Abstract: The paper mainly discusses the inverted sleeves of traditional Chinese dress in the early 20th century. By reviewing the photographs in the illustrated magazines published in the period of the Republic of China (1911-1949) and related written records, and based on the measurement data of inverted sleeves from the Museum of Folk Costumes of Jiangnan University, the paper analyzes the changes of the shape of the inverted sleeves and its artistic connotation by discussing the change of the sleeve length and relevant influence factors, the change of the circumference at cuff and armhole as well as the relationship between length and circumference.

Key words: inverted sleeve; sleeve length; sleeve circumference; modeling arts