Does your armspan match your height? For most people, these two measurements are the same. For some, though, their armspan will be longer or shorter than their height. My armspan is a whopping 4 inches greater than my height – my arms belong on someone who is 6’4″! This is definitely why I’ve always had problems buying shirts and sweaters with long sleeves that actually cover my wrists. Even tall sizes don’t quite make it!
When I started sewing and started making shirts for myself, I always made sure to add several extra inches to the pattern, and would try on the almost-finished shirt to get the correct sleeve length before hemming the sleeves. Being able to make and wear long sleeves that fit was a HUGE breakthrough for me! No more tugging and stretching sleeves, or pushing sleeves up to try and hide the too-short sleeves and too-long arms!
We all know it’s hard enough to feel good in your own skin when you automatically stick out in a crowd – but to also constantly feel like a kid who has outgrown their clothes is uncomfortable and a detriment to your self-esteem. It’s tough to feel confident in ill-fitting clothes, but on the flip side, it feels SO fantastic to put something on that fits and flatters! A power suit can come in all shapes and styles 🙂
I’ve often joked that I have ape arms, and it turns out that “the ape index” is an actual thing! There’s even a website that will calculate your ape index for you! A longer armspan can be quite advantageous in many sports, like boxing, swimming and rock climbing –Â or, you know, just being able to reach items on the top shelf at the grocery store!
However, it can also be a disadvantage in basic things, like finding sleeves that fit! If you have struggled with cold wrist syndrome like I have, or are perpetually wearing bracelet length sleeves that were never meant to be bracelet sleeves, then I suggest you check out the shirts I’ve designed – they will always have sleeves that are plenty long enough. I’m also currently working on a few more winter items that will be coming your way soon! Check back again in the next few weeks, or sign up for our newsletter to be notified when they are added to the shop.
I’d love to hear from you, so we can do a very unscientific study to find out whether the armspan-equals-height rule is actually true. Tell me in the comments – are you on #teamapearms, #teamtrexarms, or #teamperfectlyequal?
