For today's topic, we are covering armholes!
Question(s):
Have you ever tried to tie your shoes with your jacket on while sitting, and when you reach over to tie your shoes, you can't seem to reach far enough to tie them? Does this mean my armholes are too small or too tight?
Before I answer that you must...
Understand construction/terms:
Armscye: the opening in the garment where the sleeve is attached.
What is the difference between the sleeve head and the armscye? The armscye is crafted inside—on the inner part of the jacket—and around the armhole. The sleeve head is made a little bit larger than the armscye.
Pros of having small armholes:
1. Body Movement - Imagine reaching up for something on the top shelf, lighting a candle, or taking a sip of your favorite drink. If you have a large armhole, the jacket will lift above your neck and practically to your ears! Smaller armholes allow you to move while keeping your jacket in place. In other words, your freedom of movement will be much greater with smaller/higher armholes than with larger/longer armholes.
2. Good Posture - If you (like most of us) sit behind a computer most of the day or have a poor posture, having smaller armholes actually lifts your posture up and helps keep you standing upright and proper.
3. Professional Look - Higher armholes not only provide a cleaner look by keeping the jacket in place, but also provide a nice silhouette for the client. The next time you're in court or at a meeting, please take a look at the jackets of the people sitting next to you. If you see their jackets rising up or not lying smoothly on their bodies, then you'll know why.
Further Remarks
If your armholes do feel tight when you're naturally standing, then you should probably try a jacket with larger armholes, or get your jacket's armholes "let-out." But if you are sitting and trying to tie your shoes with smaller armholes, it is almost impossible because the jacket sits around the shoulders smoothly and doesn't rise like in most large armhole jackets.
I hope you learned something from this short Q&A. Stay tuned for more quick tips.
