Definition
Padded inserts sewn into the shoulders of jackets, blazers, and dresses to create a broad, angular silhouette, a defining fashion element of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Example Usage
Her power suit had such enormous shoulder pads that she could barely fit through the office doorway.
Origin
While shoulder pads existed earlier, they became a major fashion trend in the 1980s, influenced by both menswear tailoring and women's liberation aesthetics.
Fun Fact
The exaggerated shoulder pads of the '80s were partly inspired by 1940s fashion and were seen as both powerful and futuristic.
Source: Definition backfill (hailey)
Related Terms
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