widesleeved

Widesleeved is an adjective used in fashion and costume history to describe garments whose sleeves widen from shoulder to wrist, creating a flowing silhouette. The term covers multiple sleeve shapes, including bell sleeves, leg-of-mutton sleeves, bishop sleeves, and lantern sleeves, depending on where the flare begins and how far it extends.

In historical Western fashion, wide sleeves have appeared in several periods, notably bishop and leg-of-mutton sleeves in the 16th through 19th centuries, and bell sleeves in the 1960s and 1970s. In East Asian attire, many robes and dress silhouettes feature long, dramatic wide sleeves that extend past the hands, a characteristic seen in traditional hanfu and certain ceremonial garments; Japanese kimono also uses wide sleeves that can be extended for long forms.

Functionally, widesleeved designs emphasize movement and gestures, provide airflow, and offer a stage-ready visual presence for performance or ceremonial settings. Aesthetically, they create balance with fitted bodies or decorative fabrics at the bodice and can showcase embroidery and trimmings.

In modern fashion, widesleeved silhouettes recur in haute couture, ready-to-wear, and cosplay, often as a statement component that contrasts with tailored or minimal elements. The term remains descriptive rather than a strict stylistic category, used to characterize the sleeve geometry across disparate traditions and eras.

See also: sleeve, bell sleeve, bishop sleeve, leg-of-mutton sleeve, hanfu, furisode.