We don't need shoulder pads in anything other than blazers/jackets, and even then they shouldn't be large in my opinion.

What works for me is the first type here and not the second or third. But the first style is hard to find.

It's that first style that my mom used to use when she sewed for me. She put those in my jackets instead of the big honkers and altered the sleeve length accordingly. Alas, she's not around to sew for me anymore, and I'm in no mood to pay someone to do that stuff for me. I'll just skip the pads altogether. My shoulder line is strong enough without them.

My mother to this day still has her old shoulder pads that she puts in the new cardigans. She has narrow shoulders like I do and I sometimes wish that tops had more lift in the shoulders.

I think the tops I showed look nice with shoulder pads but I would also think of them being mostly for jackets. It seems we all prefer the thin ones although people whose shoulder line is less defined ( such as myself) may welcome the little extra definition.
AG, that's a very nice visual. I have never seen the first type of shoulder pads, maybe with some luck we will find some?
CitygirlDC I think your mom is doing a smart thing by using the shoulder pads that best work for her.

I like that first style as well.

Today I just picked up my Chanel-style jacket from the tailor where i had the shoulder pads removed. They weren't really excessive and did make for sharp shoulders but I have a short neck and any kind of padding makes it look even shorter. Instantly when I tried it on, the jacket became wearable for me. I wore it all the way home!

I hope so. Give me back my 40s and 80s

I don't know about This particular trend. But i am open to experimentation. I liked what Alaskagirl showed as examples.

I have nothing against shoulder pads per se, but they aren't something I can ever wear! My shoulders are already very square and sharp. It just doesn't work. But I like the look on others -- and I think most other women can actually wear them.

I do hope that this time around they will give us options. I don't want everything to have shoulder pads. I want to be able to find tops, etc. that don't have them. I realize that they're great for women with small shoulders, but not all of us have small shoulders. Some of us look like linebackers with those pads!

NOoooooo! Say it ain't so!
I have been detesting these little buggers and chopping them off of my clothes since the 80's.

I would never wear pads in a sweater or blouses, but all my jackets have a very small ones. In fact many RTW style jackets have them in already and have had them for years ad years...particularly blazers and suit styles. Personally, I don't need much though, because I'm very square shouldered myself. I think shoulder pads can be great fro those with sloped narrow shoulders to balance things out.