The balloon sleeve sweater is a design twist on the classic crewneck sweater style that was basically created at the beginning of time. We love a classic sweater but by adding extra material, a drop shoulder and ribbing at the cuff line you get an entirely different experience and look. With that said, attention must be paid. Let’s not turn our outfit into an Elizabethan Era fit. Here’s how to style an oversized balloon sleeve sweater for a balanced, modern outfit you can take from the office to drinks with friends.
What is A Balloon Sweater
We sort of covered this above. A balloon sleeve sweater is a design created by a drop sleeve, and extra material that gathers along the cuff of each sleeve. It has no purpose other than style, and can be dressed up for down depending on the look you’re going for. It’s important to remember that this style can date so try and keep it modern with colour, texture, and what you pair it with.
SHOP THE SWEATER
How To Wear A Balloon Sleeve Sweater
Proportion is everything. As shown above I like to keep the colours solid, roll up the sleeves and add a french tuck. It might seem counter productive to roll up a statement sleeve but balloon sleeves run longer than a regular style so this allows for some structure while keeping the volume there, I personally feel there’s too much fabric involved when the sleeves are left down.
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Styling tips:
- Pay attention to proportion, if the sleeves are really big you want to balance out the bottom half of your outfit
- Go with a front tuck or roll the sleeves to add structure
- Be mindful of colour! White can sometimes look Victorian
- Stay away from patterns since the style is already a statement
- Pair with a wide leg for a dressed up sophisticated look
- Pair with a slim bottom for a more everyday casual look
What To Wear With Balloon Sleeves
You can also pair a balloon sleeve with a more fitting pair of straight leg high waisted denim. The slimmer proportion on the bottom creates a balanced silhouette, and lets face it a good pair of denim is just smart. Check out how I styled this red balloon sleeve turtleneck sweater with a pair of classic Levis.
RELATED: Styling a Turtleneck Balloon Sleeve Sweater & Classic Denim
Shop Sweaters
Here’s were to shop the balloon sleeve sweater style from clothing stores that are mid-range in price and still appreciate a good minimalist style with quality in mind. These pieces are perfect for multi seasonal and multi purpose wear because they mimic everyday basics with a little bit of a twist.
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