dolman

Picture a garment that changed its shape as it moved through history. At first, it was the name of a close-fitting military jacket, especially one worn by Hungarian hussars. Later, it was also used for a woman's wrap or cloak with sleeves that fell in a soft, cape-like way.

Today, you are most likely to hear it in fashion talk about a sleeve style on sweaters, blouses, and dresses. This sleeve is cut wide at the arm and narrows toward the wrist, giving the clothing a soft batwing shape. You might say, "She wore a charcoal sweater with flowing dolman sleeves."

The word "dolman" has traveled through both military history and fashion history. It comes from Turkish dolaman. In European use, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries, a dolman was a short, close-fitting jacket worn by Hungarian hussars and other light cavalry. It was often decorated with heavy braiding and was part of a striking uniform.

Later, in women's fashion, the same word was used for a mantle or wrap with wide, cape-like sleeves. From there, the meaning shifted again and became strongly linked to a sleeve cut as part of the main body of the garment instead of being set into a normal armhole. This creates a deep armhole and a shape that looks broad and soft through the upper arm before narrowing at the wrist.

In modern fashion, "dolman" usually refers to this sleeve style. You will see dolman sleeves on casual knit tops, loose sweaters, dresses, and other garments where designers want an easy, flowing line. So the word can point to a historical military jacket, an older style of women's wrap, or the sleeve shape most people mean today.