older you get the less flesh you display !

Do what makes you feel good about yourself gettingonabit

LadyGracie Sat 08-Apr-17 18:52:54

I think it's a case of wearing what you're comfortable with, I don't like my loose upper arms and fat knees so I keep them to myself.

NfkDumpling Sat 08-Apr-17 18:39:10

I can't really see what I look like, but I'm very aware that other people can and I don't want to inflict my cellulite'd legs and flabby bat wings on the world. So I'm with Joan Collins on this one. Long floaty sleeves with wide legs trousers or three quarter sleeved tee shirts with skinny denims holding all in. I do occasionally flaunt myself in cut off trousers when it's sandal weather - but not often.

MawBroon Sat 08-Apr-17 18:29:35

Well said ginny!!

annodomini Sat 08-Apr-17 18:24:45

Good for you, gettingonabit. I'm in the same boat, except not toned at all. I don't like the look of my bingo wings so don't see why I should inflict that vision on others. In recent years M&S has done a good line in teeshirts with almost elbow-length sleeves of which I bought and wore several. Most of them are a bit past it now, so I need to go shopping again. I have bought a pair of jeans in a size 14 which I haven't had for years. Unfortunately, my behind is smaller than my waist at the moment and I have great difficulty keeping jeans and trousers from falling down. Not an impressive sight.Today being sunny I have resorted to a denim skirt which, though I say it, looks pretty good. It might be my 'summer uniform' this year!

BlueBelle Sat 08-Apr-17 18:04:48

I dress for. The weather and warm days it's sleeveless
As for offices before I retired we had youngsters wearing shorts one girls used to put fluffy pink slippers on under the desk so definitely depends on the office

gettingonabit Sat 08-Apr-17 16:24:06

Thanks all. I'm no Michelle Ob but I like to think my upper body has more tone than it did.

Anything goes in my office - including sleeveless- but I've only seen one person baring arms. She looks great-she's tiny and younger than me.

My current look is short jackets and skinny jeans/trousers. I used to go braless for comfort but I'm back in bras again so better shaped. No way would I go braless and sleevelessshock.

I hope I'm not getting carried away with my new-found body confidence though!

ginny Sat 08-Apr-17 16:21:05

I wonder why we Women worry so much about what others think about our clothes if you are clean and comfy and feel good. Blow what others think.

ninathenana Sat 08-Apr-17 16:15:56

I don't care, no amount of sleeve is going to make me look slimmer grin
I wear sleeveless if it's warm enough. Never spaghetti straps though.

LadyGracie Sat 08-Apr-17 15:27:49

I wear sleeveless dresses with a short sleeve little cardie, I'm very conscious of my upper arms being a little 'loose', I also make sure the dress covers my knees even when I was skinny I had fat knees.

nina1959 Sat 08-Apr-17 12:34:17

Shysal, I work in the industry. Sleeve lengths are a big issue. The best option if you want to go sleeveless, and really it doesn't matter if you're on the beach or just chilling out, is to wear tops in darker colours with a broader shoulder cut. Darker colours slim down the body frame, paler colours expand it. This goes for tops with or without sleeves. You'll always look a lot bigger in a pale coloured top.
If you're going to a wedding or some event and photos are going to be taken, it's best to wear a 3/4 sleeve at least.

paddyann Sat 08-Apr-17 11:46:31

I generally buy three quarter sleeves in dresses and tops ,really dont want my bingo wings on show to the world

rosesarered Sat 08-Apr-17 11:33:48

PRINTMISS grin

shysal Sat 08-Apr-17 11:27:56

That applies to me nina1959. When it is really hot I don't care, but I do sometimes buy lightweight long sleeved tops and shorten the sleeves to just above the elbow, in which I feel happier.

PRINTMISS Sat 08-Apr-17 11:25:19

I think if you feel comfortable with what you wear, then wear what you like. For me, unfortunately, my ankles are now really boney and I do not like to have them uncovered, but if the weather is fine then I forget about them and wear something short in the leg and try to forget. Big feet don't help. What sort of vision have I conjured up?

nina1959 Sat 08-Apr-17 10:56:09

The more flesh we show the bigger we look. That's why women wearing spagetti straps, vests, sleeveless tops, etc, always look bigger in photos.
Otherwise, you should just be happy with how you are.