How to recognise it
There is no shoulder seam: diagonal seams run from the neckline to the underarm. The shoulders look soft and rounded and the arms move freely.
Where it comes from
The name comes from Lord Raglan, a British officer who lost an arm at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815; coats cut with such sleeves made his name famous.
Who and when it suits
It is common on sportswear, sweaters, sweatshirts and coats because it allows free movement. A raglan sleeve suits narrow shoulders.
Variations and look-alikes
It comes long, short or three-quarter, in a contrast colour or plain, with a straight or curved seam. Baseball tees with contrast raglan sleeves are a sporty classic. It differs from a dropped shoulder in its seam from the neck.
How to style it
- Narrow shoulders: a raglan rounds them.
- Broad shoulders: choose a set-in sleeve.
- A contrast-colour raglan is a sporty classic.
- A raglan coat fits easily over a thick knit.
Similar styles
Frequently asked
01Where does the name raglan come from?
From the British officer Lord Raglan, for whom coats with such sleeves were made.
02Who suits a raglan sleeve?
People with narrow shoulders; broad shoulders look better in a set-in sleeve.
03How is a raglan different from a dropped shoulder?
A raglan seam runs diagonally from the neck; a dropped shoulder seam sits below the shoulder.