What Are Arm Sleeves and How Do You Wear Them? A Guide to Arm Sleeves and Neck Covers

Finding a dress you love in a shop, only to see the sleeves are short or the neckline is open, is a common disappointment for women who wear hijab. This is where arm sleeves and neck covers come in: they make your clothes modest in seconds, without changing the outfit.

What Are Arm Sleeves?

Arm sleeves are tube-shaped pieces of stretchy fabric that cover the arm from the elbow or shoulder to the wrist. They are worn under short or three-quarter-sleeved blouses, dresses and T-shirts, giving a look that is covered to the wrist.

What Is a Neck Cover?

A neck cover is worn under your clothes and covers the neck and chest. Under V-neck or open-neck clothes it gives a turtleneck look. It is also an easy way to cover your neck if you wear a ready-to-wear turban.

Arm sleeves extend short and three-quarter sleeves to the wrist

How to Wear Arm Sleeves

Slide the sleeve over your hand and pull it up your arm.

Place the top edge at your elbow or upper arm, so it stays under the sleeve of your top.

With thumb-hole styles, pass your thumb through the hole; the sleeve is anchored at the wrist.

Smooth the fabric along your arm so there are no creases.

Bring the sleeve of your top down over the top edge of the arm sleeve.

Do Arm Sleeves Ride Up?

Loose sleeves, or ones that have lost their stretch, can bunch up as you move your arms. To prevent this:

Choose thumb-hole styles; anchored at the wrist, they do not ride up.

Choose sleeves in stretchy fabric that fit your arm closely.

Place the top edge at least a few centimetres under the sleeve of your top.

Sports Arm Sleeves

A long-sleeved top can make you sweat during exercise; a short-sleeved sports top with sports arm sleeves keeps you covered and lets air through. Sports sleeves made of micro fabric are breathable and dry quickly. The micro sports hijab and arm sleeve set brings a sports scarf and arm sleeves together. For sports outfits, also see our sports hijab guide.

Sports arm sleeves with thumb holes do not ride up

Ecardin Arm Sleeves and Neck Covers

The plain neck cover and arm sleeve set: simple and goes with everything.

The neck cover and arm sleeve set: with contrasting colour options.

See every style in our arm sleeves and neck cover and arm sleeve set categories.

Styling Tips

Choose sleeves close to the colour of your top for a seamless look.

A contrasting colour (such as a black T-shirt with cream sleeves) creates a deliberate style detail.

Worn together, a neck cover and a ready-to-wear turban cover the neck completely.

Choose thin sleeves in summer and slightly thicker fabrics in winter.

What to Look for in Arm Sleeves

Length: For short sleeves, long arm sleeves that start near the shoulder; for three-quarter sleeves, ones that start at the elbow.

Fabric: Cotton jersey for everyday wear, micro fabric for sport.

Thumb hole: It anchors the sleeve at the wrist and stops it riding up.

Colour: For your first pair, basics like black and cream go with most clothes.

Expanding Your Wardrobe with Arm Sleeves and Neck Covers

Arm sleeves and neck covers are among the most economical ways to expand a modest wardrobe. They let you wear your short-sleeved T-shirts, blouses and dresses again and create new outfits without buying new clothes. We explain how to create many outfits from a few pieces in our minimalist style article.

Caring for Arm Sleeves

Wash at 30°C; avoid the tumble dryer to keep stretchy fabrics in shape.

The area around the thumb hole is stretched with frequent use; do not pull the sleeve off by the hole.

Wash sports sleeves after every use.

Frequently Asked Questions

What sizes do arm sleeves come in?

Arm sleeves are usually made of stretchy fabric in one size and fit most arms.

Can I wear the arm sleeves and neck cover separately?

Yes. Although they are sold as a set, you can wear just the sleeves or just the neck cover as you need.

Do arm sleeves make you sweat?

Sleeves made of stretchy, breathable fabrics are a thin layer, so they often feel fresher than a long-sleeved top.

Which clothes can I wear arm sleeves with?

Under short and three-quarter-sleeved blouses, T-shirts, dresses and tunics.

Does a neck cover show under a hijab?

Neck covers made of thin fabric add no bulk under your scarf and cover the neck neatly.