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How to Dress Broad Shoulders?

by Shunzhi Nie 04 Nov 2024

Overly broad shoulders have been on trend for many seasons. Fashionistas from all over the world choose oversized jackets and clothes with enlarged shoulder pads, and it is clear why: the voluminous top creates a graceful silhouette and makes the outfit emphasize feminine and fragility. But what should we do if broad shoulders are a permanent distress, not a temporary image?

The ideal figure in the traditional sense is often associated with an hourglass silhouette, which creates certain difficulties for girls who do not fit into these standards. How many times have told people: that you need to be happy with what you have, and not scourge yourself for nothing? But no, there are still those who will grieve over an imperfect figure and cry that the next trend is passing them by because of the peculiarities of appearance.

In this blog, we will discuss how to dress broad shoulders in order to visually reduce the shoulders with the help of fashion techniques. We will tell you what techniques will help soften your silhouette and balance the volume of your outfit.

How to Style Broad Shoulders & Create Balanced Outfits?

Before proceeding to deal with specific closet items, it is important to understand the basic principles of choosing clothes for girls with broad shoulders:

Balance of proportions: The main task is to balance the upper body with the lower body. This can be done by shifting the emphasis from the girl's large shoulders to other parts of the body.

Avoid excessive volume: Clothes with voluminous sleeves, shoulder pads, and massive jewelry on the shoulders can make the upper body look even wider.

Draw attention to the waist and hips: Use accessories, belts, and styles that emphasize the waist and accentuate the hips.

Outerwear
How to visually make shoulders smaller? When choosing jackets and jackets should pay attention to models with soft lines and a minimum of details in the shoulder area. Avoid jackets with shoulder pads and massive collars. Perfectly fit models with darts, which will help to create a more feminine silhouette. The optimal length - to the middle of the thigh or below to visually elongate the figure.

Blouses and shirts
On blouses and shirts, cutouts for broad shoulders should be V-shaped or U-shaped. Such necklines visually elongate the neck and shift the emphasis downward from the shoulders. You can also pay attention to asymmetrical necklines and necklines with a smell. Avoid models with large ruffles and flounces in the shoulder area.

Vertical stripe
This print will help not only to hide the shoulders, but also in general to elongate the silhouette, and if you wear a dress or suit in a vertical stripe, it will also lengthen the legs. The stripe can be both thin and very wide, straight or slightly zigzag or oblique (remember that horizontal stripes in any variation should be avoided).

Shirt dresses in stripes look cool. This is a universal multifunctional thing that should be in everyone's closet. Important point: if you put on a belt or belt to emphasize the waist, do not tighten it too much, otherwise the pattern can deform, which at best will not solve the problem, and at worst - will make the shoulders only wider.

Pants, jeans, and skirts that create volume
Often girls with broad shoulders have a type of figure “inverted triangle”, which is also characterized by narrow hips. Therefore, to harmonize the proportions of the body, you need to act comprehensively. Properly selected pants or skirts will help in this perfectly.

To create a balance between the upper and lower parts of the figure, choose pants, jeans, and skirts that will create additional volume in the thighs. The following styles are suitable: “bananas”, moms, paper bags, slouches, as well as tulip skirts, sun skirts, and models with patch pockets on the hips and buttocks.

Raglan sleeve lowered shoulder line
Another successful clothing style for women with broad shoulders. The raglan sleeve perfectly disguises the problem area, but here, too, you need to be careful. If the thing is made of dense structured fabric that holds its shape well - this will only aggravate the situation.

Give preference to products from flowing fabrics, which will be as if carelessly hanging on you (in a good way). Firstly, such relaxedness is in fashion, and secondly, it will help to solve the problem. This rule applies to blouses, t-shirts, jackets, and outerwear.

Will fit knitted cardigans with a neckline, silk and satin blouses, jackets and coats without shoulder pads, classic trench coats, and denim and leather jackets.

Voluminous shoes
To balance the top, choose voluminous shoes. For example, loafers on thick soles, rough boots, high boots with a wide shank, jockey boots, Chelsea, or the hit of the future season - shoes on a platform.

All recommendations are just ideas that can be used by girls who are embarrassed by the width of their shoulders. In this case, the owners of the figure “inverted triangle” may well emphasize the shoulders, but it is important to maintain the harmony of the whole image.
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The Best Dress Styles for Broad Shoulders

Flaws in the figure should not become an obstacle to feeling beautiful and attractive. Especially when you can pick up clothes that correct the silhouette and hide problem areas. How to optically reduce the width of the shoulders with the help of dress styles that balance the upper part of the body.

