Fashion 411: The Bump Shoulder

Call it the "big," "strong," or--my favorite--"bump" shoulder, it's clear that the gridiron isn't the only field on which the ferocious are donning armor this autumn. The bump shoulder is to this fall's blazers what the skinny jean was to denim a few seasons ago: a new take on a classic silhouette that's inspired a bevy of stylish riffs from designers.


How did it come to dominate our current fashion landscape? The 1980s, which are back en force this year, for one reason. Like the 1940s, another period that saw women enter the workforce in droves and take on jobs traditionally set aside for men, wardrobes changed to reflect major shifts in gender roles and attitudes. Trousers, shoes, and jackets became more structured and mannish to convey confidence and authority until, well, everyone got a little too carried away with their inner Dominique Devereaux.


This time around, the camp has been reigned in; the lines are cleaner and more streamlined, suggesting that pieces will survive future closet purges and won't make you shake your head in dismay at photographic evidence in years to come. Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Tracee Ellis Ross, above, sport fine examples of timeless power dressing for shoulders—take a cue from them or any of the pieces in our roundup, below.


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