I'm a fashion expert – I've found seven summer dresses that hide bingo wings… and they're not frumpy
BINGO wings beware – the high street has gone sleeveless mad.
And if, like me, you don't love your upper arms, that's seriously bad
news
.
Advertisement
7
Bright red puff sleeve midi dress, £36, Next
Credit: Next
7
Cream satin floral twist front maxi dress, £56, River Island
Credit: River Island
I know I'm not alone, either. When I ranted about this in
the office
, there was a chorus of agreement.
Not because we're all body-conscious, but because — shock
horror
— some of us want to wear real clothes to places other than a beach.
On TikTok, clips showing exercises to eliminate
bingo
wings have hundreds of thousands of likes. And I'm not surprised.
At the age of 35, it's quite common for women my age — and older — to feel self-conscious about their arms.
Advertisement
READ MORE IN FABULOUS
Over-50s fitness influencer Nikki Brow amasses more than 560k views on TikTok for her 'Menopause ladies' videos to banish bingo wings. And #armworkout videos have more than 4.5 billion views on the social media platform.
But trying to find anything to cover our upper arms this summer is a relentless task.
As someone who spends an unhealthy amount of time trawling the rails of the high street (it's my job, after all), I recently found myself storming through Zara in London's
Oxford
Street, wondering if the designers had collectively lost the plot — or just stopped believing in sleeves.
Everywhere I turned it was strappy slip dresses, halterneck beachwear pretending to be occasionwear, and sequinned numbers clearly aimed at women who treat the club loos as a selfie booth.
Advertisement
Most read in Fabulous
And sleeves? Nowhere to be found.
There was one long-sleeved dress and, plot twist, it had no back.
Shoppers run to bag on-trend spring dress with 'boho vibes' in Sainsbury's
Brilliant. So now I've got to shell out again for a stick-on-bra and rolls of duct tape to keep everything in its rightful place. But it's not just Zara, either.
Unless your upper arms resemble Michelle Obama's, your options are: repeat-wear something from last year, or whip out the sewing kit.
Advertisement
And spare me the body-positivity speeches. 'Just go sleeveless,' they say, or 'Embrace your arms — no one cares'.
Well, I care when I catch sight of my reflection in a shop window and see the glaring sight of a wide arm.
I want sleeves. Not cap sleeves (a con), not flutter sleeves (cute but pointless), but sleeves that actually cover the upper arm.
But never fear, I've done the legwork (or the arm work) and found the best sleeved summer dresses that tick all the right boxes.
Advertisement
Because fashion should make you feel good and for some of us, that means keeping our arms under wraps.
EMPIRE LINE
Red, Next, £36
Empire line, with a seam and fitted under the bust, is flattering on everyone, from fuller busts to fuller middles.
This number from Next in bold red and accented sleeves is perfect for summer.
Advertisement
EVERY OCCASION WEAR
Multi, River Island, £56
No one wants to splash out on a statement dress that will only see you through one wedding, or an annual trip to the races.
You want a dress that's value for money and that you can wear all season.
River Island's long-sleeved midaxi does just that.
Advertisement
A knotted waist and slightly padded shoulders enhance an hourglass figure, while the busy print is disguising without being too loud.
BOLD PRINT
Floral, H&M, £27.99
7
Floral patterned midi dress, £27.99, H&M
Credit: Supplied
Ditsy florals have a habit of ageing us, whereas bolder colours and prints inject life into our outfits, like this button-down H&M dress.
Advertisement
This is summer in a frock. With its pretty-yet-punchy pattern and elegant length, it's the non-frumpy floral dress we've been waiting for. Wear it on a Sunday stroll, or for a day at the races.
BARGAIN BOHO
Floral, Tu at Sainsbury's, £35
7
Floral boho maxi dress, by Tu at Sainsbury's, £35
Credit: Supplied
Boho has made a triumphant return to fashion this year, but while most of us over 25 can't bear the thought of wearing disc belts and a
mini
dress, this embodies the trend without looking like 1970s fancy dress.
Advertisement
Slight ruffled detailing gives depth, while breaking up the floral print. And a V-neckline is flattering for fuller busts.
SHIRT DRESS
Green, George at Asda, £38
7
Green shirt dress with linen, George at Asda, £38
Credit: Asda
Create a defined silhouette with a classic shirt dress. This one has a slightly puffed sleeve that gives it an expensive feel.
