Hip to Be Square: Stars Exaggerate Their Hips and Shoulders with Boxy Shapes

Photos: Brian To/WENN.com, Andres Otero/WENN.com, WENN.com, Nikki Nelson/WENN.com

One of the (few) valuable fashion lessons learned from the 80s was that strong shoulders give you an ultra-powerful silhouette. Maria Menounos took this idea to the next level in a fantastic gown by Ilja, who has also created looks for Lady Gaga. The TV personality’s cream and black dress featured shoulders that arched up into points creating an almost wing-like effect. Karolina Kurkova went with a more traditional padded shoulder in a tuxedo dress by Blumarine at the Tribeca Film Festival. Here, the shoulder adds a masculine touch as a counterpoint to the femininity of the super-short, sequined skirt. Gwyneth Paltrow wore an avant-garde Erdem look to the Iron Man 3 premiere. Her all-over floral suit was elevated with boxy shoulders. Coco Rocha made a statement in a suit by Mugler, a designer known for exaggerated shapes. The futuristic styling complemented the model’s strong personality—and you need one to pull off a look like this.

Photos: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images, Brian To/WENN.com, Lia Toby/WENN.com, Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images

Strong shoulders have lingered since the 80s, but we haven’t seen oversized hips since the days of the hoop skirt. Sophia Bush did her part in bringing back the silhouette at the Coach benefit for the Children’s Defense Fund, wearing a colorblocked Katie Ermilio dress with folds at the hips to create volume. Elle Fanning gave new meaning to the term ‘hippie chick’ in a Lanvin gown at the GLAAD Media Awards. Her ballet pink dress would’ve been a simple column gown if not for the structure underneath the skirt which exaggerates the actress’ hips. Far from making her look heavy, the black sash helps to whittle the waistline. Rita Ora embraced both trends at once, giving a bold shoulder and hips in a bright white Mugler dress that created a striking silhouette at the MOBO Awards. Michelle Williams looked elegant in another Katie Ermilio look with pointy hips at the Tiffany & Co. Blue Book Ball. The detail gave her navy blue gown some pop—but you do have to wonder whether these outsized hips give the wearer much room for their arms.

Trending


X