A sleeve is the part of a garment that covers the arm. It can be long, short, or somewhere in between. The sleeve shapes how a garment fits and moves. A tight sleeve restricts. A loose one drapes. The sleeve also frames the arm and can draw attention to the wrist, the shoulder, or the elbow. Designers use sleeve length and volume to change a garment's entire character.

Types are many. The set-in sleeve is the most common, sewn into a shaped armhole. The raglan sleeve extends to the collar in one piece, common on baseball shirts and coats. The dropped shoulder sleeve sits below the shoulder line, creating a relaxed look. The kimono sleeve is cut in one piece with the body. The cap sleeve covers only the shoulder. The puff sleeve gathers at the shoulder and sometimes the cuff. The bell sleeve flares at the wrist. The dolman sleeve is wide at the armhole and narrow at the wrist. Each has a different construction and fit.

Sleeve length has conventions. Sleeveless garments have no sleeves. Cap sleeves just cover the shoulder. Short sleeves end above the elbow. Elbow-length sleeves end at the elbow. Three-quarter sleeves end mid-forearm. Long sleeves end at the wrist. French sleeves end just below the elbow. The right length depends on the garment and the occasion. A dress shirt sleeve should end at the wrist bone. A blazer sleeve should show a quarter inch of shirt cuff. These details signal attention to fit.

Common types

• Set-in
• Raglan
• Dropped shoulder
• Puff
• Bell and kimono