Bishop sleeve
Also known as: Bishop's sleeve, Poet sleeve (related)
Long sleeve that sets in moderately at the shoulder, gathers into a full puff towards the wrist and ends in a narrow cuff (button cuff or elastic).
Description
The bishop sleeve is a long sleeve style with a comparatively flat shoulder set and pronounced volume in the lower third. The name refers to the traditional vestments of Anglican bishops, whose gowns feature similarly wide sleeves gathered at the wrist. The excess width at the wrist is folded into gathers by a narrow cuff, buttoned cuff or elastic.
The bishop sleeve has been one of the most popular feminine sleeve shapes since the 1960s and enjoyed a strong comeback in the 2020s. It suits light blouses and dresses, romantic folk wear, boho dresses and even a classic white business shirt for a softer silhouette. Typical fabrics are cotton voile, chiffon, poplin, muslin and light viscose.
- Shoulder set: moderate, little shoulder puff
- Volume: increases strongly towards the wrist
- Finish: narrow cuff, buttoned cuff or elastic
- Fabrics: voile, chiffon, poplin, muslin, viscose
Properties
| Sleeve length | Long, to the wrist |
|---|---|
| Volume distribution | Little at shoulder, strong at wrist |
| Cuff finish | Narrow cuff, buttoned cuff or elastic |
| Suitable fabrics | Voile, chiffon, poplin, muslin, viscose |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- V&A Museum: Sleeve shapes vam.ac.uk https://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/fashion
- Wikipedia: Sleeve Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleeve
