Basics: Sleeves for Sample

Long sleeves are dressier, more professional, grown-up, and definitely more stylish than short sleeves.

The head of the sleeve (where it meets the body of the shirt, sweater or top) has the power to dramatically change the appearence of your shoulders, either affording them a stronger stance or making their slope appear greater.

Basics: Sleeves

If you want to remain credible as a professional, never be tempted to wear a short sleeve shirt with a suit or jacket. Short- sleeved business shirts should be teamed solely with sports trousers and worn only in the most casual rural work environments, and never with a tie. Almost all business offices these days are air conditioned; even if you live in an equatorial region you will need to wear long-sleeved shirts to work if you intend to wear a jacket any length of time. If you do feel the heat when wearing long-sleeved business shirts, roll your sleeves up to just under the elbow. Rolling them to above the elbow instantly changes your image from ‘serious professional hard at work' to someone who looks like they belong on the loading dock. Finally, remember to unroll and button your shirt cuffs before putting on your jacket.

When buying a business or formal shirt, the sleeve should come down to your knuckles when the cuff is unbuttoned. This will allow for the fabric taken up when your elbow bends and will ensure that your sleeve does not ride up your jacket sleeve when you are moving.

Tips to roll up your sleeves

1. Pull the cuff up your arm to about 2 times longer than the width of the cuff.
2. Smooth any creases or folds in the fabric.
3. Roll from the bottom end of the sleeve once more to cover the cuff, leaving only the top end of the cuff exposed.
4. If the inside of the cuff has a contrasting color or design, show just a hint of it and cover the rest.
5. Hold the top edge of the cuff and pull down to undo the fold.