If international fashion runway trends are anything to go by, flamboyant, statement sleeves are ruling the trends charts. This means it may be time to give your traditional outfits a sleeve makeover. But if you are wondering how they fit in with ethnic wear, we’ve listed some options for you to try.

Bell Sleeves

This ethereal style of sleeve is timeless. Fitted at the shoulder and flaring out wide as they extend towards the wrist, bell sleeves define elegance. The super feminine silhouette of the sleeve looks equally stylish on anarkalis, kurtis and crop tops worn over lehengas. However, when opting for extra-wide bell sleeves, keep the rest of your look minimal and choose solid colours.

Ruffle Sleeves

Take your traditional outfit up a notch with ruffled sleeves. Whether your style mantra is ‘go big or go home’ or you believe in ‘less is more’, ruffles let you play around with different variations in size and amount to suit your style. 

Choose longer and fewer ruffles on the sleeves to add a hint of romance and glamour to your blouse. Or add drama and flamboyance with bigger and exaggerated ruffles. If you do not want to go all out with ruffles, just add a little detailing on the sleeves to jazz it up. 

Wear a ruffled sleeve blouse over a lehenga, skip the dupatta for those princess-y vibes. Acing the ruffled sleeve look can be tricky. You can skip accessories to prevent the look from going too over the top. 

Off-Shoulder Sleeves

Despite being in trend for a while now, the sassy off-shoulder sleeves are still enjoying their moment in the sun. Worn as saree or lehenga blouses, they add the bold yet delicate element by revealing your neck and shoulders. For that hint of playfulness, pair this blouse over your saree or lehenga and accessorise with a beautiful choker. To draw further attention to your exposed collarbone, dab on some highlighter on it and be the head-turner.

Cold Shoulder Sleeves

The cold shoulder sleeve is the demure cousin of the off-shoulder style, making it a great alternative for those who are not comfortable revealing a lot of skin. The cut-outs at the shoulder give just a subtle glimpse of skin, and yet add some zing to your outfit. 

Cape Sleeves

Do you find the dupatta to be one of the most annoying parts of Indian attire? If you do, then say good-bye to it and embrace the cape sleeve. This alluring sleeve, often with a slit starting at the elbow or higher, extends all the way to the floor. It gives the illusion of a dupatta while saving you the hassle of carrying and managing one – which, let’s agree, is definitely a win-win. 

Flowy cape sleeves work best in sheer or slinky fabrics. Consider floor gazing cape sleeves for your next tunic or a lehenga blouse. These statement sleeves speak for themselves and don’t require much accessorising. 

Reinvent your ethnic style by adding an interesting twist, while embracing your inherent desi-ness with these sleeve styles. Head to your nearest Shoppers Stop store or check out the online collection for the latest styles. If you’re looking for trendy colours to sport your ethnic wear in, read our blog on how to Up Your Ethnic Style Game With These Colours.

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