You'll need pair of big shoulders to carry 80s revival

FASHION has always had a soft spot for reinvention, and for spring 2026 it is the Eighties that have staged the most confident return.

- BY EMMA JOHNSON

Power shoulders are back, cigarette trousers are slim once more, and bold colour blocking is everywhere.

Across the runways of Versace, Saint Laurent, Chloe and Valentino, designers have folded these references into collections that feel cool, and the most popular trend to emerge is the broad shoulder.

“Big shoulders are back with a vengeance and they certainly feel cool and modern,” says designer and podcaster Amanda Wakeley.

“But like any reworked trend, it's all about the proportions and these updated big shoulders are more refined and engineered than the layered shoulder pads of the Eighties, where shoulders not only got wider, they got higher, leading to an ‘American footballer’ type vibe which was pretty clumsy compared to the silhouettes that are on offer now.”

Getting the proportions right