How do you roll-up sleeves?
July 28, 2010 10:05 AM Subscribe
How do you roll up your sleeves cleanly so it looks like a look rather than just a busy day at work? Especially on a shirt with fairly tight sleeves already.
You don't roll, you fold. Fold back the cuff. Try to crease right along the seam joining the cuff piece(s) to the sleeve. Fold again where the outer edge of the cuff lies along the seam. Straighten the fabric as you go; most sleeves have a pleat at the cuff so there will be some fullness you need to smooth out. Your cuff is your template for the whole thing.
posted by peachfuzz at 10:08 AM on July 28, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by peachfuzz at 10:08 AM on July 28, 2010 [9 favorites]
Response by poster: What kind of shirt?
Untucked men's button-down. Like you would wear with jeans for a semi-casual look.
posted by smackfu at 10:10 AM on July 28, 2010
Untucked men's button-down. Like you would wear with jeans for a semi-casual look.
posted by smackfu at 10:10 AM on July 28, 2010
Fold, as peachfuzz says, and try doing it before you put the shirt on.
posted by redfoxtail at 10:13 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by redfoxtail at 10:13 AM on July 28, 2010 [2 favorites]
smackfu, if you have the types of cuffs with buttons on the seam crease, leave the middle one buttoned; this helps maintain the fold/crease.
posted by lonefrontranger at 10:14 AM on July 28, 2010
posted by lonefrontranger at 10:14 AM on July 28, 2010
1. Unbutton cuffs.
2. Fold your cuff all the way back to where you want the cuff to end up.
3. Fold the now-inside-out sleeve back (so you'll now have four layers of shirt on either side of your arm: sleeve, cuff, inside-out sleeve, inside-out sleeve.)
4. Repeat.
I think I learned that from Esquire or my older brother at some point.
Redfoxtail is right - if you do the fold cuff up, fold again thing, do it with the shirt off.
posted by punchtothehead at 10:20 AM on July 28, 2010 [11 favorites]
2. Fold your cuff all the way back to where you want the cuff to end up.
3. Fold the now-inside-out sleeve back (so you'll now have four layers of shirt on either side of your arm: sleeve, cuff, inside-out sleeve, inside-out sleeve.)
4. Repeat.
I think I learned that from Esquire or my older brother at some point.
Redfoxtail is right - if you do the fold cuff up, fold again thing, do it with the shirt off.
posted by punchtothehead at 10:20 AM on July 28, 2010 [11 favorites]
You can fold more cleanly if you do it before you put on the shirt.
posted by Elsa at 10:27 AM on July 28, 2010
posted by Elsa at 10:27 AM on July 28, 2010
From Valet Mag
I used to do something like their "beginner roll", and now I generally do the "master roll".
Other links, from a quick Google search:
The Effortless Gent
Prepidemic
posted by ymendel at 10:52 AM on July 28, 2010 [4 favorites]
I used to do something like their "beginner roll", and now I generally do the "master roll".
Other links, from a quick Google search:
The Effortless Gent
Prepidemic
posted by ymendel at 10:52 AM on July 28, 2010 [4 favorites]
The "master roll" is exactly what punchtothehead is describing, which is as correct an answer as you could ever hope to get.
posted by hermitosis at 11:19 AM on July 28, 2010
posted by hermitosis at 11:19 AM on July 28, 2010
Wow. That master roll thing is fantastic. I want to be a dude every time I sew a dress shirt, but I don't think I've ever wanted to be a fella quite as much as I do right now.
posted by peachfuzz at 11:34 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by peachfuzz at 11:34 AM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
I am a guy who loves wearing button-down shirts casually. I think that the "master roll" described in Valet Mag and The Effortless Gent looks stupid and forced. To be fair, the way Valet Mag describes the Beginner roll is a perfect recipe for ruining your cuffs. There is no need to fold the cuffs in half. You don't roll up your sleeves, you fold them properly.
