Am I the only one excited for the return of shoulder pads? (*embarrassed*)

Having small shoulders and being short-waisted, shoulder pads not only give me a longer torso but fill in the areas where I am lacking. They really improve my silhouette. I can see why others (inverted triangles for example) would not be thrilled, though!

What I am praying NOT to see is a return to exaggerated, linebacker-sized shoulder pads as was prevalent in the 80s.

Bring them on!

Even as a teenager I was smart enough to know that my broad shoulders didn’t need shoulder pads so I never wore them. That means there was no swearing off either. I suspect I still don’t need them (I notice the sleeves in the pics are puffy), but I’m willing to keep an open mind if Angie deems them a possibility for someone like me. Laura, I am happy for those with small shoulders to have shoulder pads again. I just know that with very puffy sleeves and skinny jeans, I can look like a literal inverted triangle– is that ever a good thing?

No no noooooo. I have rather broad, square-shaped shoulders already. I remember when it was impossible to find anything, even a T-shirt, without shoulder pads–I’m sure I looked ridiculous! Do not want to go back to this!!

While my shoulders are too broad as they are and I don’t welcome this trend, I think it will be embraced by most women for the reason you gave..they balance out hips. I read someplace that they first became popular because women in the work force wanted the authority they give an outfit. That is also still true. I won’t say I’ll never wear them again, but I hope they stay thin. I do like how a little shoulder padding helps a jacket skim the body. The worst look in the past was big pads in a white tee shirt or light sheer blouse that showed through the fabric.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have broad-ish shoulders so I do not really need them. On the other hand, if they are a very subtle part of nice garment, I wouldn’t pass on the item just because of them. But I will certainly pass on the over sized ones.

I’m glad I missed shoulder pads the first time around, and I would never wear them. My shoulders are fine the way they are, and pads are so uncomfortable to me that I take my seam ripper and remove them — even if they are relatively thin and built in underneath a jacket’s lining.

Blessed (or cursed!) with a classic swimmer’s physique, oversized shoulder pads can be problematic. However, they do wonders for the waistline, and I think a more modern interpretation could be quite wearable. I’ll wait and see!

I was just starting out my career in the late 80′s and early 90′s when shoulder pads were at their height of fashion. All my dress suits had them (we did NOT wear pant suits then). I loved my suits. Oh, I wish I had a picture to post. I have small shoulders and a small head, so I had to be careful the pads were not too big. It will be interesting to see what they will look like in main stream. I am game to try it.

Interesting reactions. We’ve covered many opinions so far.

Laura and Eva, I too have a dainty shoulder line. I am not opposed to the idea of shoulder pads at this point because I think they’ll be done tastefully this time around. That being said, my dainty shoulder line fits in with the rest of my body type and I look fine without shoulder enhancement. But I think it would be fun to own a modern garment with shoulder pads. It would probably make me smile.

For those of you with broad shoulders, here’s food for thought: models have very strong shoulder lines. They usually have an inverted triangle or rectangular body type. They wear the new shoulder pad look well.

I also have broad shoulders (thankfully – they help balance my pear shaped lower half) and always tore them out of shirts when I was a teenager. However, they have their place, but I definitely won’t be wearing any oversized ones.

Angie, aren’t one inch shoulder pads always built into tailored jackets? The LAMB jacket I bought last fall has them hidden under the liner and I thought it was not out of the ordinary for them to be in a tailored piece.
My best friend was a power business woman in the ’80′s and she loved her shoulder pads. I honestly didn’t understand her love of them until I read you explanation today that they make the waist and hips appear slimmer. These are issuse she does deal with and so the shoulder pads would make her very happy.
These new ones you have posted pictures of are very different from the line backer pads of the 80′s. What will they think of next?
I’m one of those who is happy with my shoulders as they are.

It’s true- fashion has a way of coming back and bombarding you with images over and over and then desensitizing you. That’s how I’m wearing skinnies and leggings again. BUT having said that, there are those things I can never get used to seeing- one of them is acid wash- the other may be this- but time will tell!!!!

