Why we want fashion with sleeves

Here at Prima, we've received hundreds of letters and emails over the years complaining about the dire choice of stylish tops and dresses with sleeves on the high street. This is why, last August, we launched our A Call to Arms campaign. Your demands were clear; no more cap sleeves and spaghetti straps, which we have to cover with shrugs and cardis - bring back the forgiving sleeve!

38% say you're so embarrassed by your bingo wings that you've avoided waving or moving your arms around It's a topic that strikes a chord with all women - even movie stars. Dame Helen Mirren recently asked, ‘Why aren't more dresses made with sleeves? I don't want to wear a frumpy jacket over a sleeveless dress and it enrages me that it's so difficult to find anything beautiful with sleeves. There are some amazing things you can do with sleeves, so why do so few designers put them on their dresses?'

A nation of frustrated Prima readers could only agree. Our exclusive survey of over 1300 women confirmed that, for many of you, the arms are a problem area. Three-quarters of you don't feel confident about exposing your upper arms, while a whopping 93 per cent think there is a lack of stylish and flattering clothes with sleeves on the high street.

A struggle to shop

You know that sinking feeling when you hit the shops looking for a really glamorous outfit for a special occasion - such as a wedding, cruise or party - but come home feeling empty handed because all you can find are dresses with skinny spaghetti straps or no straps at all? Of the 81 per cent of you who've had an event where you've needed an outfit with sleeves in the last 12 months, a staggering 94 per cent had trouble finding something fashionable and stylish. And only three in ten found an outfit you were happy with.

Perhaps more shocking - and it's a revelation that should have the high street sitting up and taking notice - is that 98 per cent of you walk out of a shop empty-handed because there's nothing suitable to buy. A frustrated 71 per cent say you've got money to spend but you can't find stylish tops and dresses with sleeves to spend it on. Over a third of you - 36 per cent - say this is a subject you discuss with your friends.

So how do you cope with the shortage of sleeved style? Four out of five of you have resorted to some kind of cover-up to hide your arms. Cardigans, jackets, shrugs and Pashminas are the main cover-up choices, but almost everyone - 92 per cent - would happily ditch them all for a stylish pair of sleeves. 95% feel manufacturers overlook the upper arm problem, compared to designs aimed at hiding tummies and flattering hips

5 reasons you don't like showing your upper arms

You think that they're too flabby

You don't believe it's elegant for an older woman

They wobble too much when you move

Your underarms are unsightly

Your upper arms are wrinkly

A high-profile problem

Some of our favourite women explain why they're backing our campaign

Lulu, singer and creator of the Time Bomb skincare range, says: ‘I absolutely agree with Prima's wonderful A Call to Arms campaign. Anything that encourages the high street to create a solution for this common problem has my full support!'

Style guru Nicky Hambleton-Jones says: ‘It's about time fashion woke up to the fact that most women feel self-conscious showing off their arms, and feel frumpy having to use a cover-up. Prima's A Call to Arms campaign will help liberate the cardi brigade and enable women to dress confidently for ever more. Ban the strap and bring on the sleeve!'

Loose Woman Andrea McLean says: ‘A Call to Arms is a fantastic idea. There are plenty of beautiful dresses and tops out there, but for anyone who wants to cover themselves up, the only real option is a cardigan or a wrap, which changes the whole look of the outfit. Come on designers - cover up our arms! Covered-up is not giving up, we still want to feel good and look great, and you can help us do that!'

Coronation Street actress Tupele Dorgu says: ‘No woman should walk into a shop and struggle to find clothes that flatter or help her cover an area that she doesn't feel comfortable having on show.'

Birds of a Feather and Emmerdale actress Pauline Quirke says: ‘Us women are a bit self-conscious about our upper arms. Even if I was slimmer, I wouldn't want my arms on show, so I'd much prefer a top with sleeves.'

Click here for more on Prima's Call to Arms campaign - and join the debate, leave your comments below.

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