How to Cover the Tops of Your Arms in Summer (Without Overheating)
Somewhere in her fifties or sixties, a lot of women quietly make a decision they never quite announce. They stop wearing sleeveless tops. The cardigan comes to dinner even in July. In group photographs the arms cross, or a handbag ends up held just so. If any of that sounds familiar, you are in very good company, and you do not have to keep doing it.
I am Eleanor, and I have made summer clothes for women our age for twenty two years. The request I hear more than any other is for a sleeve that covers the tops of the arms without turning into a punishment in the heat. Here is what I have learned about finding one.
The real problem is not the arms, it is the sleeve
For twenty years the choice on offer was a poor one. A short cap sleeve that stops at the widest part of the arm and bites into the skin. A three quarter sleeve made of something so thin you are damp before you leave the house. Or a proper long sleeve in a heavy fabric that covers beautifully and cooks you by eleven in the morning. None of those is a real answer, so most women give up and go bare, or reach for the cardigan again.
The thing nobody tells us is that the arm was never the problem. The fabric was.
What actually works in the heat
A sleeve can cover the tops of your arms and still keep you cool, as long as the cloth is chosen for it. Lightweight, breathable, and opaque. When the fabric is light enough you forget the sleeve is there. You can have it on for hours, in and out of the car and the air conditioning, and never think about your arms once. That is the whole trick, and it is the reason a good summer long sleeve feels nothing like the heavy ones you may have sworn off years ago.
What to look for in a summer sleeve
- A lightweight, breathable fabric. If it feels warm or heavy in your hand, it will feel warmer still on a hot afternoon.
- Coverage where you want it. A relaxed long sleeve, or a soft elbow length, covers the tops of the arms that most of us would rather not have on show.
- An opaque cloth. A sleeve that turns sheer in bright sun defeats the purpose. Hold it up to the light before you buy.
- A relaxed fit through the arm. Nothing that grips or bites at the widest part. It should skim, not squeeze.
- A color or stripe you will actually reach for. Coverage only helps if the piece earns a place in your week.
How to wear it
The loveliest part of a good summer sleeve is how little thought it asks of you. A soft striped blouse worn untucked with trousers for the shops, or tucked into jeans for lunch, looks like you simply put on something nice, not like you dressed to cover anything. That is exactly how it should feel. Covered, cool, and not thinking about it at all.
This is the whole reason I make our striped Rhea blouse, a lightweight long sleeve for the women who had given up on sleeves in summer. You can see the Rhea here, browse the rest of our summer tops, or read our fuller guide on what to look for in a summer dress after 60.
Warmly,
Eleanor
Founder, Sanibel Boutique