The examples you posted look to me like an exaggeration of the puff sleeve trend?

In the 80s I embraced the shoulder pad trend and you should see some of the outfits I had! The shoulder pads were HUGE. We even put shoulder pads in our tee shirts. I am a bit broad shouldered and trend towards an inverted triangle. This was probably not my best look, but back then, you really had NO choice. That’s all that was sold. I hope we don’t go back to that – I hope that a range of styles continues to be offered.

What I like about the photos you show is that while the shoulders are exaggerated, the rest of the top is form-fitting and waist defining. A lot of the 80s styles just hung straight down from the shoulder, baggy and loose, requiring you to cinch it all in with a big belt. But the top would still be baggy and would add several pounds to my small frame. Of course, back then they didn’t really offer petites either. I looked like I was swimming in my clothing. When I went to my reunion(s) recently, a lot of people thought I’d lost weight. That tells you something – considering I’ve gained since then. It’s all about the clothing.

However, I don’t mind a *bit* of shoulder padding in a suit jacket. I think it helps the line of the jacket fall better, especially if your shoulders aren’t all that angular.

I’m pretty hippy [which means I have hips, I'm not wearing tye-die and love beads, etc.] so shoulder pads balance me out. I believe in wearing them in moderation.

As for the skinny jeans: I bought a pair, but I don’t have to the nerve to wear them yet. Maybe after I lose another 5-10lbs.

I was a child in the 80s, so I remember shoulder pads, but didn’t ever have to deal with wearing them. I will not be jumping on this bandwagon if it ever comes into the mainstream. I’d consider myself fairly average in the shoulder area, but I’m still uncomfortable. I’m not a fan of puffed sleeves because I think they make my silhouette look unnatural, and I think shoulder pads would have a similar or more exaggerated effect. They look costumey and over-the-top for me and I’m not going there. I also have passed on skinny jeans, leggings and baggy tunic tops with big belts, so I guess despite my age, I just really really really can’t call myself a “child of the 80s”. That being said, as with skinnies, leggings and all else, if a person feels good in shoulder pads they should rock them. I just can’t go there myself…

As a petiteish pear, I’m pretty excited about the return of the shoulder pad. I wore them a TON in the 80′s but they were super exaggerated and probably not the best looking. I had several of those “Dynasty” type suits with the big shoulder pads and the belted waist which I loved. Thankfully, it seems like the new shoulder pads will be more subtle and will definitely help out us small shouldered gals.

I actually like the look in those two pictures, but I think shoulder pads (especially with the arms in this look) are for skinny or bottom heavy figures. I already have two sizes between my top and bottom as I’m busty size 6. I ended up buying skinny jeans at some point, but I haven’t worn skinny jeans to work to date in order to keep a balanced figure. This is one of those looks I wouldn’t do at work. No need to emphasize what already pops up! Are there ways for busty gals to have this look?

Well I was never one of those people who swore I would never wear skinnies (again? I didn’t even get to wear them the first time), so I can’t be held to that! I loved skinnies and wanted to wear them even before they came back. Unfortunately by the time they did, I gained 20 pounds. Rotten luck.

Shoulder pads are another story. I have very sloped, softened shoulders, so in theory I should like them. But they just look silly to me. These ones look more like exaggerated puff sleeves than shoulder pads to me, and I’m not into the whole space age thing.

Bulking up the shoulder area is something I just can’t understand. It just seems very masculine to me, even when done in a girly way. I don’t think I’m going to bother bulking up one of the few things about me that’s nice and dainty.

I think, as one who lived through the late 80′s, that shoulder pads were horrible for your neck length. Great for your waist, but your neck vanished. And if you look at the extreme examples in old TV shows, you see how silly it all looked.

I think this is an 80′s fad thing rather than a serious trend. The examples I am seeing are rather fun and exuberant.

I do like a shoulder pad in a jacket to be built in and subtle.

The problem with the late 80′s was that we also had the emerging trend of big, blousey, bulky clothing.

