Puffy Glory: Some Fun Facts about Puff Sleeves

When we talk about puff sleeves its but impossible to forget these famous lines from M. Montgomery’s 1908 novel, Anne of Green Gables…

"Oh, I am grateful," protested Anne. "But I'd be ever so much gratefuller if--if you'd made just one of them with puffed sleeves. Puffed sleeves are so fashionable now. It would give me such a thrill, Marilla, just to wear a dress with puffed sleeves." 

Set in the 1800s this book echoed the sentiments of young women who had grown rather fond of the inimitable puff sleeves. While this book resounded the sudden resurgence in popularity of the puff in the late 1800s and early 1900s, what’s worth a mention is the way the simple puff, albeit going through numerous transformations, continues to hold a special place in women’s fashion even today. Proof of fact is the reinterpreted puff sleeves that made quite a splash in the Spring 2024 season. So, how did this voluminous and sometimes deflated sleeve trend make its way into our wardrobes? 

The Renaissance Puff and Slash

This is one style that certainly needed a great seamstress. The early renaissance painting showcased the puff and slash style that was extra bulky thanks, to the double sleeve that women wore! With carefully measured slashes in the sleeves, the long lining was judiciously pulled out through the slashes to puff.  Thankfully this bulky trend stayed around for a very short while. But even the simple, yet heavily lined puff stayed a favourite in the Elizabethan and later Victorian period.

The 1800s

Over the years the puff made a comeback time and again, but what could be termed a turning point was the mid to late 1800s when it came back to stay for good. With the preceding era seeing a lot of straight silhouettes, the 1800s brought back the age of the ultra-feminine clothing style, and society’s inflated definition of femininity — the hourglass figure and the ridiculously big puffs. A sentiment which is echoed in Anne’s constant longing to own a dress with puffs. This was also the time the giant gigot, leg-of-mutton, or puffed sleeves made its way into the fashion circles. As its names suggests the sleeves were made as large as possible from the shoulders to the elbows, from where it tapered down. Rumour has it that the size sometimes made it impossible to even pass through doorways. Held together by stiff fabrics and crinolines, these sleeves were considered quite uncomfortable and heavy, which slowly made it lose its popularity. Gradually the puffs deflated, and the lining disappeared to make it easier to wear.

The 20th Century

Though the voluminous puff had very few takers by mid 1900s, the puff became a part of iconic fashion trends once again when Princess Diana wore it with panache at her wedding. Lady D as always created a flutter with her choice of dressy sleeves and she was quite often seen in feminine dresses with puffed sleeves. Becoming a symbol of ultra feminine, the puff gradually made its way back into women’s everyday wardrobe, representing charm and confidence.  From puff sleeved blouses that can be worn with your work trousers or the hugely popular flowy georgette dresses with the deep necks and the puffed sleeves, we’ve made it our own and given it a unique flair. Be it Fendi’s balloon sleeved sweaters or McQueen’s puffed, and pleated shirtdresses that graced the ramps in the 2020 Fall/Winter runways or Carolina Herrera’s pristine white puffed sleeved shirt dress or Chloé’s long white jacket for SS24, the puff is definitely making its way back into our fashion consciousness. So, if you’re one of those chicas who loves to flaunt some girl power, you know it’s time to puff it up!