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What are Angel Sleeves?

Erica Stratton
Erica Stratton

Angel sleeves are a style of sleeve that dates back at least to the Renaissance. Instead of being fitted to the arm, the sleeves are cut with lots of extra material, so that they have the appearance of "wings." The exact length of the angel sleeves varies widely, from just below the elbow to covering the hands, and the extra material might be so long that it trails on the floor.

Though many angel sleeves are cut very long, so that the open cuffs reach down to the knee, the term can be used as a general name for any sleeve that is made with a lot of material and doesn't have a gathered cuff. For example, kimono sleeves have a similar construction can be referred to as angel sleeves. In some cases, the term "angel sleeves" may refer to any kind of ruffle of material that sits on the shoulder like a tiny angel's wing.

Angel sleeves may be featured on academic robes.
Angel sleeves may be featured on academic robes.

There are several ways to make angel sleeves for a garment. Such sleeves can be used to make an angel wing dress or an angel sleeve bodice. One way is to cut a large circle of cloth and fold it in half. A circle is cut in the center of the cloth, making an armhole that will then be attached to the shoulder of the garment. The excess material creates a large, unfitted, flowing sleeve.

Another way of creating an angel sleeve involves cutting out a large rectangle of cloth and folding it widthwise, with one end of the folded rectangle being gathered to fit it to the shoulder of the garment. The sides of the rectangle are sewn together, and the material at the cuff isn't gathered, but allowed to hang free. This last detail is what mainly differentiates an angel sleeve from other types of sleeve that also require a great deal of material to make.

Even though angel sleeves mainly went out of fashion with the Middle Ages, they can still be seen on some women's and men's clothing today. Many academic robes worn by college graduates have angel sleeves. So do several kinds of Halloween costumes, such as medieval ladies, pirates, and, of course, angels. 

Another type of "sleeve" is when a tattoo design covers the arm from the shoulder to the elbow or from the shoulder to the wrist. These "sleeves" are often referred to by their subject matter, which could be anything from monsters to pinups to angels. Thus, an angel sleeve can also refer to a tattoo covering most of the arm whose subject is an angel. 

Discussion Comments

KoiwiGal

It's interesting that people think of this as a clothing term, since I strongly associate it with tattoos. Although I suppose I don't usually hear specific words like angel. Usually people just call them sleeves or ink sleeves.

pleonasm

@croydon - Actually, if you look up the term "angel wing sleeve" and check out the pictures there are plenty of blouses and things that have a variation on this kind of sleeve. And they look perfectly modern. I think people would only look twice if this sleeve was matched with one of those really long, high waist dresses that they wore in medieval times.

Also, I suspect this has more to do with a practicality judgment. If I saw someone in full medieval regalia I'd definitely wonder why they were wearing it, seeing as it would be much less comfortable than wearing a t-shirt and jeans. I'd assume they were wearing it for a purpose, rather than just as an everyday outfit.

But I also wouldn't think less of them, I'd just find it strange.

croydon

I would love for some version of this to come back into vogue. I do see them sometimes on very fancy dresses, but it almost always seems to be a statement feature, rather than just something taken for granted.

I wish people didn't judge so much by what others wear. I suspect if I wore something with angel sleeves in the streets people would assume I was a hippy, or I was staging some kind of performance. But I just think they look pretty.

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    • Angel sleeves may be featured on academic robes.
      By: Whispers
      Angel sleeves may be featured on academic robes.