photo courtesy of style.com
This upcoming fall season we're seeing a lot of emphasis on the shoulder - whether it be exaggerated with shoulder pads, or puffed sleeves or bare shoulders a-la Donna Karan who created this signature when she launched her first collections years ago. The shoulders on a woman are provacative in their own way and showing them off is a sexy NOT garish way to exemplfy a fresh new look while remaining ladylike and alluring at the same time. The other great thing about an exaggerated shoulder is the optical illusion it creates - a general rule of thumb is if the shoulder line extends wider than the waist the waist line will appear slimmer. Please also don't confuse fancy shoulders with the structured looks from the 1980's. As shown to the right, puffed dresses, like this one designed by Karen Walker F/W 2009, show off rounded puffed shoulders rather than a masculine square-ish shape.
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Photo courtesy of style.com
Donna Karan pictured right took a different approach, and instead of masking the shoulders with a puff or pad left them bare while the rest of the body was swathed in black. This city-chic, dark look is a definite nod to the stylings and designs of Karan of past days and is quite appropriate in terms of reflecting the mood of the times. Obviously, the creative forces behind the stylings of this runway show know just how to make sure this ensemble sets the crowd on fire. So, that said, be certain if attempting this draped shoulder-less look, to cinch the waist with a thin belt - something wide will take away from the dramatic draping. It's also a good idea to break up the black - subtly - with darkly hued metallis baubles. The dramatic effect of this look is the darkness, but contrast was created ever-so-slightly with deep dark tortoise (belt) and copper and pewter (necklace). Adding a bright color here would ruin the overall styling. Also note the use of non-opaque hose here which is a contrast to the thicker than thick looks we saw a lot of last season. Invest in a pair of semi-sheer black hose to update your fall favorites this upcoming season!
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