Like peachfuzz says, the right (that is to say, non-douchey/hipster/forced/faked rolling) way to do this is to unbutton the first cuff button and fold the cuff back at the seam with the sleeve. Continue this the whole way up. If it's too tight this way, unbutton both cuff buttons. I promise you, your sleeves won't fall down this way and you won't look disheveled as if you had just shoved your sleeves up, which I suppose is what the "master" look is going for. YMMV, but I've never had to take my shirt off to do this, but I may try that now, it might be easier.
posted by InsanePenguin at 1:02 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Like peachfuzz says, the right (that is to say, non-douchey/hipster/forced/faked rolling) way to do this is to unbutton the first cuff button and fold the cuff back at the seam with the sleeve. Continue this the whole way up. If it's too tight this way, unbutton both cuff buttons. I promise you, your sleeves won't fall down this way and you won't look disheveled as if you had just shoved your sleeves up, which I suppose is what the "master" look is going for. YMMV, but I've never had to take my shirt off to do this, but I may try that now, it might be easier.
posted by InsanePenguin at 1:02 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Also, smackfu, I would wager that my way results in a cleaner "look" rather than a forced "look."
Of course, I am not a fashion mag, so I could be wrong.
posted by InsanePenguin at 1:03 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Of course, I am not a fashion mag, so I could be wrong.
posted by InsanePenguin at 1:03 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
While it is easier to get a nice folded cuff with the shirt off, it should be noted that there is a worthwhile skill to be developed in rolling up your sleeves with the shirt still on. With practice you can get pretty good at it using the technique described by peachfuzz and InsanePenguin.
This is nice when you are in a hurry and need to make the transition from one to the other, or when you want to make a symbolic gesture to those around you that "shit is about to get done" but I'm still going to look good when doing it.
posted by quin at 2:10 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is nice when you are in a hurry and need to make the transition from one to the other, or when you want to make a symbolic gesture to those around you that "shit is about to get done" but I'm still going to look good when doing it.
posted by quin at 2:10 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
This is nice when you are in a hurry and need to make the transition from one to the other, or when you want to make a symbolic gesture to those around you that "shit is about to get done" but I'm still going to look good when doing it.
You've seriously got it. Just roll the cuff and repeat; if the seam button is complicating things, just unbutton it.
I don't like having a big cuff halfway up my forearm, though. So, if I'm washing the shirt later, I just fold the fold in half so the cuff doesn't obstruct me folding my arms.
But yeah: roll those sleeves. You're gettin' shit done.
posted by achompas at 2:20 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
You've seriously got it. Just roll the cuff and repeat; if the seam button is complicating things, just unbutton it.
I don't like having a big cuff halfway up my forearm, though. So, if I'm washing the shirt later, I just fold the fold in half so the cuff doesn't obstruct me folding my arms.
But yeah: roll those sleeves. You're gettin' shit done.
posted by achompas at 2:20 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
If your cuff has a button in the middle (along the slit, not on the cuff proper), leave it buttoned. Unbutton the buttons at the end. Fold once, cleanly, keeping the cuff fabric flat, then repeat. Push up on your forearm but not above your elbow.
This look says I'm keeping things casual, no fuss. But by leaving the folded cuffs at mid to upper forearm, they stay in place and don't fall loose, so you can leave them that way all day.
To me, an actual roll that goes up past the elbow looks like a blue collar factor worker from the 30s. But maybe that's the ironic look you're going for ...
posted by Araucaria at 4:28 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
This look says I'm keeping things casual, no fuss. But by leaving the folded cuffs at mid to upper forearm, they stay in place and don't fall loose, so you can leave them that way all day.
