Big shoulders have been going strong for the past few seasons, and it doesn’t look like they are going anywhere soon. Military jackets, Balenciaga sculptured masterpieces and 80’s shoulder pads have been hot on the runways for a while now, but sometimes it takes a little longer for those who are more timid to hop on the style bandwagon.
The good news is that designers have created more flirty, feminine versions of the somewhat masculine silhouette. Pleating, tucking and creative draping add a bit of bounce to the shoulder line without looking too severe. So dive in and splurge on a strong shoulder for fall. There will be plenty of versions to choose from.
Narcisco Rodriguez designs for a chic woman who appreciates sophisticated style, as seen in his sleek, black coat with heightened shoulders.
Tibi’s ode to the 80’s shows maturity with soft, flouncy shoulders paired with a bright flirty skirt.
Calvin Klein designs for a fashion pro who deserves nothing less than the best. The cutout, woven jacket gathers at the shoulder for a quiet lift to a bold, statement jacket.
Marc Jacobs makes a loud splash with a turquoise, metallic, Victorian style jacket paired with denim pants. Pleating and shoulder pads give these shoulders a vintage nod, while the fabric combo keeps the look modern.
Horizontal layers of ribbon wrapped and sealed with a metal zipper create a futuristic shoulder by Max Azria.
For those new to the strong shoulder look, stick to fitted silhouettes that hug the rest of your body to show off the feminine side of your figure.
