The puff sleeve trend has been “in” for a little while now. And, lately, I’ve noticed puff sleeves becoming much more popular, appearing on all sorts of pieces, from t-shirts to dresses to rompers. They also come in a variety of different sizes, from barely poofy to full-on, steal-the-show big! This means that, whatever your style and preference, there’s a puff sleeve piece out there for you!

However, because of their somewhat theatrical appearance, puff sleeves are easy to dismiss as “unflattering” or “over-the-top.”

But, don’t write off puff sleeves before you try them! I, too, thought that puff sleeves might not work for me. I was afraid that they would make my shoulders look too big, and therefore out of proportion with the rest of my body. I was wrong, though!

Now, I’m a puff sleeve convert. Here are a couple of handy tips that you can use to figure out how to best make the trend work for you!

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Tips for Wearing Puff Sleeves

• Think about what size sleeve you want. As mentioned before, puff sleeves can range from small to voluminous. So, it’s a good idea to think about how much volume you want before settling on a puff sleeve piece.
• Consider where the volume is concentrated. Sleeves with most of the volume/poofiness concentrated near the shoulder (like the ones on this top) will make your shoulders appear wider than they naturally are. Conversely, sleeves with the volume distributed more evenly (like the ones on this top) offer a more balanced silhouette.
• Think about what else you’re wearing. If you’re wearing a puff sleeve top, it’s important to consider what kinds of bottoms you’re pairing with it. If you want the sleeves on your top to stand out more, pair it with a slimmer-fitting bottom (e.g. skinny jeans or a pencil skirt). However, if you’re after a more evenly proportioned look, go for bottoms with more volume to them as well (e.g. flared jeans or an A-line skirt). Finally, keep in mind that you may have to experiment a little bit to find a combination that works for you.

Okay, now that you know what to look for when shopping for and styling puff sleeve pieces, it’s time to dive in to the actual outfits!