Advertisement
In a deep, verdant green, it also creates a bold look with zero effort and can be dressed up with metallic accessories for holidays and weddings, or dressed down with your favourite Birkenstocks for everyday wear.
TIMELESS CLASSIC
Polka dot, Primark, £14
7
Primark polka dot dress, £14
Credit: Primark
From royalty to the high street, you can't go wrong with a bit of polka dot.
Advertisement
It's one of those trusty staples you can keep in your wardrobe for years. With a three-quarter sleeve and shin-length skirt, this Primark dress is perfect for summer.
HELLO YELLOW
Broderie, New Look, £69.99
7
Yellow broderie anglaise midi dress, New Look, £69.99
Credit: Supplied
Butter yellow is the colour of the season, with everyone from Kendall Jenner to the Princess of Wales sporting the hue.
Advertisement
Another style synonymous with summer is broderie anglaise. And New Look's hybrid of the two trends, with a slit down the back, is the one for you.
With three-quarter sleeves and delicate cut-outs, it's a designer-looking dress for less.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
‘This made me howl', cry fans as Ireland AM hosts try out hysterical TikTok trend outside studio
IRELAND AM hosts have left their viewers in stitches after they attempted a viral TikTok trend. The hit breakfast show was back on air yesterday with usual presenters Advertisement 3 Muireann O'Connell and Alan Hughes tried out a viral TikTok trend 3 Muireann and Alan were in stitches as they tried the trend 3 Ireland AM fans were all left laughing at the clip The dynamic trio are renowned for their shared sense of humour and cheeky on-screen banter. Yesterday, Muireann and Alan had a great time outside the Virgin Media studio as they joined in with a popular The trend suggested that doing a silly, horse-like walk can lead to unexpectedly great candid photos — and they couldn't resist giving it a try. Muireann and Alan linked arms as they galloped around the Virgin Media parking lot. Advertisement READ MORE IN IRELAND AM The hosts were in fits of laughter as they realised how hilarious they looked doing the ridiculous walk. But, in the end, the pair were speechless when they ended up getting some gorgeous photos of themselves. Muireann looked beautiful prancing in her white cream skirt and beaming from ear to ear. While Alan lovingly looked over at Muireann and smiled. Advertisement Most read in News TV The official Ireland AM page posted the hysterical video with the caption: "Wait... could this replace our morning photo posts? How did we do?" And fans were all left laughing at the stars' humorous clip as they reacted in the comments section. Hazel Behan details horrific assault on air Christine wrote: "Love this trend so much haha." Olive said: "You two are priceless. Very funny ." Advertisement Norma added: "That made me howl!" While Mag remarked: "You guys are just so funny . You make my day." And Maura gushed: "Love these two gems… great friendship." This comes after an Ireland AM guest made a witty remark on air after Alan Hughes' cheeky comments. Advertisement NO BUN INTENDED Baker Corinna Camerino joined the presenters on set in the Virgin Media studio to cook up a storm. Teasing the cooking segment, Tommy said: "Now The Ballyfermot native replied: "I am indeed. Tommy, how's your buns?" The former rugby star was surprised by the question and he stuttered as he answered: "Eh... they're tasty." Advertisement Alan went on to say: "Because we've got something fluffy and good baking in the kitchen this morning . Yes, we're doing lovely buns." She quickly added: "G-rated sour cream cardamom buns." Alan looked puzzled as he asked: "What's G-rated?" Corinna said: "It's for the general population. It's nothing like sexy puns about buns. G-rated." Advertisement Alan was in fits of laughter at her hit back and said: "You've told me, girl. You've told me!"
