I am appalled to see that 80’s style shoulder pads are back in fashion – how on earth do you wear them?
You’re right - the dreaded shoulder pad is back in style and this season those pointy triangles of foam will be hard to avoid. If, like me, you grew up in the Eighties and now cringe whenever you look back at family photos of you with big, frosted hair, big shoulders and stone washed denim, then look away now because shoulder pads are back with a vengeance.
Big shoulders edged onto the recent runways of Miss Sixty, Gianfranco Ferre, Diane von Furstenberg, Nicole Miller and Alexander Wang to name but a few. And stars such as Mary Kate Olsen, Beyonce, Victoria Beckham and Gwyneth Paltrow have also been spotted rocking the look.
In the 80’s shoulder pads were everywhere and vast American footballers' shoulder pads were stuck onto everything from dressing gowns to T-shirts. If they weren't already in there, you could buy different sizes and sew them in yourself. Back then, I used to cut them out of the shoulders and stuff them into my bra where, I reckoned, they were far more effective.
Although shoulder pads are a ghastly thought in some ways we can't be too surprised at their return with recent revivals of leggings, one-shoulder tops, footless tights, stone washed denim and batwing sleeves becoming fashionable again; it was really only a matter of time before someone thought of bringing back the shoulder pad.
In the 80’s the look was all about power dressing, making the female silhouette more aggressive and structured - but these days they’re worn with a hint of irony.
Take, for example, Roisin Murphy - the Arklow singer and model attended an exhibition at the London V&A Museum on Wednesday, wearing a black frock coat complete with huge shoulder pads. She looked as if she was on her way to a Star Trek convention in her strange PVC ensemble. Her look was modern and edgy but there was a little sense of humour there too.
Despite my initial misgivings, I can see the merit of a reasonable shoulder pad in creating structure and making a bit of a power statement. Moderation would be key, and I wouldn’t revamp the whole wardrobe to reflect the trend.
If you're feeling daring, go for 1/2 inch pads, not the 2 inches seen on the models, and don't shove them into any old shirt or jacket — the fabric must be strong enough to take it. Shoulder pads work especially well in classics, such as a Chanel style jacket or a spring trench.
Instead, if you’re feeling the need to channel your inner CEO, pick a classic piece or two, amped up with a little strategic padding. In jackets and coats, moderate shoulder pads is needed for shaping and style and a little bit of padding really helps a pear-shaped woman like me—smooth the size gap between the hips and the bust.
If you padd up the shoulders , it has the marvellous effect of making your waist look slimmer, the key is to use them in moderation – unless you’re going for a statement look.
But the next question is whether you’ll wear the look if it does hit the highstreet? Before you answer, think back to how you vowed you would NEVER wear skinny jeans again. I was one of those people. Now I wear skinny jeans all the time. So maybe shoulder pads are in my future after all. Time will tell.
