Puff-Sleeve Dresses Are My Favourite Type of Dresses—29 I Have on My Wish List

Nothing puts me in a joyful mood quite like a dress. Merely stepping or slipping into one elevates my look instantly and requires minimal thinking on my part to style, making it ideal for when I want to look like I've made an effort. It's a win-win. And while I don't like to pick favourites when it comes to dresses (they're all beautiful in their own way), you need only glance into my wardrobe for the briefest of moments to notice that many of them feature puff sleeves.

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(Image credit: @thandimaq)

Puff sleeves made a comeback on the fashion scene about five years ago and have stuck around ever since. And although they're a regular feature on tops (my collection of milkmaid tops continues to grow with each passing season), I like them best when added to a dress.

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(Image credit: @nicoleocran)

From mini puffs that add a playful twist to jumbo puffs that create spectacular silhouettes, I love puff-sleeve dresses, regardless of their form. They're sweet and easy to style. I prefer wearing mine with chunky sandals and a slouchy shoulder bag to take the twee factor (which can creep in with a puff-sleeve dress) down a notch. Being petite and busty, I also find that puff-sleeve dresses help balance my frame, meaning I walk taller and feel tenfold more confident when I wear one. And ultimately, that's how we should feel in everything we wear.

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(Image credit: @emmanuellek_)

Proving just as prevalent this summer as they were last, puff-sleeve dresses are dominating just about every new-in section I can think of right now. However, you needn't take the afternoon off to navigate through them all—I've done the hard work for you by rounding up 29 of the best puff-sleeve dresses out there. Ahead, scroll through the best puff-sleeve-dress content on the internet.

SHOP THE BEST PUFF-SLEEVE DRESSES

Next Up: 8 Summer Outfits to Throw On When You Just Can't Think

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Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.