👍A-silhouette dress
This dress style is one of the best for the inverted triangle figure type. It widens slightly from the upper half, creating an attractive line. The A-silhouette dress visually equalizes broad shoulders, drawing attention to the bottom. It can be the perfect option for you, especially if you are looking for a dress that will complement your massive shoulders in a winning way. There is no need for additional accessories because the A-silhouette dress does not hide your shoulders, but on the contrary, emphasizes them.

👍Dress with a boat neckline design
A boat neckline emphasizes dignity while maintaining a stylish and fashionable look. The horizontal neckline creates balance, drawing attention away from the shoulders and creating the illusion of a narrower figure. The raglan sleeves are a great addition to your personal style. They not only add a twist but also gently balance the shoulder line, creating a more attractive and harmonious silhouette.

👍Wrapped dress
If you want to hide broad shoulders, do not forget about the winning dress with a stocking. The model is relevant for any situation, whether it is a trip to the club, park, restaurant, or office. The unique style of this model is aimed at creating the perfect balance. The dress with a flap has become a classic and can favorably emphasize the figure. The V-neck dress visually gives the upper body extra length, effectively creating the illusion of narrow shoulders. An empire waistline further emphasizes your natural curves and visually reduces the width of your shoulders. Choose dark-colored models with vertical lines.

👍Halter neck dress
Open-shoulder halter neck dresses can be a stylish choice for those with broad shoulders. This design, where the straps crisscross at the neck, is one of the best options that emphasize your best features and provide a perfect fit. They draw attention to the neck and collarbone area, softening the broad shoulders. Model variations abound, from slim-fitting to flowing A-silhouette.

👍Wide straps take some of the volume on themselves
Choose tops and dresses with medium or wide straps. They take up some of the volume in the shoulders, making them look more proportional to other parts of the body. Avoid models with thin straps. Against their background, large shoulders will seem even bigger.

👍Dress with open shoulders
Another highly noticeable style is the dress with open shoulders, which perfectly balances the wide upper body. These outfits not only follow the latest fashion trends but also fit your figure type perfectly. Pair these dresses with long necklaces or pendant earrings to elongate your neck and further draw attention away from your broad shoulders. Choosing the right clothes to fit your figure is key, and open-shoulder dresses bring you closer to creating the perfect look.
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How to Minimize Broad Shoulders?

We can't call broad shoulders a disadvantage, but if you wish to correct it and balance your proportions a bit, there are ways. In this article, we'll look at how to do just that.

1. Neckline
When choosing tops and dresses, you should pay attention to the neckline. V-shaped and U-shaped necklines will perfectly emphasize the silhouette and slightly elongate the upper part of the body. A deep neckline will also perfectly cope with this task and, in addition, will transfer attention to itself. It is not recommended to choose tight models with high collars and square necklines.

2. Sleeves and straps
When choosing sleeves, it is recommended to avoid models with shoulder pads, lantern sleeves, decorations, and all kinds of artistic designs in the form of ruffles, draperies, and other layered details. They create unnecessary volume. It is advisable to choose classic sleeves, raglan sleeves, and “bat”. If we talk about the straps, it is better to choose medium or wide. They will partially transfer the attention to themselves.

3. Play on accents
Another way to hide broad shoulders is to play on accents. For example, a monochrome top and a bright bottom. It is worth choosing minimalistic tops of classic cut, with a minimum of decoration. You can accentuate the lower part of the body with the help of bright prints, unusual cuts, and decor, or by adding volume with puffy skirts or pants with draping in the waist area.

4. Stripes
A vertical stripe perfectly elongates the silhouette and can hide many flaws, including broad shoulders. You can limit yourself to a striped top, but to create a solid silhouette and get a more effective effect, we recommend choosing a dress. When choosing the thickness of the stripe, you should take into account the peculiarities of the figure, preferring small prints to more petite girls and wide lines to lush shapes to balance the proportions.

5. Jewelry
Jewelry can not only refresh an image but also create a visual impact. A long necklace is a classic choice, especially if it is no wider than a plain strand of pearls. Large bracelets and rings can be a great addition to your looks. Earrings, on the other hand, are suitable for elongated and medium-sized earrings.

6. Scarves
Scarves can be another great detail that helps to elongate the silhouette and hide broad shoulders. It is important to choose narrow scarves - they will be a great alternative to necklaces or pendants. You can wear them tied around your neck or leave the ends hanging freely.

Most importantly, remember that every figure is unique and beautiful in its way. Find your style and enjoy the uniqueness of your look!
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