Right Round: Be Ahead of the Curve with Fall’s Rounded Shoulder Silhouette

Designers are ahead of the curve for 2013, saying so long to strong shapes and hello to softer styles as rounded shoulders are shaping up to be the new silhouette of the season. Accentuating your shoulders without using the strong presence of shoulder pads has been made modern with a precision cut and shape that creates defining and dramatic structure. The silhouette’s major overhaul comes on the helm of Alexander Wang’s first Balenciaga show as Creative Director where he presented circular forms in the shape of large, rounded shoulders on cocoon coats and cropped jackets to pay homage to the grand masters of couture, such as Dior and Pierre Cardin, and an era when Cristobal Balenciaga’s oversized cuts reigned supreme. Though Wang wasn’t the only designer to showcase this strongly post-war reminiscent silhouette, it also appeared in the collections of Kenzo, Thierry Mugler, Proenza Schouler and Gucci. 

With sculpted, futuristic forms taking center stage on the runway for fall, the look of ample rounded shoulders offers a powerful contour to your shape. Balance out the sheer volume on top by teaming your oversized shoulders with something a little more lean like a slim pant or pencil skirt to achieve the elegance of this defining silhouette, which is exactly what makes this garment a potential wardrobe-worthy timeless staple that’s also quite flattering.