A bell sleeve can be either long or short and is usually set smoothly into the
armscye (no pleating or
shirring) and flares toward the bottom. Bell sleeves end anywhere from the elbow to the wrist. Flared sleeves ending at the upper bicep are similarly shaped, but are instead called
butterfly sleeves. The effect is reminiscent of a bell in its shape. If the sleeve is relatively full in circumference and is gathered or pleated into both the armhole and at the bottom, it is called a Bishop's Sleeve.
History
Bell sleeves were originally found on a garment called a
chasuble
The chasuble () is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian churches that use full vestments, primarily in Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran churches. In the Eastern ...
, which was the dress of clergymen during medieval times. The religious association of these sleeves eventually dissipated at which point the bell sleeve became adapted by the upper class. In the 1500s, the rich began to stylize the bell sleeve by making them more dramatic in size and more elaborate in decor. The trend of this sleeve made its way from the elite of France to England, where this style really took off and made its impact.
The movement of the fashion trend of this sleeve moving from the lower class to the upper class is now referenced as the upward-flow theory.
Image gallery
File:Khashayar shah.JPG, Clothing with bell sleeves from the Achaemenid
The Achaemenid Empire or Achaemenian Empire, also known as the Persian Empire or First Persian Empire (; , , ), was an Iranian empire founded by Cyrus the Great of the Achaemenid dynasty in 550 BC. Based in modern-day Iran, it was the large ...
king, Khashayar shah, 5th Century BC.
File:Maxi dress.jpg, A vintage maxi dress
A dress (also known as a frock or a gown) is a one-piece outer garment that is worn on the torso, hangs down over the legs, and is primarily worn by women or girls. Dresses often consist of a bodice attached to a skirt.
Dress shapes, silh ...
from the 1970s featuring bell sleeves.
File:Commédie musicale et concert Reine Esther à Abidjan 80.jpg, A performer from the Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast, also known as Côte d'Ivoire and officially the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire, is a country on the southern coast of West Africa. Its capital city of Yamoussoukro is located in the centre of the country, while its largest List of ci ...
, wearing a dress with bell sleeves.
File:Javier Fernandez wearing a Bishop's sleeve shirt.jpg, Figure skater Javier Fernandez wearing a shirt with Bishop's sleeves.
See also
*
Sleeve
*
Bell-bottoms
Bell-bottoms (or flares) are a style of trousers that become wider from the knees downward, forming a bell-like shape of the trouser leg.
History Naval origins
In the early 19th century, when standardised uniforms for British ratings in the ...
References
Sleeves
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