Shoulder Pad Trend: Another Designer Clothing Comeback

Leggings, headbands, and tapered jeans have all found there way back into the hearts and closets of many fashionable women. But there is one 80’s fashion trend that has long been mocked and thrown into the recesses of consignment stores everywhere that is now making a comeback, shoulder pads. This are a type of fabric-covered padding used in men's and women's designer clothes to give the wearer the illusion of having broader, and less sloping shoulders. In men's styles, shoulder pads are often used in suits, jackets and overcoats, usually sewn at the top of the shoulder and fastened between the lining and the outer fabric layer. While in women's clothing, their inclusion depends on the fashions of the day.

Most fashion designers including Polo Ralph Lauren are creating styles for this and suggesting that the rest of us should cover up; indeed, they appear to be intent upon adding volumes of cloth to our shoulders. And many stylist think wearing shoulder pads can actually make your butt look smaller! According to them, your butt is seen in relativity to your shoulders, so the wider your shoulder width, the smaller your hips and butt look. All of which has been much admired by the hard-core fashion cognoscenti – the same types that rejoice in the return of power-dressing – but those of us who blanch at the thought of a revival of shoulder pads need not necessarily panic if you are possessed of a good pair of shoulders, then by all means reveal them.

When you want to pull off this trend, be creative and imaginative. Being simple is the key to have a nice look.