Goodbye, bell sleeve sweater with tie detail

I actually very much liked you, bell sleeve sweater. I liked the tie detail too. I wore you frequently, and you were soft and comfortable.

However, this past week, I worked several extra days and got extra tired and got grumpy about worrying over the bell sleeves when I was in the bathroom. I couldn't pee, I couldn't wash my hands, I couldn't brush my teeth without worrying about getting all that fabric wet. Who wants pee and toothpaste on their sleeves?

I'm passing you on to the local thrift shop in hopes that someone who can handle bell sleeves takes you home. Thank you for keeping me comfy and warm, bell sleeve sweater. I shall miss you (except when I'm in the bathroom).

This post is also published in the youlookfab forum. You can read and reply to it in either place. All replies will appear in both places.

23 Comments

  • ClaraT replied 6 years ago

    Funny/not funny! I just had dinner with a friend wearing a lovely bell sleeve blouse. It was impossible for her to eat-she had to hold the sleeve up with her other hand in order to keep it from dragging in dishes (family style/shared plates). Not so practical. Too bad—the sweater is lovely but you have to live your life :-)

  • Cardiff girl replied 6 years ago

    Bicycle clips on your arms will hold the sleeves out Of the way.

  • Cee replied 6 years ago

    Duct tape !!!

  • rachylou replied 6 years ago

    Uh... so I am a cruel, rude person and I say to the sweater... ‘the ties are just a step too far, honey bunch...’

    :o !!

  • binkle replied 6 years ago

    I hear you on the bell sleeves.

    And just slightly off topic, every time I watch Ree Drummond, the Pioneer Woman of tv cooking show fame, I fear that eventually she will literally go up in flames - she always wears drapey bell-sleeved rayon peasant tops around the stove. (And I shudder whenever she deals with raw poultry - the tips of her sleeves touching the raw food, then touching the counter and other things.....)

  • krishnidoux replied 6 years ago

    Ahahah! That's really funny. There comes a time when a woman - even the most fashion dedicated one - has had enough...! 

  • rachylou replied 6 years ago

    More off topic... it drives me crazy that all the lady tv cooks have long painted nails. Professional cooks can’t have long or painted nails. That comes off in the food!

  • cindysmith replied 6 years ago

    As a waitress, I wasn't allowed acrylic nails or nail polish. So yeah, teevee cooks wearing polished acrylic nails is b.s.

  • Jessikams replied 6 years ago

    Perhaps I should say goodbye to my long cardigan, which drooped into the toilet this morning when I wasn’t paying attention......

  • replied 6 years ago

    I've really enjoyed this series of posts.  Heartfelt and honest.  

  • replied 6 years ago

    I think that was a smart move.  Sweater, bye!  For some reason your post reminded of the tragic death of dancer Isadora Duncan, whose extremely long scarf got caught in her automobile wheels and strangled her.  Some fashion is just plain inconvenient, if not dangerous!

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 6 years ago

    I love these posts!   It reminds me, strangely (or maybe not), of those hilarious Budweiser ads from the late 1990s, "Real Men of Genius"/"Real American Heroes".

  • Katerina replied 6 years ago

    :-) Lovely sweater, but I completely understand your decision :-)

  • replied 6 years ago

    I so get this- Long ago I had a blouse that had a similar effect and it totally frustrated me.  Fortunately I sew so I cut off the offending part, hemmed it up and was able to get some more use out of the blouse. Maybe this is when I started my strong like of 3/4 length sleeve????  I had another one that was an extreme bell and flowing so I attempted to add elastic in casing- that was not so successful. I do love that you are giving the sweater an opportunity to be loved by someone else!

  • Mary Beth (formerly LBD) replied 6 years ago

    I do hear ya on the bell sleeves.    I hadn't thought about the bathroom logistics.   But I've always known that me + bell sleeves + food = disaster, so I've avoided this trend.

  • Zibbets replied 6 years ago

    So pretty but drapey details like that drive me bonkers!

    I beg to differ on the subject of painted nails on tv chefs. Restaurant health rules don't apply because only the staff will eat what they produce.

  • Windchime replied 6 years ago

    Totally understand why you decided to pass this very nice sweater along. I jumped on the bell sleeve trend and bought a sweater and a shirt last fall. Besides the challenges you mention, I also worry about those dramatic sleeves dragging in the dirty dish water if I wash my hands at the kitchen sink while dishes are soaking in it. Yuck! And trying to actually wash dishes—or anything else—while wearing bell sleeves? Forget it! I won’t be sad when this trend passes.

  • Mainelady replied 6 years ago

    Right now all the bell sleeves are wishing you hadn’t shared their nasty habits. I love the look, but the truth in my world is that they are 100% form and 0% function.

  • replied 6 years ago

    What MaineLady said.  I thought it was the type of trend you stand and take a picture.  It just wasn't practical in real life if you lead a busy, active life style.  

  • susie replied 6 years ago

    no. bell. sleeves.  (ever)

  • Cee replied 6 years ago

    Over long bell sleeves + dangly sleeve bows + COWL NECK = Yucky poo !

  • mistli78 replied 6 years ago

    This is too funny!!

  • RobinF replied 6 years ago

    Yeah I know what you mean. I think bell sleeves are fun and different but they do get in the way sometimes. Luckily I only have a few. It's hard to tell what kind of fabric it is, but if it is sweatshirt type knit you could cut them off, maybe into 3/4 sleeves.

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