Is there anything more quintessentially ’80s than a good shoulder pad? When we think of signature fashion from the decade, power suits – as seen in cult-classic films like *Working Girl* – instantly come to mind. There’s something undeniably strong and powerful about a sharp shoulder; it commands attention and evokes confidence, especially when worn in an office setting (though, you can wear it off-duty, too).
The power shoulder’s influence extends far beyond the 1980s. This silhouette is currently trending on the runways and being embraced by celebrities worldwide. For fall 2024, designers have reinvented the ’80s power-shoulder suit in a variety of fresh, modern ways. At Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello presented big, boxy blazers over sheer skirts. Balmain debuted sculptural blazers with a slit skirt, and Schiaparelli offered a slouchy take on the ’80s suit. While actual suits from the era were padded to the extreme, the new iterations boast a more streamlined feel—the sharp shoulders are juxtaposed against sleek bottoms, creating a balanced and sophisticated look.
It hasn’t taken long for celebrities to get on board with the ’80s revival. Numerous A-listers have embraced the power shoulder in ways that feel perfectly fitting for 2024. At the Louis Vuitton spring show during Fashion Month, Zendaya sat front row sporting a boxy blazer with a ruched skirt. (Someone cast her in a *Working Girl* remake stat!) Last month, Suki Waterhouse rocked a pink power suit with sharp shoulders, a giant rosette, and cropped pants—an utterly fabulous combo that echoes the spirit of a pink suit photographed by Gilles Tapie for Vogue back in the 1980s. Meanwhile, stars like Lily Collins have taken a boxy herringbone blazer and given it a more casual slant, pairing it with a cropped tee, jeans, and pointed pumps.
Clearly, you don’t have to go full executive realness to channel the power shoulder trend. The right blazer can be worn with your favorite everyday separates. That’s the key to achieving a retro look that feels current: styling it with modern pieces to make it feel fresh and relevant. We’re totally on board with an ’80s fall, but not in the neon and big hair way—in the power dressing way. Though, we wouldn’t be mad at a jazzy aerobics style comeback, too; have you seen *The Substance*?
