A funny thing happened to our dress sleeves the last few years — they ballooned to cloud-like proportions. This fashion writer’s hypothesis is that
puff-sleeve dresses are what happens when fairytale escape meets stay-at-home comfort. The
nap dress surely takes a lot of credit for kicking off this unexpected trend, but those frocks were more suited for indoorsy, (err, lockdown-y) life. These newer puff-sleeve dress styles, however, are explicitly for being seen in. And there are so many options available right now, whether you're keen on the poofed-up tulle skirts or something more casual for daily wear.
Because this
big -time trend is only about to blow up even further and because people are itching to get out there again, we’ve rounded up the best puff-sleeve dresses that are sure to be the conversation starter at any social function. Broken down by dress length, occasion, and affordability, click on for the puff-sleeve dresses that rewrite the definition of "arm party."
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Mini dresses are for leggy moments, long strides, and hot summer nights. Here are a few selects that are short in length but amped when it comes to sleeves.Shop Abercrombie & Fitch Abercrombie and Fitch Emerson Ruched Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, $, available at Abercrombie and Fitch t.la Savannah Puff-Sleeved Mini Dress, $, available at Anthropologie Gap Linen-Blend Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, $, available at Gap Lulus Precious Passion White Floral Puff Sleeve Babydoll, $, available at Lulus Puff-Sleeve Midi Dresses
Puff-sleeve dresses channel extra-in-the-best-way energy. But if you want to take the extra down a notch, consider a longer hemline. A midi dress can help tone down the look from “total princesscore” to “princesscore but acceptable at the farmer's market.”Shop Hill House Home Hill House Home The Louisa Nap Dress, $, available at Hill House Home Frame Gathered Seam Puff Sleeve Dress, $, available at Frame Reformation Davila Linen Dress, $, available at Reformation Alexia Admor V-Neck Puff Sleeve Dress, $, available at Nordstrom Rack Puff-Sleeve Maxi Dresses
Go long! Ahead are a few puff-sleeve maxi dresses that just skim the ground. And, to be sure, the tiered A-line skirts and thigh-high slits do allow for mobility.Shop Free People For Love And Lemons Serena Maxi Dress, $, available at Free People House of CB Felizia Floral Puff Sleeve Maxi Dress, $, available at Nordstrom Lulus Effortless Romance Light Blue Satin Puff Sleeve Maxi, $, available at Lulus Peixoto Logan Cotton Puff-Sleeve Maxi Dress, $, available at Saks Fifth Avenue Double-Puff Sleeve Dresses
What's puffier than a puff sleeve? A double-puff sleeve. This extra-romantic style comes with extra length in the sleeve for cooler summer days.Shop Reformation Reformation Michaela Dress, $, available at Reformation Alamour The Label DALIDA DRESS, $, available at Alamour The Label Casual Puff-Sleeve Dresses
Puffy sleeves automatically make any outfit look polished, but sometimes you want a little flair without looking overly dressy. Enter the casual puff-sleeve dress. These are dresses made from laid-back fabrics like cotton or linen but still pack in the volume. Shop Urban Outfitters Glamorous Puff Sleeve Floral Mini Dress, $, available at Urban Outfitters ASTR The Label TALINA FLORAL CUTOUT MIDI DRESS, $, available at Astr The Label Zara PRINTED MIDI DRESS, $, available at Zara Chelsea28 Floral Eyelet Dress, $, available at Nordstrom H&M Off-the-shoulder Dress, $, available at H&M Extra Puffy Puff-Sleeve Dresses
Not to worry if you fear looking deflated — these next few puff-sleeve dresses are extra puffed and bubbled.Shop MatchesFashion Aje Dusk puff-sleeve linen-blend midi dress, $, available at MatchesFashion Free People Dahlia Embroidered Maxi Dress, $, available at Free People Banana Republic PUFF-SLEEVE MAXI DRESS, $, available at Banana Republic Sea Louie shirred patchwork printed cotton midi dress, $, available at Net-A-Porter H&M Puff-sleeved Dress with Lacing, $, available at H&M Farm Rio Beach Vibe Midi Dress, $, available at Farm Rio Fancy Puff-Sleeve Dresses
It was only a matter of time before formal puff-sleeve dresses made their way into the likes of weddings, cocktail hours, galas, and other fancy-time affairs. Shop Bergdorf Goodman Bernadette Bobby Puff Sleeve Short Dress, $, available at Bergdorf Goodman Selkie The Puff Dress, $, available at Revolve Simone Rocha Puff-sleeve floral-cloqué midi dress, $, available at MatchesFashion Cecilie Bahnsen Devina maxi dress, $, available at Farfetch Roksanda Garance open-back faux pearl-embellished crepe midi, $, available at Net-A-Porter Puff-Sleeve Dresses At Amazon
Amazon, a key source for affordable fashion finds, has a decent selection of puff-sleeve dresses. This one is a bestseller — and the next couple of styles get our stamp of approval as well. Shop Amazon Exlura Women's Lantern Sleeve Tie Back Casual Dress, $, available at Amazon Dokotoo Puff Sleeve Chiffon Mini Dress, $, available at Amazon R.Vivimos Puff Sleeves Bow Casual Off-Shoulder Boho Midi Dress, $, available at Amazon Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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