by Kimberley Heit

Created on: May 19, 2009

Many women have a desire to reduce the appearance of full arms. Even slender women can store fat in the upper arm region, especially as they age. The majority of women are simply genetically prone to carrying weight in this region. If you dislike this aspect of your figure, there are some very simple ways to dress to disguise it.

It's all about dressing to downplay this area and playing up the other areas you are happy with. The following article provides information on how to go about doing that.

Sleeve styles to look for

There are many sleeve styles that are good at downplaying full arms. Look for gently draping three quarter, or long sleeves that shift the focus to slimmer points on your body. Fluted sleeves and styles that gently flare outwards after the elbow can help to balance your proportions. If you want to wear a short sleeve style, look for sleeves that end towards the bottom of your bust, rather then higher up.

Sleeves to avoid

Some sleeve styles only draw attention to this area, exacerbating the problem region. Avoid capped sleeves because they end at the fullest point. Tight sleeves can create unsightly bulges. Puff sleeves have a tendency to add more bulk to the area. Skinny spaghetti straps and halter necks highlight the proportional difference in an unfavorable manner. Also avoid sleeves that feature fussy detailing above the elbow, like straps, bows and buttons.

General tips

-Highlight your wrists-the rules of flattery not only dictate that you cover up a disliked area; they also require that you draw attention to a more favored area. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is to bring the focus to your wrists because they are much smaller in comparison. Try wearing delicate bracelets or bangles. Avoid very chunky bangles because these will hide your wrist instead of highlighting it. Detailed cuffs that expose just a hint of wrist also look very flattering.

-Wear wider straps-when you want to wear sleeveless pieces make sure you choose a wider strap that looks proportional.

-Avoid sleeveless shift dresses-these draw attention to the upper body right at the middle of the upper arm.

-Look for Kimono, or raglan sleeve wrap dresses, these draw the eye downwards from the upper body.

-Tailored button down shirts with cuffed long sleeves tend to look good. Just make sure you look for a style that has adequate room in the sleeve head or a little stretch to ensure you are comfortable in the arm region.

If you have trouble finding fashion to fit your full arms, a good tailor is indispensable. Buy your tops and dresses in a size that fits nicely through the arms, then have other areas taken in slightly to. Alternatively consider having a few pieces made to measure. There are now many Asian websites that offer well made and affordable made to measure items.

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