How to Roll Your Sleeves Up

So you’re in a situation where it’s all right to roll the sleeves up.  What’s the gentlemanly way to do it?  There are dozens of ways – here we highlight four.

Method One:  The Basic Sleeve Fold

Perhaps the most intuitive fold, this is what most of us would naturally do when we roll our shirt sleeves for the first time. This is the hardest fold to undo and aesthetically the worst looking.  However it’s simplicity and ruggedness make it a staple for the working man.

1. Unbutton the cuff and any gauntlet buttons further up the sleeve.
2. Using the cuff as the measuring point, we simply roll the sleeve over itself until it passes the elbow.  For me this is 3 times – depending on your cuff size and arm length, it may be 4 or as few as 2.
3. Adjust until you’re happy, although its better to ensure each fold is clean and straight to get the best final look.

Method Two:  The Master Sleeve Roll

Depending on how well you finish the final fold, you can have either a more casual look with the end of the cuff is still showing, turned inside out and shoved up your sleeve.  This gives a decidedly more rumpled look that many consider stylish – especially if the shirt has a contrasting cuff color that pops.

1. Again, unbutton the cuff and any “gauntlet” buttons further up the sleeve.
2. Fold the cuff inside-out and keep tugging, without folding, until you’ve exposed just a little less arm than you want to with your finished look.  The turned-back sleeve should just be inside out and unfolded at this point.
3. Fold the bottom of the inside-out sleeve about halfway up so that it makes a band beneath the inside-out cuff.
4. Adjust until you’re happy, leaving the unbuttoned and inside-out ends of the cuff sticking out of the rolled fabric.

Method Three:  The AIFA Roll

This is a casual roll for the man wanting to signal the work day is over and it’s time to grab a beer.  I sport this sleeve roll when I’m walking around town and it’s a bit warmer – it looks stylish and I can easily roll the sleeves down with no wrinkles.  It is limited though by the size of your shirt cuff – too big of a cuff and this roll is impractical.

1. Again, unbutton the cuff and any “gauntlet” buttons further up the sleeve.
2. Using the cuff as the measuring point, we simply roll the sleeve over itself 1-2 times, stopping below the elbow.
3. Adjust until you’re happy.

Method Four:  The Devil Dog Fold (Not Shown in Video)

A crisp and professional look.  We recommend this one for office settings and Marine Corps Change of Commands.  The finished effect is a band of cuffed cloth that’s even in width all around, with no corners or buttonholes showing.

1. Unbutton the cuff and any gauntlet buttons higher up the sleeve.
2. Fold the cuff in half upwards, so that the very outer edge is folded back to meet the bottom edge of the cuff.
3. Fold again, keeping the same width — half the width of the cuff — and tucking the end of the cuff underneath the new fold.
4. Keep going until you reach the desired height on your arm.  The roll of folded fabric should be even in width and should hide the cuff itself entirely.Related Articlea:

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