Big ’80s shoulders are back. Is it because they need to hold the weight of the world? (2024)

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PARIS — There’s a shoulder obsession happening on the runways here.

As the fall 2019 collections unfold, more than a few designers have focused on beefing up the silhouette of jackets and coats, dresses and blouses. The clothes aren’t oversize, although they tend to look that way if you’re accustomed to staring at garments that hew closely to the actual shape of the body. These are linebacker shoulders. “Working Girl” shoulder pads. Straight from the 1980s without being toned down, these are shoulders that play tricks with your proportions and make a woman’s hips look like they are the size of a 12-year-old boy’s.

These big shoulders have been lurking around for a while. At first, they didn’t look all that big because everything in fashion was big. The sleeves hung down the knuckles. The trousers were twice the size they needed to be. It was all part of the comfort-first, athleisure, jolt-the-eye fashion movement. But things are shifting. Shoulders are bigger and everything else is smaller.

The shoulders at Saint Laurent are massive. Designer Anthony Vaccarello showed the house’s fall 2019 collection earlier this week inside a tent constructed directly in front of the Eiffel Tower. The tower began to twinkle just as the show began and the evening was clear, and it was all beautiful and magical. And then the doors closed, enveloping the room in darkness and the first model walked out into a spotlight looking like some strange extraterrestrial version of Betty Catroux, one of the house’s longtime muses — with her long sideswept hair and androgynous features — from way back when the brand’s namesake was young and irreverent.

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The model was perched atop high platform shoes with spike heels. She was wearing slim, slightly cropped trousers and a long overcoat with massive, massive shoulders. How could she fit through a doorway with those shoulders? How annoying would she be on a crowded subway banging into people? This tall, thin, young woman looked big and fierce with her linebacker shoulders. She could carry the weight of the world on those shoulders, and these days, the world is groaning under a long list of burdens.

At Saint Laurent, the shoulders were so big that you almost didn’t notice that some of the women weren’t wearing pants. They were wearing fancy bloomers. You were also briefly distracted from the fact that a lot of the clothes on the runway looked familiar — as if you possibly saw them last season or the season before that. Surely you saw something quite similar.

At the end of the show, the models paraded out under black lights and their shoes and clothes took on an iridescent glow as though the entire runway had just turned into a rave. It was a fun exercise but looked a little gimmicky. Maybe ladies who’d spend a couple thousand dollars on a Saint Laurent dress are into day-glo trickery.

But back to the giant shoulders.

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In the 1980s, women barreled into the workplace with their clothing-as-armor. The shoulder pads were meant to give them the kind of sharp, defined silhouette that men had with their fancy suits and power ties. The wide shoulders carried into the evening with the flashy cocktail dresses and pouffy party frocks and the enormous, teased-out hair. People were taking up space and showing off wealth. And the big shoulders went quite nicely with all that excess.

This time around, the shoulders don’t seem to be celebrating overabundance. They are a power stance. Women are ready to tackle the world. To take it down. Or shore it up. Women have a lot to deal with. So get out of their way.

EARLIER IN PARIS FASHION WEEK:

Big ’80s shoulders are back. Is it because they need to hold the weight of the world? (2024)

FAQs

Why were shoulder pads big in the 80s? ›

In the 1980s, women barreled into the workplace with their clothing-as-armor. The shoulder pads were meant to give them the kind of sharp, defined silhouette that men had with their fancy suits and power ties.

Are big shoulders back in style? ›

Soon the answer may be: 2023. According to data from Tagwalk, the fashion search engine, there was an almost 50 percent increase in bold shoulders during the recent fall ready-to-wear shows over last year. There were big shoulders at big brands and outsider indie brands alike.

Are 80s shoulder pads back in style? ›

Shoulder pads are back. Models are once again striding down the catwalks sporting those iconic emblems of the 1980s, this time with a swagger and a confidence that far outstrips the decade when ambition for women was still something of a dirty word.

Why do I have such big shoulders? ›

It's important to note that broad shoulders are most likely the result of genetics and how long the clavicle bone is.

What was the purpose of shoulder pads in women's clothing? ›

Shoulder pads are a type of fabric-covered padding used in men's and women's clothing to give the wearer the illusion of having broader and less sloping shoulders. In the beginning, shoulder pads were shaped as a semicircle or small triangle and were stuffed with wool, cotton, or sawdust.

Why are NFL shoulder pads so small now? ›

The trend of smaller pads may not seem safer, but for players, too much padding that slows a player could be costly. Wide receivers and running backs, outside of the quarterback, are the most likely to touch the football and rely on their speed and physical abilities to make a play.

Do girls find big shoulders attractive? ›

Broad shoulders

Don't get hung up on carving a solid six-pack, it'll be hidden under layers of clothing 95 per cent of the time. Instead, work on sculpting broad shoulders. A study by Cambridge University of more than 700 women found broad shoulders were the most attractive male asset.

What kind of shoulders are most attractive? ›

Wide, Strong Shoulders

Broad, well-defined shoulders have always been considered a sign of strength and masculinity; plus, men with a higher shoulder-to-hip ratio reported having sex at an early age and with more sexual partners, according to David Perett's book In Your Face: The New Science of Human Attraction.

Are shoulder pads coming back 2023? ›

Tanga string panties are the biggest lingerie trend for 2023. But we wear big knickers with sheer skirts for fall 2023. Are shoulder pads back in style 2023? Yes.

What 80s trends are back? ›

Yes, 80s fashion is making a comeback with many of the decade's iconic trends, such as denim on denim, oversized blazers, and statement accessories, seen on runways and in street-style fashion. The 1980s were a decade of extravagance and boldness, and fashion was no exception.

Who popularized shoulder pads in the 80s? ›

And just like that, the exaggerated shoulder trend faded into obscurity until its flashy comeback in the 1980s. Shoulder pads ignited the runways of Ralph Lauren and Giorgio Armani with double-breasted power suits. Armani's collaboration with Grace Jones led to some of her most iconic looks.

Are the 80s coming back 2023? ›

The 80s fashion style is making a glorious comeback! That's right, some of the greatest bold and vibrant trends from the era of big hair and neon lights are back in the spotlight. Get ready to embrace the colorful world of 80s fashion in 2023, where individuality and unique styles reigned supreme.

Can you naturally have big shoulders? ›

Yes, some people naturally have broader shoulders than others — but building up your physique is possible with certain workout moves, according to New Jersey-based personal trainer Chrissy Signore. Unfortunately, Signore told Insider, genetics play a significant role.

Why is it hard to get big shoulders? ›

Developing bigger shoulders is challenging, especially since three muscle heads need isolating. Most lifters struggle to activate the rear delts, immensely enhancing their physique. By doing rear delt exercises first in your workout, you can focus on them while you are fresh to develop a 3D look to your shoulders.

When did shoulder pads get smaller? ›

They've been getting smaller roughly since the onset of the 21st century. Players began to feel the big pads didn't make them all that invulnerable to injury, and as the game turned toward speed and passing, extra equipment weight was targeted.

Were off the shoulder tops popular in the 80s? ›

Claude Montana made shoulders as broad as linebackers. Businesswomen wore power suits and shoulder pads were a thing. But then, so were the younger, often braless, off-the-shoulder looks, and it's these that designers nodded to on the Spring runways.

When were big shoulders popular? ›

Wide shoulders in women's fashion first appeared in the 1930s. Women were encouraged to show “strength”. A boom followed in the 1940s with military fashion coming from the USA. In the 1980s and 90s, power dressing with huge shoulder pads reached its peak.

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