Dropped shoulder trend - YouLookFab Forum

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Dropped shoulder trend

smittie

Veteran

I see that there is a trend towards dropped shoulders on all sorts of garments. I rather like the ease and casual look of them, and would consider something like the blazer below (see find). But I'm wondering if it would look good. Do you think this could work on me? (I'm flat chested, average sized, and fairly straight with some pear tendencies. Slim limbs.)

I'm wondering if maybe some sort of body-con thing under it? (This would actually be easiest for me as I have many skinny jeans and slim-fit tops). Maybe the BR knit dress would also work.

The blazer below is something I like, but I am not a huge fan of how the it is styled. As in, I couldn't wear it with a shirt and wide pants as it would feel too boyish.

Thanks!

ALEX MILL Alex Mill Double Breasted Oxford Blazer | Nordstrom

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Banana Republic

Stripe Ribbed T-Shirt Dress

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Dressing

37 replies

Latest reply was from jussie

Joy

Veteran

This is a trend that I will skip and I hope it does not become very popular. I vowed years ago never to buy any dropped shoulder items. Although they are ok on me because I have square shoulders, I feel sloppy. I recently returned a Christmas gift jacket from a dear friend because of the dropped shoulders.
You will need to add structure elsewhere in your outfit and would skip the whole trend if your shoulders are already sloping or narrow. A shoulder seam at the edge of your shoulder will look more balanced IMHO.

bridgie

Veteran

Sorry, I can not begin to answer your questions. Will leave that to the others here. But I am chiming in to say I like the looks of the blazer and I also like the tomato red color it comes in as well.

Anonymous

I personally have learned the hard way that a dropped shoulder is not my friend. It may look casual and cool , but it does nothing for my body type. You are a completely different type than I am - and it might work for you. Being smaller chested is necessary for this to work , in my opinion .

karen13

Veteran

Interesting question about what is a good body type for dropped shoulders. I recently realized, while I like the look on others, I don’t reach for the dropped shoulder tops in my closet. I think I prefer the narrowing effect of seams at the shoulder on my broader shoulders. To Joy’s point about sloping vs square, I’m not sure which I have; I’ll have to try to figure out. I will follow with interest to learn more, as I wish I liked them on me as there are many nice styles out there.

smittie

Veteran

Interesting thoughts, ladies. Thank you. Will respond more later.

taylor

Veteran

It depends . I like a drop shoulder on long , slim fitting sweaters , but I MUCH prefer structure, especially on a jacket , so over all I say nay to drop shoulder garments .

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I agree that it could work well on someone slimmer with a smaller chest, and I think it's better suited to someone who has well-defined if not broad shoulders. I also agree with Taylor that it looks better in a knit than in a woven jacket. I'm not wild about this style on myself -- it just looks ill-fitting and sloppy.

Style Fan

Veteran

I will let an expert answer this for you. I am not sure who will look good in this style.

I run from dropped shoulders. Run fast. They were big in some decade and I am trying to erase the memory from my mind. Not a good look.

Anonymous

I hadn't noticed it in particular, but maybe to balance out the bottom half it could work. On me, probably a no. I'd guess it would look like I bought the wrong size.

Sal

Veteran

I used to wear dropped shoulders - I can't remember when it was actually (maybe 90s?)

I think this could work on you over a fitted top and skinnies or a dress. The dropped shoulders add a slouchiness which can look cool.

smittie

Veteran

Thank you ladies, and thanks for the laugh Style Fan.
Not a lot of love for this, I know.
I'll hold off for now, although the lure of the seersucker version is really calling my name.

I wish I had free returns. Really, I just want to try it on to see how bad/not bad it really is.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Smittie, I'm in the minority. LOVE. Very '80s and '60s. My favourite eras.

I have three dropped shoulder coats. All cocoon shaped and very roomy. LOVE THEM, and I have narrow shoulders. There has to be sufficient structure on the shoulder neck point, and on the sleeves. Substantial fabric helps too.

Helene Berman Rever Lapel Coat

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Textured Cape Coat

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Anonymous

So what I am hearing is avoid at all costs.

LaPed

Veteran

Hah, thumbs up from me! I've actually worn dropped shoulders two days in a row -- a woven shirt and a cotton cardigan. I guess I'm that small-chested, square-shouldered person who can benefit from a loose, easy shoulder. And I think they're a good way to combat too much stiffness, stuffiness or primness in an outfit.

LaPed

Veteran

I'll also say, a well-constructed drop shoulder is a thing of beauty if you're a person who enjoys an oversized look. It's quite different from putting on a too-big shirt or jacket, where the shoulders are just bulky and jut out oddly. A good drop shoulder *drapes* and doesn't look like "it's wearing you" so to speak.

