If you don't get the relevance of that statement it's time to mozzy along to a more generic fashion website. After all, any true fashion enthusiast knows that the thicker the padding the closer to God. Read on if you too want to find salvation.
Okay, that intro was a little dramatic but there is truth in it. Shoulder pads were a prominent fixture of the eighties appearing across daytime and evening wear in an assortment of heinous and inspiring silhouettes. The most pivotal reference that exemplifies this best is the TV show Dynasty ( now rebooted on Netflix) that spanned the decades obsession with padding and elevated our minds and imaginations to what a little bit of deftly constructed extra wool inserted under the shoulder seams could do to creating a new silhouette. This silhouette also flattered the bodies of men with smaller shoulders, giving them the traditionally celebrated appearance of broader shoulders, thus exuding a level of power. In fact, shoulder pads have become synonymous with power, perhaps because of their association with costumes like the Matador Jacket and styles like 'power dressing' which emphasised the role of the new woman in the latter half of the seventies in a professional environment dominated by men.
Fashion lessons aside, here we are in 2020 with shoulder pads making a come back, and why wouldn't they be? In a time when we have all collectively agreed that there is only so much in our control, shoulder pads in clothing reignite a sense of power that inadvertently reminds us how we, and we alone, determine the trajectory of our lives. That being said, I've been wearing a particularly durable piece from Pull & Bear that goes with everything from high waisted denim to chino shorts and suit trousers. The padding in these new high street versions are less obvious, they flatter all silhouettes ( for both men and women) and while you may find it a tad difficult to obtain your size if you're a man with gym-goer broad shoulders, never fear there are plenty of alternatives online. However, for the rest who are into my favourite genderless style of dressing, pair your top with denim shorts and ankle socks with white sneakers or tuck into a high-waisted pair of trousers. Keep it simple and opt for white, nudes or greys and remember, effortlessness is always the key to any successful look. Now, get padding!
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