If you want to imagine shoulder pads for this trend, look back into the late 30′s and 40′s (a fun film “The Women” has a great fashion show sequence). Hollywood KNEW how to use shoulder pads. Carmen Miranda was a short, square woman. Shoulder pads and proper clothing construction gave that woman a shape.

I am for the thin shoulder pad, even for busty figures. I have put them in button-ups to try to improve the fit.

Back to the future…the 80’s-how about the jewelry

Everyone learns in life that what comes around goes around and fashion is not an exception to this important rule!! The fashion wheel turns; the 80’s are back in a big way. Take a look back and reminisce when you wanted to look punk rock, cool and different from every other girl in school; big (BIG) hair, bright neon colors and layers and layers of whatever looked funky; clothes, belts and of course jewelry!!

Big statement earrings are a staple for this look

I am tiny with broad shoulders and wore shoulder pads in the 80s. It’s great that they’re bringing back so much of the 80s stuff but I’ll have to pass on this. I think I even had shoulder pads that could be put on anything, like with velcro….

Being an inverted triangle, with almost completely square shoulders on my own, I can say with confidence that I will not wear shoulder pads. Generally, looking at the article that you posted a link to, I prefer the look of shoulder pads in the 80’s to the new ones. The 80’s looks seem more balanced, while the new catwalk styles look outrageous with huge puffed sleeves. Let’s hope the gigantic sleeves have toned down a bit by the time they hit mainstream. I’m too young to remember the 80’s, but I wore some 80’s clothes as a kid in the 90’s and remember ripping out the shoulder pads. They will be great for pretty pairs, but not for me.

Ha, that’s great….two days ago I picked up a nice quality sculptured vintage jacket, with….ya, shoulder pads! I couldn’t resist the fit, and the price was half off of 36 dollars. Now I’ll be in . I liked the clothes in the slideshow, Angie…it’s a nice re-do of the old look.

I was just trying on one of my old favourite jackets (bright red, nipped in waist) and thinking of getting rid of it because of its shoulder pads. Maybe I will be able to wear it again soon!

I think I have some suit jackets with shoulder pads that were bought in the last three years or so. I think in the context it could be tasteful; i.e. if it give structure to a suit or if the person has dainty shoulders then I don’t see a problem with them. But I don’t think I would seek them out.

Shoulder pads have been on the runway since at least a year ago. I noticed it in couture collections awhile back, so it’s about time that the trend resurfaced.

I don’t mind thin shoulder pads in tailored jackets, but would not wear them with anything else. It’s great they’re available to the pretty pears out there, but my shoulders are broad enough already. The photos show some very puffed sleeves. I liked the subtle puffed sleeves that were so widespread last year, but am not sure I would wear these big ones.

A discreet shoulder pad can do wonders to balance out many women’s figures. I just hope we don’t go to the extremes of the 80s – I remember having pair of shoulder pads I shoved under my bra straps before putting my clothes over the top -sometimes i’d be wearing these monstrosities and then the garment would have pads as well – I looked like a linebacker!

omg!! I hate those things! Never wore them, thought they look horrid, and never will!

I read that the 1980s had the biggest shoulders of the 20th Century…

Shoulder pads are FANTASTIC if you have a larger bust. They mean your clothes hang off your shoulders – as tailored clothes are meant to – not off your boobs. Shoulder pads are really flattering when you have a bigger bust

I said I would never wear skinny jeans and I have not worn them. Now I only wear dresses, skirts and taylored wide-leg trousers – anything to avoid the fiendish skinnies! And now I ,moreover declare that I will never wear any top or jacket padded shoulders.

“with” padded shoulders – sorry.

[...] a year ago I wrote that shoulder pads were making a comeback. Well, they’re back. Still fringe, but in full swing nonetheless. At the moment you’ll find [...]

I make all of my own clothing and have for years. A few months ago, I was cleaning out my sewing room closet and (shudder) found some shoulder pads left over from the 80s. Those babies were so thick – at least 1″ – that you could use them to remove a cookie tray from the oven and not burn yourself. I take them out now and then to amuse my friends but, no, I won’t be wearing them that thick again.