AKA "angel sleeves", "wizard sleeves", "gravy catchers". Feature of many women's dresses (and some men's wear) in the
1960's and
1970's, bell sleeves are "
kimono" or
set-in sleeves that fall in a wide bell at the wrist (think
bell-bottoms for the arm) from the
elbow or
shoulder, often fringed, trimmed, flounced, or weighted at the bottom with
tassels or sewn-in
chain. An added plus is a contrasting lining within the sleeve itself, visible when the sleeve falls open.
An enduring classic, they are a feature of such folkwear as the dashiki, don't require special pattern adjustment and the first thing most little girls think of when they draw a witch or princess. Drawbacks, which can be worked around, are their impracticality when cooking or using machinery and their uneconomical use of fabric.