14 DAY TRIAL // Back in the ‘80s, shoulder pads were all the rage, to the point that you could hardly find one item of clothing that did not have them, from jackets and blazers to evening gowns and casual tops. They faded into oblivion afterwards, but this fall will see them making a splashing comeback, already being labeled the epitome of the trendy, powerful woman of today, as the Daily Mail puts it in a recent piece.
Celebrities have already jumped on the shoulder-pad bandwagon, with some of the most fashion-forward even taking their height to lengths not even the ‘80s dared to. Victoria Beckham and singer Rihanna are perhaps two of the most illustrative examples in this sense, one using the shoulder pads to accentuate and make more stern her slender frame for an astonishing instance of power dressing, the other doing it as a statement that, where style and boldness are concerned, she has no match.
“The history of the humble shoulder pad actually dates back to the 1930s, when designer of the moment Elsa Schiaparelli used them in her collections. And, in 1932, movie star Joan Crawford popularized the look when she sported shoulder pads in the film Letty Lynton. This winter Balmain are by no means the only ones to make shoulders a focal point – Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs, Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana have gone for big shoulders with their designs for autumn / winter 09, and a slew of high street imitations are sure to follow.” the Mail writes of the emerging tendency.
Of course, as any woman can see, shoulder pads can be extremely dangerous to one’s self-esteem and image, since they can make anyone look like a fool if not worn right or in the right combinations, stylists say.
If we’re new at the shoulder-pad thing, it’s best if we didn’t go for “ear-brushing” pads right away, since we risk looking ridiculous, but rather ease into the tendency gradually and see how this type of clothes suits us. Then, the Mail adds, there are several other aspects we must take into account, like choosing between the three looks available.
“The OTT look – if you’re very young (Pixie Geldoff) or very fashion forward (Posh) try an extreme shoulder, ideally in a jacket, but be prepared for non-fashion types to think you’ve got a deformity. The squared off look – Alex Curran stepped out with her husband in a sequined shoulder padded shift from TopShop that defined the shoulder without looking excessive. Team with jeans. The DIY look – update whatever you were wearing last winter, be it a plain t-shirt, cardigan or a blazer, with a pair of pads. Buy from a haberdashery department, or fillet them out of an old unwanted jacket.” the British publication recommends.
