Shoulder pads are one of the most useful yet under utilised items of Haberdashery we stock. Over the years, shoulder pads have become synonymous with the power dressing trends of the 1980s such as that worn by Melanie Griffths' character in Working Girl, however in recent years shoulder pads have begun to make a huge comeback. During the 1980s, shoulder pads were worn as big as possible and were usually accessorised with back combed hairstyles - the aim being to create the upside down triangle effect as was the desirable look of the decade. Many people still associate shoulder pads with the decade that fashion forgot however, this useful item of Haberdashery has been in and out of style for much longer than that.
Shoulder pads made their debut in the world of mainstream fashion back in the 1930s when designers Marcel Rochas and Elsa Schiaparelli began incorporating them into the wardrobe of hollywood's biggest stars including Joan Crawford. Shoulder pads remained a best selling item of Haberdashery for the duration of WW2 when young women would make the most of their fabric rations by pairing short skirts with structured shoulders. Shoulder pads declined in popularity somewhat following the end of the war years when the popular angular silhouette was shunned in favour of more floaty and feminine designs synonymous with the "hippy fashion" of this decade. With Teresa May looking increasingly likely to be sworn in as our new Prime Minister by the end of this week, the press attention has turned to her unique style of power dressing with the obvious influences of her predecessor Margaret Thatcher's particular style of dress coming to the forefront. Largely thanks to Margaret Thatcher, shoulder pads were a hugely popular choice of Haberdashery throughout the 1980s and were prominent in the wardrobe choices of some of the world's best dressed women including Bianca Jagger and Princess Diana. This trend was not exclusive to the wardrobe of the female board room member and saw many of the decades most stylish men embracing the wide shouldered trend. Michael Jackson;s famous epaulette shouldered jacket is still considered one of the stand out fashion pieces of the decade and continues to wield huge influence over today's fashion trends. The range of stylish jackets worn by the King of Pop from the mid to late 1980s were believed to have been the main influence for Balmain Spring/Summer collection of 2009.
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Rita Ora is a fan of this Haberdashery favourite.[/caption]
As the nineties approached, power dressing made way for a more relaxed style of dress which turned into the effortlessly cool grunge trend of the decade and many people wondered whether shoulder pads would ever feature on the shelves of Haberdashery stores ever again! With the arrival of the late 2000s we began to experience a resurgence in demand for shoulder pads as flamboyant stars and fashion icons such as Lady Gaga began to experiment with a bolder and more structured style of dress. Pop star Rita Ora has experimented with a bolder silhouette when she wore a beautiful Emanuel Ungaro design on the red carpet recently; Rita wore a belted design featuring pleats and an elegant gold embellishment resulting in a feminine almost regal ensemble which perfectly flattered her hourglass shape. Unlike the fashion of the 1980s, this season's shoulder structure is not about altering your silhouette but highlighting your shape.
Shoulder pads are an item of Haberdashery which can be easily incorporated into a number of designs and are perfect for adding a touch of glamour and drama. When using shoulder pads in a modern outfit you can avoid the pitfalls of appearing like you are headed to a fancy dress party by keeping all other elements of your outfit subtle, hair should be relaxed and unfussy and accessories kept to a minimum - ensure your structured shoulders are he focal point of your ensemble with feminine decoration in just the right places. Our Haberdashery department stock a variety of shoulder pads in varying sizes which are perfect for adding comfort and structure to your handmade garments all of which can be purchased by the pair or in a bulk buy bag.
Rita Ora is a fan of this Haberdashery favourite.[/caption]
As the nineties approached, power dressing made way for a more relaxed style of dress which turned into the effortlessly cool grunge trend of the decade and many people wondered whether shoulder pads would ever feature on the shelves of Haberdashery stores ever again! With the arrival of the late 2000s we began to experience a resurgence in demand for shoulder pads as flamboyant stars and fashion icons such as Lady Gaga began to experiment with a bolder and more structured style of dress. Pop star Rita Ora has experimented with a bolder silhouette when she wore a beautiful Emanuel Ungaro design on the red carpet recently; Rita wore a belted design featuring pleats and an elegant gold embellishment resulting in a feminine almost regal ensemble which perfectly flattered her hourglass shape. Unlike the fashion of the 1980s, this season's shoulder structure is not about altering your silhouette but highlighting your shape.
Shoulder pads are an item of Haberdashery which can be easily incorporated into a number of designs and are perfect for adding a touch of glamour and drama. When using shoulder pads in a modern outfit you can avoid the pitfalls of appearing like you are headed to a fancy dress party by keeping all other elements of your outfit subtle, hair should be relaxed and unfussy and accessories kept to a minimum - ensure your structured shoulders are he focal point of your ensemble with feminine decoration in just the right places. Our Haberdashery department stock a variety of shoulder pads in varying sizes which are perfect for adding comfort and structure to your handmade garments all of which can be purchased by the pair or in a bulk buy bag.