When you go to a store or a website and look at the t shirts, there are so many different kinds! There are plain t shirts, polo shirts, short sleeve, sleeveless and many, many more! With all of the different types and styles of T Shirts, there is a lot to cover, so today I’m just going to look at the sleeves. While most of the sleeve styles I will discuss are just a variation on lengths, some are completely different styles, giving some new life to the basic t shirt.

Short Sleeve – This is the most common type of t shirt sleeve. Generally it covers about half of the upper arm, but not always. There will always be variations from brand to brand, shirt to shirt. The sleeves can be loose or more fitted. You typically find more fitted sleeves on women’s shirts, but not always.

Cap Sleeve – This type of sleeve covers the top of a shoulder but doesn’t extend under or around the wearer’s arm, and is also only available in ladies fashion. The cap sleeve can be puffy or exaggerated and are usually paired with a fitted t shirt. All of these traits give these t shirts a more feminine look.

¾ sleeve – This is another style that is mostly used in women’s fashion. This sleeve length usually extends to just below the elbow, though this can vary slightly. While typically fitted, loose ¾ sleeves are gaining popularity.

Dolman Sleeve – Also known as the batwing sleeve, this style is a variation of the ¾ sleeve. The sleeves are loose and flowing at the upper arm, but then is snug around the elbow. This style is great for layering with other shorter sleeve shirts, making it a great style to wear when the weather starts to cool down.

Raglan Sleeve – This style is similar to a short sleeve in length but the sleeve is attached on a diagonal versus straight up and down on a typical t shirt. This style is used in most baseball uniforms, which is why shirts with a raglan sleeve are usually called baseball t shirts. This more sporty style is available for men and women.

Long Sleeve – Long sleeves reach all the way down to the wrist of the wearer. The sleeves can end in a cuff, which is tight around the wrist, or just have a loose open wrist. Women’s long sleeve t shirts may bell out at the wrists and often do not have a cuff.

Sleeveless – I realize this this is technically a tank top, especially in women’s fashion, but there are some styles that look like a t shirt with the sleeves cut off. A muscle tee is an example of this. But since it is still considered a variety of t shirt I will discuss it. Sleeveless t shirts (tank tops) leave the should bare and have straps that go over the shoulders. These straps vary in width, from very thin to almost covering the top of the shoulder. Men have the basic muscle tee, where there is a large variety is styles for women.

I hope that this post has been useful in learning more about the different styles of sleeves available for your t shirts. Until next time!