Lingerie chic, peacock-blue mermaid dresses, lots of sequins
and rhinestones and … 1980s power suits. We saw them at the
fashion shows earlier this year, and judging from the
autumn/winter haute couture shows in Paris, they are here to
stay.

Armani’s version of the tiny waist/big shoulder suit
featured peaked shoulders — the type that slope upwards like
the roof of a Chinese pagoda. He showed them earlier this year
in an Asian-inspired collection; this time, they lifted up
silver, grey or black jackets with glittery baubles as buttons.
Slouchy trousers or shimmering skirts and killer stilettos
completed the boardroom-predator look.
 
In the front row, Cate Blanchett, Mafalda von Hessen and
other female visitors bravely displayed pagoda shoulders off the
catwalk. Sharp pagoda shoulders were also spotted at Stephane
Rolland and even Christian Lacroix, who put on a reduced show
due to his financial problems.

 Whether this is the fashion world’s response to the tough
economic climate, a play on the sharp shoulders of skinny models
or simply one designer’s whim that was picked up by the others
is anyone’s guess. Just don’t expect it to go away anytime soon.

Sophie Hardach