Spring’s bold shoulder treatment
Looks like fashion isn’t done with the outré ’80s yet. The exuberant trend, which has been sweeping the runways over the last few seasons, shows no signs of fading out even for the coming summer. The recently concluded fashion weeks in New York and London saw 80s-inspired exaggerated sleeves and round shoulders making their presence felt on Christian Cowan, Michael Kors, Prabal Gurung, Preen and Tory Burch runways.
Designer Shruti Sancheti says, “The round sleeves symbolise a period of power dressing and exaggeration. It is a big trend not only because fashion is cyclical, but because it is chic and sophisticated, and yet powerful and modern.”
Sleeve exaggeration is one of the key elements to add drama in any simple top, or a sheath or shift dress. Designer Kinnary Panchamia of label Mala & Kinnary says, “Bishop sleeves and round shoulders are very on-trend right now. I usually keep the bodice simple and exaggerate the shoulders with highlights of understated beadwork to add glamour. This works for any occasion.”
When one thinks of this maximalist decade, one pictures bold colours, padded shoulders, velvet and shiny fabrics. The ’80s woman had an inverted triangle torso with a strong emphasis on super long legs, and that is the only principle one needs to bear in mind to style this trend. Stylist Maneka Harsinghani says, “A wide shoulder silhouette can be executed in different styles. It’s quite versatile actually in outerwear — tops and jackets. Simplistic and easy to follow, one of the styling clues from the runway would be wearing spikes with an oversized suit, as seen at Gucci. Borrow a cue from Chanel to rock this trend — flowing — where the coat and the hat are accomplices. What matters here is that the shoulders are pronounced and tailored. Moving down, one can reinterpret this trend and style it with any kind of design details.”