Puffy Sleeves

Puffy sleeves have a certain charm about them. They instantly soften the outline of a character and give them a vintage look or a childlike innocence, depending on how they are styled. In Japanese, these big sleeves are called "pafusuriibu." They are gathered at the shoulder and cuff to make the balloon effect that anime artists love to exaggerate.

Most of the time, you will see these on maid uniforms and Lolita fashion outfits, where the poofiness is turned up to eleven to match the petticoats and frills. They are also a must-have for magical girls and fantasy princesses, adding a royal or theatrical touch to outfits. They can change the whole feel of an outfit, like a small gather on a summer blouse or big lantern sleeves on a ball gown.

They look great for adding weight to the design of the upper body. Artists use them to make wide skirts look more balanced or to make a character's arms look more delicate by comparison. This tag has all the best examples of volume done right if you like fashion that is romantic or cute.