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Over the last year or so, we’ve seen a lot of delightful trends. Metallics made their way into summer wardrobes. Tropical prints experienced a somewhat controversial resurrection. Ruffles, smocked details and jelly sandals were among the relics of our youth to see a revival. But no trend has felt more consistently fun, more consistently delightful and more consistently charming than the return of puffy sleeves.
This is likely because, while these other trends are reminiscent of our youth, none feel as specifically associated with fairytales as puffy sleeves do. Growing up, we adorned ourselves with ruffles. We slipped our feet into jelly sandals. We teased the smocked details on our clothing—pulling them away from our bodies and watching them bounce back, time and time again, without any loss of elasticity. These experiences were fun, tactile, exciting. And now, they’re nostalgic. But none of them drip with dreaminess the way puffy sleeves do.
Because puffy sleeves were the stuff of fantasy. They were a mainstay of Disney princess culture, characterizing every ball gown we begged our parents to buy come Halloween. They were magnificent—fancy in a way our other favorite pieces simply weren’t. You could wear jelly sandals to the beach, or the park, or the playground. And you could sport ruffles and smocked details just about anywhere, too. But puffy sleeves—those were reserved for special occasions.
Not anymore. What was once a hyper-fancy relic from our youth has made its way into the contemporary mainstream—and into the ready-to-wear contemporary mainstream, at that. Puffy sleeves are no longer exclusively reserved for Disney princesses or Halloween costumes or the fanciest events on our calendars. They’re designed with day-to-day wear in mind. You’re not over-the-top or fussy if you wear puff-sleeve clothing on the regular—you’re just on-trend. So be the 20-something, or 30-something, or whatever-something your 5-year-old self always wished you’d turned out to be. You might not be a literal princess, but when you look this good, who even cares?
Definitely buying this one with the matching biking shorts, because seriously—the two-piece is too cute to pass up.
Sure to elevate any ensemble you pair it with.
Last year’s fruit print trend still managed to make its way into the zeitgeist this spring/summer.
A little 1980s, a little Wizard of Oz—a lotta cute.
Because you shouldn’t have to choose between puffy sleeves and off-the-shoulder necklines if you don’t want to.
Can you imagine anything more quintessentially spring?
Crop tops are a far cry from the puff-sleeve pieces of yore, but don’t we all deserve a little more fantasy in our day-to-days?
Perfect for brunch, trips to the beach, and maybe even days spent at the office.
Dorothy isn’t in Kansas anymore—she’s in fashion heaven.
Fairytale chic—an aesthetic our younger selves can definitely get behind.
Metallics are routinely underrated in the spring, but this floral dress proves how seasonally appropriate they can be.
Sexy, sleek and a little princess-y—the ultimate trifecta.
Because puff sleeves don’t have to be short.
Puffy sleeves, ruffled hems and a smocked bodice all in one? This is what our elementary school fashion dreams were made of.
A puff-sleeve dress that feels floral without actually featuring a floral print—we’re here for it.
The visual definition of a statement blouse.
Bold colors, bold sleeves, can’t lose.
This puff-sleeve, polka-dot romper brings all kinds of mod fun to the table.
Because gingham and puff-sleeves are a veritable match made in heaven.
A party-worthy dress for every fun AF occasion on your calendar.
Versatile enough to live in this season.
A little drop-waist goes a long way.
A ruffled, floral, puff-sleeve blouse that feels anything but over-the-top.
Proof plaid isn’t a fall-only pattern.
Because wrap blouses are more fun with puff sleeves.
Giving new meaning to the phrase “statement sleeves.”
Oh yeah, puff-sleeve sweaters are definitely on the sartorial menu.
Instant elegance.
Sure to play well with your favorite high-waisted pants. Or high-waisted shorts. Or high-waisted skirt. (Or high-waisted anything, really.)
It was really only a matter of time before bows made their way into the puff-sleeve sphere.
Because dresses aren’t the only way to get your floral on this spring.
Don’t you think you deserve a denim blouse as interesting as you are?
This fabric was made to be rendered in puff-sleeve form.
Square necklines offer a serious structural juxtaposition to round, puffy sleeves.
Date night awaits.
A maximalist take on print and structure—because you really can have it all.
For the shopper who can’t pick between puff sleeves and long sleeves.
Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
A version of this story was originally published in July 2018.
By providing your information, you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy Policy. We use vendors that may also process your information to help provide our services. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.