SarahD8

Veteran

I find dropped shoulders very tricky on my body type.
I have a small bust and broad, square shoulders so you'd think they ought to work.
But I also have a wide ribcage and a short torso. So dropped shoulders often turn my torso into a wide, undifferentiated block.
I do have one drop-shoulder sweater that I feel quite fab in. I think it's because the arms are very narrow and it's also fitted at the hip. So that provides the structure.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

La Ped, HIGH FIVE. My shoulders are narrow, but square, and my chest is regular size. I love the Modern Retro vibe of dropped shoulders. I have some dropped shoulder tops too.

Central Ruffle-Sleeve Shirt in Indigo

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Richelle Blue Metallic Metallic Jumper

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LaPed

Veteran

I'll also say, I have one crewneck sweater with dropped shoulders and it is trickier for me to style than drop-shoulder toppers or button-fronts because it can result in that "blocky" effect SarahD8 mentions.

smittie

Veteran

Angie and LaPed: I'm heartened by your responses.
The yellow coat you featured has the dropped shoulders and shorter sleeves. I could get the same effect by rolling.

LaPed - That is interesting about a well-constructed dropped shoulder. I guess that means that all the other dimensions are correct (bust, neck drop, sleeve width), but it's just the top part of the sleeves that is extended. I guess anything labelled 'unisex' would probably not be a well-constructed dropped shoulder.

Sarahd8 - Yes, I could see how dropped shoulders might not work for you. Actually, I can see how they might not work for many!

Sterling - Haha! Not for you, eh?

Runcarla

Veteran

My build is similar to that described by SarahD8 - broad shoulders, modest bustline, prominent rib cage, short torso. I find drop shoulder garments add way too much volume around the upper body, and my shoulders keep the fabric from 'collapsing' artistically against my body. I feel like a football linebacker with all that extra volume up top.

My feeling about dropped shoulders is that it's lazy tailoring by the designer.

Note: this type of garment can be tricky to layer under another - shirts under toppers or jacket/topper under coat - and works better as an outer garment - if it works for your body type.

Anonymous

Nice to catch up, Smittie! Hope you and your family are well.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Here are some dropped shoulder cuts in outfits from last year:

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SarahD8

Veteran

Here's the dropped shoulder sweater I mentioned.

Very open neckline, which might be key as LaPed points out.

I agree that rolling the sleeves of the blazer you are considering could help create structure, smittie. I think it is just so hard to tell with this style without trying the item on!

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The Cat

Veteran

Dropped shoulders can look surprisingly great--or not. Difficult to know when you just see them on a hanger or in a picture. You have to try them on. And your eyes might need a little time to adjust to a new-to-you look.

Irina

Veteran

I am with Angie - love drop shoulders on tops. My shoulders are narrow and I’m 32 DD. I look for structure in the sleeves (not too wide) and prefer a crew neck opening. I’d say try different fabrics and styles.

The Cat

Veteran

A few weeks ago, I purchased identical dropped shoulder pullovers for my mother and myself. She is an inverted triangle with big breasts. I am an hourglass with smaller breasts. The pullovers look surprisingly good on both of us.

At first sight, my mother was a little skeptical to the style, but as soon as she tried it on, she loved it. By now, it is her favourite pullover, and she has asked me to look for a similar style in another colour. By the way, my mother is 86 and still a lovely lady in every way.

Both of us have worn our dropped shoulder pullovers in various ways, including wearing them under blazers, cardigans and other toppers. None of us have experienced any problems with layering.

Kate

Veteran

I quite like dropped shoulders, and have more than a few sweaters and coats with this silhouette. I have a small chest and broad shoulders, and find the look comfortable and flattering. I’m actually wearing a dropped shoulder V-neck top layered over a sleeveless mock tee as I write this.

smittie

Veteran

You have given me a lot of food for thought.

Runcarla: I have a feeling it might be lazy tailoring too, in some cases.
Sarahd8: That's a really great sweater and I like the neckline on you. I don't see the problems you see.
The Cat, Irina, Kate: I like drop shoulder pull overs too. Drop shoulder knitwear works very well on me, provided the sleeves are slim or a roll the sleeves up. I guess it kind of emphasizes the lack of a chest, but that seems alright to me.
Angie: That's a beautiful picture of you all in the boat. The madewell ruffle shirt looks fabulous on you. That is exactly the type of vibe I'm looking for in a shirt. So I'm going to get something like that, and leave the tricky toppers to brick-and-mortar shopping.

To all:
I like Angie's drop shoulder coat. That seems tailored and not at all oversized.

I also like drop shoulder denim jackets -- these are easy to find at the brick-and-mortar stores, so I'll keep an eye out.

My daughter (13) is now a fashion expert and tells me that oversized denim jackets are the only thing you can wear nowadays

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Smittie, we have a similar body type, so I'm glad I could show you visuals. It's counter-intuitive, but us narrow shouldered ladies wear dropped shoulders well when there is structure around the neck. Same goes for a raglan sleeves.

Irina, high five.

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