# Short vs. long-sleeved shirts **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 19, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162 "2000-07-19T23:23:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2000, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/1 "2000-07-19T23:23:15Z")
For my 500th post, I thought I’d do something I rarely do and start a thread. Here it is. I am a short-sleeve person. All the time. Any temperature. I wear short sleeves in the middle of winter with six feet of snow on the ground. I’d much rather wear short sleeves with a coat than long sleeves. This way, when you get inside, you can take off the coat and be comfortable. Problem is, my birthday is in November. So I get lots of long-sleeved shirts as presents - for Christmas, too. This means that now half of my closet is filled with very nice, good-looking long sleeved shirts I don’t wear. Just thought I’d share. Care to commiserate? ---
**Author:** ![SuaSponte](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/67e7ee/32.png) [@SuaSponte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuaSponte)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/2 "2000-07-20T00:02:44Z")
There, there. There, there. Sua ---
**Author:** ![saucy\_potato](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/edb3f5/32.png) [@saucy\_potato](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucy_potato)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/3 "2000-07-20T00:05:31Z")
Why don’t you cut the sleeves? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/4 "2000-07-20T00:12:14Z")
I like short sleeves too, but it means I always have to explain away the heroin tracks. How do you deal with that? ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/5 "2000-07-20T00:48:51Z")
I hate long sleeves, too. They restrict my movement too much. A friend of mine has a photo of me on the freakin’ polar ice cap in short sleeves (although I put my parka back on immediately after the shot). Fortunately, people have learned not to give me long-sleeved shirts. I recommend dressing an effigy of the giver in the shirt and burning it in front of them–subtle, but it gets the point across. My current complaint is that sometime around the beginning of September, all the stores stop carrying short sleeve shirts. The average high temp when they do this is still somewhere in the 85-95 Fahrenheit range. What gives? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/6 "2000-07-20T02:17:29Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Balance \* > \*\* > Fortunately, people have learned not to give me long-sleeved shirts. I recommend dressing an effigy of the giver in the shirt and burning it in front of them–subtle, but it gets the point across. \*\* Good idea. I may be a wee bit less confrontational than you, however. Maybe I’ll just mention it. > [@](#): > > \*\* > My current complaint is that sometime around the beginning of September, all the stores stop carrying short sleeve shirts. The average high temp when they do this is still somewhere in the 85-95 Fahrenheit range. What gives? \*\* OTOH, if you time it right, you can catch them as they’re trying to get rid of all the shorties and grab them up for a song. ---
**Author:** ![Nacho4Sara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Nacho4Sara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nacho4Sara)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/7 "2000-07-20T05:35:07Z")
I never got you people. In winter, I wear long sleeves. In summer, I wear short. I hate being cold. And what about times when it is hot outside but cold inside? Like when I go to the movie theatre, I bring a long-sleeved t-shirt because it is sooooooo cold in there (I saw X-Men last night and there were people with blankets!) What do you do then? OTOH, you don’t have to put away summer clothes. Save closet space. But my arms would be cold even with a coat on! ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 8:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/8 "2000-07-20T08:03:46Z")
Tell me, have any of you people heard of _rolling up sleeves?_ ---
**Author:** ![JBurton99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea5d25/32.png) [@JBurton99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JBurton99)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 8:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/9 "2000-07-20T08:42:39Z")
Short-Sleeved person checking in. I prefer shorts in any kinda weather. My wife used to buy me long-sleeves until she got tired of the rumpled look i have after i rolled up the sleeves and made them short. Now she only buys shorts. 😃 As for being hot outside and freezing inside, no problemo. I always carry a Double-Lined flanel shirt in my truck. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/10 "2000-07-20T13:53:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Alessan \* > Tell me, have any of you people heard of _rolling up sleeves?_ Yep. Tried that…doesn’t work for me. I have rather large arms, and rolled-up sleeves are incredibly uncomfortable–they’re _way_ too tight on the upper parts of my arms. I can tolerate it with sweatshirts, but why bother? If I get cold (doesn’t happen often), I put on a jacket. I haven’t needed a coat since my trip to Greenland last year–and I wore short sleeves under that one. ---
