In recent years, the term “statement sleeve” has been used so gratuitously it now describes any arm covering that’s more complicated than the sleeve on a T-shirt or button-down. But picture Queen Elizabeth I in her Tudor gowns—now that’s a statement sleeve. The Museum at FIT’s new exhibition tracks the history of the showstopping sleeve from the 18th century through contemporary fashions, making an unsurprising pitstop in the 1980s, era of the shoulder pad. The power of a sleeve? It can transform a utilitarian garment into an architectural work of art. It can bring romance to a modernist silhouette. From textures and embellishments to structured boning, 80 historical pieces from the museum’s archive illustrate the sleeve’s evolution and impact. —Lucy Horowitz