Sleeves consist of three main areas: the head, width and length. All three areas are in this section and need to be checked for their suitability to you. High armholes are flattering to everyone and allow for the greatest amount of movement. Low armholes obscure the point where the torso ends and the arm begins and can make you appear broader in the torso than you are. If you require shoulder pads (see accessory section) ensure they are in the correct size, shape position for the width and slope of your shoulders. If not reposition and/or exchange them.

- Be careful not to attract attention to your bust by short sleeves that end at the fullest part of your bustline or by calling attention to your bust with buttons, contrasting coloured pockets or embellishments.

- Avoid sleeves that are clingy and thin fabrics. A little room around your arm will give your arms a better appearance as will fabrics with some body. Patterned and textured fabrics will also look great on you.

- The addition of shoulder pads will improve the balance your overall appearance. Look for shoulder pads that have enough height to lift your shoulders to a slight taper and enough width to balance your hipline. Full bodied shirts and sweaters may require larger shoulder pads. Above all, the right shoulder pad is one that produces a normal balance to your body and is invisible to others. Reposition or replace sewn-in shoulder pads as necessary.

Sleeves sit on the periphery of your body. Where they end they attract attention to that area. This gives sleeves the ability to highlight or to draw the attention away from figure challenges.

Examples:

• The hemline of a short sleeve shirt if at the same position as the fullest part of the bustline will visibly increase the size of the bust.
• Tapered sleeves will slim the upper torso, while wide or full sleeves will add weight and width.
• Sleeve fullness and the size of the cuff should be scaled to suit the height, weight and bone structure of the wearer. A petite woman may appear dwarfed sleeves that are full or cuffs that are very large.

Appropriate styles are those that suit the wearer's age and environment. A seventy-year-old woman wearing spaghetti straps or a halterneck may give the impression she is not emotionally coping with her advancing age or she lacks self-awareness. Sleeveless styles are not considered appropriate for most business environments (except in the most tropical of areas) unless covered by a jacket. Jackets instantly add credibility and professionalism.

Unusual or fashionable cuffs add flair, fashion and individuality to the overall appearance of shirts and blouses. However, be careful that the cuffs do not attract attention to any of your figure challenges. The more elaborate or unusual your blouse the fewer options you will have when it comes to co-ordinating it with the other garments in your wardrobe and the quicker it will fall out of fashion.

Shoulder pads are an essential accessory for many women. They can make the difference between a woman looking slim and confident, or overweight and dowdy. Women with sloping/narrow shoulders, wide waists and hips, or large bust lines will benefit from shoulder pads. However, there are many types of shoulder pads and choosing the right one is essential. Some will need deep, wide pads while others need thin styles that only add width, not height, to the shoulders.

When checking the suitability of a sleeve in a top, shirt, blouse, dress or jacket against the information in this section there are four areas to examine:

1. The sleeve HEAD (the area where the sleeves joins the body of the garment) e.g., Set-in, Raglan, Saddle and Dropped
2. The sleeve STYLE e.g. Cap, Tapered, Open-shoulder, Short, half etc.
3. The sleeve WIDTH e.g. Three Quarter Wide, Three Quarter Tapered etc.
4. The sleeve LENGTH e.g. Cap, Short, Half, Three Quarter, Full Length