Our right to bare arms!

There is an old philosophy of fashion:  that women "of a certain age" should never go sleeveless.  I think that is because of the "bingo arms" that often develops.  Bingo arms (for those of you who aren't familiar with the phrase) is that loose flappy part that swings back and forth when you raise your arm to yell "Bingo."

Thank goodness that old rules are changing all the time. And so are we. In these days of Pilates, yoga, and weight work, many women have beautiful "guns" -- upper arms with biceps. Our First Lady (although younger) has remarkable arms and wears sleeveless often.  She isn't lucky about having great arms - she works out every day, making the commitment to herself and her health. It is work, no doubt about it. And  in 1963, Jacqueline Kennedy wore sleeveless black sheath to her husband’s State of the Union address as well as other venues. Yes, she was young but she certainly didn't shy away from creating fashion trends that, before her, were strict and stodgy about clothing appropriateness.  So can we.

However, there are some guidelines for appearing attractive and confident.

Sleeveless is better on us than cap sleeves.  Cap sleeves hit our arms at the wrong place and make our upper arms look fatter. Even shaped arms can look fat in cap sleeves. So shop with a discerning eye.



But over time our skin sometimes gets loose and saggy. Look at your upper arms in sleeveless. If that's the case, you might want to invest in medium length sleeves or even a light cardigan to wear when you go out.

Another option (albeit pricey and painful) is plastic surgery (liposuction) to remove fat and tighten the upper arm skin.


Although I admit to having had plastic surgery, I will NEVER do that!  I don't have the money or the desire to go through it.  But it is an option, for your information. The below gives you an idea of cost:

• Arm liposuction typically costs between $1,500 and $5,000 for both arms, which usually are counted as one body part. Cost varies by the individual patient and how much fat needs to be removed. 
• Arm liposuction is considered a cosmetic procedure, so it typically is not covered by health insurance

I do temp work for "shoe money" (don't tell my husband but I bought four pair of shoes a couple of weeks ago -- he thinks I have enough - silly man - and by the time I wear them, I can honestly say..."I've had those shoes - you just don't pay attention"!)  In my most recent job, I was told that the front desk person (my role) cannot wear sleeveless...at all.  Other women in the offices can do so but the front desk person may not.  So I wear light jackets or cardigans to keep up appearances.  Some times, some places, you just have to comply with the rules no matter the temperature.

Of course, tattoos make being sleeveless a challenge, too.  Many work places will not allow any tattoos to appear.  Heck, even the U.S. Army has made that a rule now! I don't know what many tattooed young women will do for careers or if the employment rules will be changed. And I cannot imagine how their tattoos will look as they get older. Yes, I'm of an older generation who just doesn't get it. Still...



Spend some time working out, build your arms (and bones) by lifting weights or boxing. Sweating is good for you - a favorite phrase of mine is "Sweat is fat crying."  You don't have to lift heavy weights, just do a lot of reps.

Yoga's plank pose is a great upper body builder - gravity is pulling you down and your arms are holding your weight up. It is not an easy pose but it sure does work on abs, arms and back.  Just remember to keep breathing!


Fall is here (finally) and sleeveless will be gone until Spring (seven months or so from now).  Start now. Work on your health, your arms (and abs!) and you'll be ready for sleeveless - no matter your age.

I LOVE this quote and it is perfect for today's post:

"When archaeologists discover the missing arms of Venus de Milo, they will find she was wearing boxing gloves." John Barrymore
 Until next week, I remain,

Stylistically yours,

Sooz