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
How to wash your pillow to kill bacteria & keep them fluffy in hot weather with 35p hack
WHILE you likely wash your bedding regularly, chances are you aren't cleaning your pillow often enough. A budget-friendly hack can help to kill bacteria and leave your pillow feeling fluffier than ever in the hot weather. Advertisement 2 A cleaning expert revealed the budget ingredient she uses to wash her pillows (stock image) Credit: Getty Experts recommend washing your pillows a few times a year as they can accumulate everything from sweat and oils to dead skin cells and dust mites. And with the current bout of scorching weather, now is an ideal time to give them a freshen up. TikTok user Anna Louisa ( She explained that someone told her "half the weight of people's pillows is dead skin cells". Advertisement The reason why your And while the statistics of bacteria on pillows varies by case, this was still enough to kick the cleaning pro into action. "Apparently pillows should be washed at least [every] three to six months to keep them fresh and free of bacteria, skin cells, dirt, oil, and dust mites," she told her followers. She shared her go-to method for anyone who was also inspired to take immediate action. Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Anna recommended keeping your pillows in a pillowcase or pillow protector when putting in the washing machine. She explained that this can help to protect them during the cycle and avoid ripping. Cleaning whizz shares two-second 13p trick to get all the pet hair out of your laundry in seconds To keep the washing machine balanced and guarantee an all-round clean, the TikToker suggested only washing two pillows at a time. For the best results, Anna advised her audience to select a delicate or gentle cycle when washing. Advertisement She also suggested using a small amount of normal detergent and replacing fabric conditioner with vinegar to "make your pillows fluffy and to neutralise any odours". You can pick up a bottle of And you can even speed up the drying process by adding an extra spin to the washing cycle. Laundry tips Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol shared her laundry tips. How often should you be remaking your bed? When it comes to your bed, maintaining a hygienic sleep setup can actually improve your sleep quality, helping you start every day better. Most people shed 500 million skin cells per day and a lot of that ends up in bed for dust mites to feed on. And those with asthma or allergies might see symptoms worsen by sleeping on dirty sheets! You want to be washing your sheets once a week - or every 10 days if you don't suffer from allergies and wear nightclothes. Bedding builds up with sweat, skin cells and oils quickly, even if it doesn't look dirty. Using an effective detergent like What temperature do smol recommend then? For your regular weekly washes I recommend washing most loads at 20°C for 30 minutes. It's gentler on fabrics, slashes energy use, and still delivers excellent stain removal with the right detergent. A colder wash can actually be more effective if you opt for a bio detergent as its enzymes need cooler water; too hot and they lose their ability to digest stains. A wash at 60°c (unless you have silk sheets) every now and again can help kill off dust mites and other nasties. What's the difference between bio and non-bio detergent? Bio detergents contain enzymes, which are especially good at breaking down tough stains like food, grass, or sweat. It's best used in mid to low temperature washes (ideally between 20-40°C) as anything hotter can cause them not to work effectively. Non-bio skips the enzymes, which in turn makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Although non-bio doesn't contain enzymes, it's still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean, you just may need to use a slightly higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process. Make sure you allow the pillows time to fully dry to avoid any bacteria or mould growing. Advertisement And remember to always check your pillow's care label and follow the directions accordingly when it comes to washing and drying. According to Anna, most pillows can be washed in the washing machine using this method, including scatter cushions. A laundry expert revealed the top ways to wash each type of pillow at home. Read more on the Irish Sun There is also a step-by-step guide available for Advertisement Or you can opt to 2 According to the TikToker, your pillow gets heavier over time as it accumulates your sweat and dead skin cells (stock image) Credit: Getty
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Missed out on Lions tickets? There's a sneaky way to catch all the action
More than 50,000 fans will pack out Dublin's Aviva Stadium tonight as the British & Irish Lions make rugby history - playing on Irish soil for the first time ever. But if you didn't manage to get your hands on a ticket, don't panic as there's still a way to join in the action. Thanks to a new partnership with TikTok, fans at home can enjoy exclusive behind-the-scenes content and match-day buzz from a team of popular content creators covering the Lions' 2025 tour kick-off against Argentina. Some of Ireland and the UK's top TikTokers - including Rugby Nause, James Doyle and Miriam Mullins - have been enlisted to bring viewers pitchside, inside the fan zones and behind the scenes throughout the evening. Viewers can expect everything from hilarious fan moments to insightful match breakdowns via the hashtag #Lions2025. The creators, with millions of followers between them, are set to capture the raw emotion and energy of the Lions' long-awaited Dublin debut. To catch all the action, you can follow: TikTok Ireland's Head of Content Operations, Rebecca O'Keeffe, said: "This partnership is all about making The British & Irish Lions and rugby even more accessible. Whether it's breaking down the rules for first-time viewers or capturing the emotional highs of the Lions matches, TikTok creators will showcase the Tour through content that educates, entertains, and inspires. 'Stay tuned on TikTok for exclusive Lions content from the #Lions2025 Tour and join us as we bring fans closer to one of rugby's most iconic teams - wherever they are in the world."