To me, an actual roll that goes up past the elbow looks like a blue collar factor worker from the 30s. But maybe that's the ironic look you're going for ...
posted by Araucaria at 4:28 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
I love how it looks when sleeve is simply pulled up once (cuff unbuttoned, turned around as if you are about to roll - but instead you pull up the sleeve in one motion) so that the cuff is still visable and winds up somewhere around the bicep. It looks less studied /kinda sexy (takes biceps to hold the whole thing in place without any further rolling). And this way the cuff flies out a little from where it stands on the upper arm. This works on men and women and requires a tighter sleeve.
posted by marimeko at 5:48 PM on July 28, 2010
posted by marimeko at 5:48 PM on July 28, 2010
You need to get married - my wife always folds the cuffs of my shirts when I am going for this look. Comes out perfect everytime.
why it has never occured to me to fold the cuffs before I put the shirt on I have no explanation for
posted by Bango Skank at 6:31 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
why it has never occured to me to fold the cuffs before I put the shirt on I have no explanation for
posted by Bango Skank at 6:31 PM on July 28, 2010 [1 favorite]
Tuck in your shirt +1.
The reliable MB:
http://www.magnificentbastard.com/posts/the-tyranny-of-the-untucked-sport-shirt
posted by jeff1010 at 11:56 PM on July 28, 2010
The reliable MB:
http://www.magnificentbastard.com/posts/the-tyranny-of-the-untucked-sport-shirt
posted by jeff1010 at 11:56 PM on July 28, 2010
I am a guy who loves wearing button-down shirts casually. I think that the "master roll" described in Valet Mag and The Effortless Gent looks stupid and forced.
This.
Also: don't roll them all the way up.
Do not go past the middle of the forearm. About halfway between your wrist and your elbow is fine. Leave the placket buttoned.
And you have to tuck in your shirt when you do that.
Never ever roll up your shirt sleeves past the middle of the forearm.
posted by L'OM at 9:50 AM on July 29, 2010
This.
Also: don't roll them all the way up.
Do not go past the middle of the forearm. About halfway between your wrist and your elbow is fine. Leave the placket buttoned.
And you have to tuck in your shirt when you do that.
Never ever roll up your shirt sleeves past the middle of the forearm.
posted by L'OM at 9:50 AM on July 29, 2010
The size of your arms determines how far you can roll up your sleeves. Skinny guys look stupid if they roll their sleeves past their elbows.
My technique that is a bit hard to explain.
1) Put on shirt
2) Unbutton all sleeve buttons ( I don't know what you call them, but the one on the cuff and the one on the seam )
3) Fold your cuff completely inside out. The crease should be right along the seam of the cuff and the sleeve. Make it a perfect fold along the seam / crease. This is key. Your cuff will still be loose.
4) Fold sleeve again inside out, essentially right along the line where the end of your cuff has been folder over. Your cuff will now be a little tighter. At this point your need to do some adjustments, and loosen it up a bit, and play with it so that the fold looks tight / crisp all around your forearm.
5) Depending on the size of the cuff, you may have to fold one more time. Fold again ( This isn't really a fold, its more like a three dimensional wrapping ) Things may get really tight around your arm at this point, but that's okay. Repeat the whole loosen, play with it so it looks crisp.
Some shirts fold better than others.
posted by jasondigitized at 2:22 PM on July 29, 2010
My technique that is a bit hard to explain.
1) Put on shirt
2) Unbutton all sleeve buttons ( I don't know what you call them, but the one on the cuff and the one on the seam )
3) Fold your cuff completely inside out. The crease should be right along the seam of the cuff and the sleeve. Make it a perfect fold along the seam / crease. This is key. Your cuff will still be loose.
4) Fold sleeve again inside out, essentially right along the line where the end of your cuff has been folder over. Your cuff will now be a little tighter. At this point your need to do some adjustments, and loosen it up a bit, and play with it so that the fold looks tight / crisp all around your forearm.
5) Depending on the size of the cuff, you may have to fold one more time. Fold again ( This isn't really a fold, its more like a three dimensional wrapping ) Things may get really tight around your arm at this point, but that's okay. Repeat the whole loosen, play with it so it looks crisp.
Some shirts fold better than others.
posted by jasondigitized at 2:22 PM on July 29, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Think_Long at 10:08 AM on July 28, 2010