12 hours ago
I'm a fashion expert – I've found seven summer dresses that hide bingo wings… and they're not frumpy
BINGO wings beware – the high street has gone sleeveless mad.
And if, like me, you don't love your upper arms, that's seriously bad news.
I know I'm not alone, either. When I ranted about this in the office, there was a chorus of agreement.
Not because we're all body-conscious, but because — shock horror — some of us want to wear real clothes to places other than a beach.
On TikTok, clips showing exercises to eliminate bingo wings have hundreds of thousands of likes. And I'm not surprised.
At the age of 35, it's quite common for women my age — and older — to feel self-conscious about their arms.
Over-50s fitness influencer Nikki Brow amasses more than 560k views on TikTok for her ' Menopause ladies' videos to banish bingo wings. And #armworkout videos have more than 4.5 billion views on the social media platform.
But trying to find anything to cover our upper arms this summer is a relentless task.
As someone who spends an unhealthy amount of time trawling the rails of the high street (it's my job, after all), I recently found myself storming through Zara in London 's Oxford Street, wondering if the designers had collectively lost the plot — or just stopped believing in sleeves.
Everywhere I turned it was strappy slip dresses, halterneck beachwear pretending to be occasionwear, and sequinned numbers clearly aimed at women who treat the club loos as a selfie booth.
And sleeves? Nowhere to be found.
There was one long-sleeved dress and, plot twist, it had no back.
Shoppers run to bag on-trend spring dress with 'boho vibes' in Sainsbury's
Brilliant. So now I've got to shell out again for a stick-on-bra and rolls of duct tape to keep everything in its rightful place. But it's not just Zara, either.
Unless your upper arms resemble Michelle Obama 's, your options are: repeat-wear something from last year, or whip out the sewing kit.
And spare me the body-positivity speeches. 'Just go sleeveless,' they say, or 'Embrace your arms — no one cares'.
Well, I care when I catch sight of my reflection in a shop window and see the glaring sight of a wide arm.
I want sleeves. Not cap sleeves (a con), not flutter sleeves (cute but pointless), but sleeves that actually cover the upper arm.
But never fear, I've done the legwork (or the arm work) and found the best sleeved summer dresses that tick all the right boxes.
Because fashion should make you feel good and for some of us, that means keeping our arms under wraps.
EMPIRE LINE
Red, Next, £36
Empire line, with a seam and fitted under the bust, is flattering on everyone, from fuller busts to fuller middles.
This number from Next in bold red and accented sleeves is perfect for summer.
Multi, River Island, £56
No one wants to splash out on a statement dress that will only see you through one wedding, or an annual trip to the races.
You want a dress that's value for money and that you can wear all season.
River Island's long-sleeved midaxi does just that.
A knotted waist and slightly padded shoulders enhance an hourglass figure, while the busy print is disguising without being too loud.
BOLD PRINT
Floral, H&M, £27.99
Ditsy florals have a habit of ageing us, whereas bolder colours and prints inject life into our outfits, like this button-down H&M dress.
This is summer in a frock. With its pretty-yet-punchy pattern and elegant length, it's the non-frumpy floral dress we've been waiting for. Wear it on a Sunday stroll, or for a day at the races.
BARGAIN BOHO
Floral, Tu at Sainsbury's, £35
Boho has made a triumphant return to fashion this year, but while most of us over 25 can't bear the thought of wearing disc belts and a mini dress, this embodies the trend without looking like 1970s fancy dress.
Slight ruffled detailing gives depth, while breaking up the floral print. And a V-neckline is flattering for fuller busts.
SHIRT DRESS
Green, George at Asda, £38
Create a defined silhouette with a classic shirt dress. This one has a slightly puffed sleeve that gives it an expensive feel.
In a deep, verdant green, it also creates a bold look with zero effort and can be dressed up with metallic accessories for holidays and weddings, or dressed down with your favourite Birkenstocks for everyday wear.
TIMELESS CLASSIC
Polka dot, Primark, £14
From royalty to the high street, you can't go wrong with a bit of polka dot.
It's one of those trusty staples you can keep in your wardrobe for years. With a three-quarter sleeve and shin-length skirt, this Primark dress is perfect for summer.
HELLO YELLOW
Broderie, New Look, £69.99
Butter yellow is the colour of the season, with everyone from Kendall Jenner to the Princess of Wales sporting the hue.
Another style synonymous with summer is broderie anglaise. And New Look's hybrid of the two trends, with a slit down the back, is the one for you.
With three-quarter sleeves and delicate cut-outs, it's a designer-looking dress for less.