**Author:** ![plnnr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7ea924/32.png) [@plnnr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/plnnr)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2000, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/11 "2000-07-20T14:02:48Z")
If these are 100% cotton dress shirts, 16 x 35, I will be happy to relieve you of them. ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/12 "2000-07-21T01:24:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Nacho4Sara \* > \*\*I never got you people. In winter, I wear long sleeves. In summer, I wear short. I hate being cold. And what about times when it is hot outside but cold inside? Like when I go to the movie theatre, I bring a long-sleeved t-shirt because it is sooooooo cold in there (I saw X-Men last night and there were people with blankets!) What do you do then? > > OTOH, you don’t have to put away summer clothes. Save closet space. But my arms would be cold even with a coat on! \*\* See, that’s just it!! I’m the opposite. I don’t get cold. I often feel overheated walking through a snowstorm if I’m wearing long sleeves. And I can’t remember the last time I’ve been inside somewhere where it was too cold. Too much insulation, I guess. 😃 I also agree with **Balance**. Rolling up sleeves just doesn’t cut it. I feel like I’ve got bowling balls hanging off my arms. On top of that, they’re always coming unrolled, requiring too much maintenance. I have really only one requirement for clothes - comfort. I just want to throw something on and not have to think about it until bedtime. Constant adjustments defeats that purpose. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/13 "2000-07-21T01:32:25Z")
Smeghead, ask a nice Auntie to hem them for you, give her flowers and she’ll never stop telling your kin folk what a nice boy you are and how you dislike long sleeve shirts. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/14 "2000-07-21T01:35:33Z")
Long sleeve shirts - always (even in the summer). Rolled up sleeves - always (even in winter). Except when I was working manual labor jobs - no shirt then (though I never tried it in the winter). ---
**Author:** ![Averye0](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Averye0](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Averye0)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/15 "2000-07-21T01:36:30Z")
Another short-sleever checking in here. The only long-sleeved shirts I own are 3 dress-shirts and a few sweatshirts (which are kinda outside the original topic). Part of the problem is that I have relatively long arms for my size (and at 6’3" and a fraction, those are _really_ long arms), so most long sleeves don’t reach far enough for either style or comfort. Fortunately I live in an area where long-sleeves are optional even in the depth of winter. People do look strangely at me when I show up to their Christmas party in a (red & green) Hawaiian shirt, shorts and sandals, though…oh well. [hijack] Does anyone else out there wear shorts year-round as well? I don’t _think_ I’m the only wacko like this…right? Averye0 ---
**Author:** ![Strainger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strainger/32/244_2.png) [@Strainger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strainger)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/16 "2000-07-21T01:49:30Z")
If I’m wearing dress shirts, I prefer to wear long sleeves; I just think they look better. Most of the shirts I wear to work are long-sleeved. Despite the fact that I’m an engineer, I will _never_ wear a short-sleeved shirt with a tie. Casually, I wear short-sleeved T-shirts and polo shirts most of the time, although one thing I like about winter is that I get to wear my long-sleeved casual shirts without passing out from the heat. Again, I just like the way they look. Plus, they’re all so comfy and snuggly. (Oh my God, did I just say that!?!?) ---
**Author:** ![Balance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ccd318/32.png) [@Balance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balance)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 2:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/17 "2000-07-21T02:54:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Averye0 \* > [hijack] > Does anyone else out there wear shorts year-round as well? I don’t _think_ I’m the only wacko like this…right? Shorts, t-shirt, and sandals aren’t unusual Christmas attire for me. As for wacko, see my above comment about short sleeves on the polar ice cap! (in a high wind, at that) I have 3 long-sleeve shirts: 1 “interview” shirt that I hate, and 2 RenFaire “garb” shirts with big, loose sleeves that I put up with for costuming purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Quadzilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/a4c791/32.png) [@Quadzilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quadzilla)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/18 "2000-07-21T04:16:28Z")
I can’t commiserate, sorry. I run cold-blooded, plus I live in the basement - so that right there marks me as a long-sleeved person. I do wear short sleeves on sleep shirts (but only because I have flannel sheets, a blanket, and a quilt), and during the day when I’m not at home because my parents keep the A/C down too low. ---
**Author:** ![Profane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e47774/32.png) [@Profane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Profane)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2000, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/short-vs-long-sleeved-shirts/26162/19 "2000-07-21T04:44:47Z")
My DH hates long sleeves with a passion. The other day he bought a uniform shirt with long sleeves by accident and he was seriously pissed off. Personally I’m in shortsleeves whenever possible, but if I’m cold I have to break out the longs. I don’t get the guys with a turtleneck, sweater & jacket with shorts on. What is that about? I used to see that all the time in CT.