It seems like the puffy sleeves trend was made for us. It’s dramatic and stylish, but not too revealing. It’s equal parts 80s nostalgia and renaissance faire revival. As far as a dramatic sleeve goes, we much prefer the puff to a power shoulder blazer (although that’s coming back, too). And it’s easier to style than you thought!
If it’s still a little too hot for you to think about sweaters, a little puffed sleeve detail looks great on a t-shirt. Frame, one of our favorite jean brands, has a t-shirt that looks perfect with (you guessed it) jeans and a cute belt. It comes in white, navy, black and bordeaux.
J.Crew’s puffed short-sleeve sweater is perfect for transitional weather. Cozy enough to keep you warm when there’s a chill in the air, the sleeve is subtle enough that you can also wear a jacket with it. Their chambray shirt is a great layering piece as well, giving you the freedom to wear it with a t-shirt underneath now, and a thin turtleneck underneath later.
If you want something a little more formal, there are some truly gorgeous dramatic blouses. Staud, a cult favorite brand known for their affordable purses, has a statement making blouse in a khaki-gold that we used for the header photo. Style it with cropped trousers and this season’s combat boots for a cooler angle, or your favorite go-to skinny jeans and ballet flats for a slightly more polished vibe. & Other Stories’s black mock-neck blouse is all drama, and lean into the 80s references with a pair of big crystal earrings because sometimes, more is more.
Shop our favorite puffy sleeves below:
All of our recommendations are curated by Susan & the In The Groove editorial team. In some, but not all cases, we receive a small commission for leading you to what, how and where to buy all this wonderful stuff.