A funny thing happened to our dress sleeves the last few years — they ballooned to cloud-like proportions. Our hypothesis is that puff sleeve dresses are what happens when fairytale escape meets stay-at-home comfort. The nap dress surely takes a lot of credit for kicking off this unexpected trend, but those frocks were more suited for indoorsy, (err, lockdown-y) life. These newer puff sleeve dress styles; however, are explicitly for being seen in. And there are so many options available right now, whether you're keen on the poofed-up skirts or something more casual for daily wear.
Because this big-time trend (that can also fall within cottagecore and boho territory) is only blowing up even further, we’ve rounded up the best puff sleeve dresses that are sure to be the conversation starter at any social function. Broken down by dress length, we've compiled the best puff sleeve mini, midi, and maxi dresses for a range of different occasions (think: casual fall dresses and puff sleeve cocktail dresses). Click on for the best puff sleeve dresses that rewrite the definition of "arm party."
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Puff-sleeve dresses channel extra-in-the-best-way energy. But if you want to take the extra down a notch, consider a longer hemline. A midi skirt length can help tone down the look from “total princesscore” to “princesscore but acceptable at the farmer's market.”
Sea Shirred Patchwork Printed Cotton Midi Dress, $, available at Net-A-Porter
Puff Sleeve Mini Dresses
Mini dresses are for leggy moments, long strides, and hot nights. Here are a few selects that are short in length but amped when it comes to sleeves. Whether they're short sleeve or long sleeve dresses, the volume is always on high.
Showpo Vashti Puff Sleeve Mini Dress, $, available at Showpo
Puff-Sleeve Maxi Dresses
Go long! Ahead are a few puff-sleeve maxi dresses (and gowns) that just skim the ground (or sit slightly above at ankle length). And, to be sure, the tiered A-line skirts do allow for mobility.
If there's one thing that's basically catnip for fashion lovers, it's a hot-off-the-presses Target designer collab — and this next one is one for the books. Well, maybe textbooks.
Just in time for back-to-school season, Target has announced its fall designer collection, and it's with none other than Rowing Blazers. The American design label is best known for its irreverent, modern interpretation of the classics: Think suiting, knitwear, rugby shirts, and the like that enjoy a cult following.
Rowing Blazers x Target will span over 100 pieces across adult and kids’, accessories, home, outdoor, and even swag for your furry friends. Prices start from $5, and apparel items will be available in sizes from XXS-5X. The collection drops on September 23 in select stores and online, so be sure to set your reminders — as with past Target collabs, the most coveted pieces always sell out within minutes. Ahead, peruse the collection's lookbook and read along as Rowing Blazers' founder and creative director (and former US national rowing team coxswain!) Jack Carlson walks us through the collection.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.Tell us a bit about Rowing Blazers.
Jack Carlson: "Rowing Blazers is a brand and design studio that I founded about six years ago. We’re known for our irreverent, colorful slightly subversive take on the classics." Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "We’re also known for the collaborations we’ve done, as well as this cult following and celebrity clientele that we’ve somehow attracted over the years. I really don’t understand how that happens, but it’s very cool."Photo: Courtesy of TargetR29: Tell us about how the partnership with Target came about.
JC: "Target reached out to us kind of out of the blue almost two years ago and I was thrilled when they did. At first, it was very casual, like 'We’d love to learn more about the brand, maybe at some point in the future we can do something.' I didn’t think something would happen right away, but I was hopeful." Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "Target is so well known for its designer collaborations and the names they’ve collaborated with, I’m very honored to be in that company. They have executed those collaborations so beautifully and so well, and they’ve been so successful. I was super excited and then just a few weeks later, Target reached back out and they were like, 'We’d love to move forward with a collaboration.' That was a very, very exciting moment."Photo: Courtesy of TargetR29: The collection obviously has Rowing Blazers all over it, but were there any specific references or pieces of inspiration you looked to?
JC: "I really wanted the collection to be the quintessential Rowing Blazers, and have all the categories we’re so well known for: The blazers, of course, rugby shirt, the knitwear, the outerwear. But there was also the opportunity to do so many categories that we have never done before, like pet accessories or home décor." Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "I wanted to really lean into the brand DNA because this is going to be so many people’s first time learning about the brand, experiencing the brand, buying something from the brand. And I didn’t want to dumb it down, either. I wanted to keep those really elevated pieces like the outerwear, the duffle coats, the camel polo coat, double-breasted blazer."Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "We also wanted to lean into the American collegiate aesthetic, and keep the colors and patterns we’re so known for. I didn’t want to be like, 'We’ll make this a little more wearable by toning down the colors.' I wanted it to be true Rowing Blazers, with the graphics, the colors, even the fabrics as well."Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "I wanted it to be very elevated and up to [the standard] we’re known for. This is going to be the introduction to millions of people so it needed to be true to the brand DNA."Photo: Courtesy of TargetR29: What are some of the pieces you’re especially excited about? Any predictions on what you think will be the first to sell out?
JC: "It’s so hard to pick favorites in the collection. The things that we’re so known for, like the rugby shirts, or the sweatshirts and tee shirts, I think all of that will be very popular. I also think some of the more elevated pieces that are some of my favorites will also attract a lot of people’s attention, too."Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "Outside of apparel, the yellow and navy striped canvas weekender bag and dopp kit are so beautiful. And there’s a jacket with a corduroy collar, too."Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "Also, I love the fact that almost everything in the collection is customizable. You can get these little chenille varsity letters, and I designed a lot of the collection with that in mind: 'Is this going to look good with someone putting their initials or their name a funny phrase?' And I think so much of it will."Photo: Courtesy of TargetR29: You’re in such amazing company when you consider Target’s past designer collaborations and how much they mean to people who love fashion but may not be able to exclusively shop designer all the time. What does it mean to share the brand with a wider audience?
JC: "It means so much. We have done a lot of collabs in the past, but from my perspective, this is the biggest and most important one we’ve done because it will reach so many people."Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "The collab is so in line with the vision that I had from the beginning for the brand, which is creating a club for everyone. And when you think, this will be in over 1,000 Target stores, the average price point is less than $30, and we’re able to have fully inclusive sizing from XXS to 5X, that means a lot."Photo: Courtesy of TargetJC: "[Target x Rowing Blazers] is in a way, the culmination of my vision for the brand, so it’s incredibly exciting."Photo: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of TargetPhoto: Courtesy of Target
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