Puff The Magic Shoulder

Photography by Michael Dumler

Powder Puffs, Cream Puffs, Puff Pastry, a Puff of Smoke and of course our favorite magic dragon. The word “puff” conjures the sweet and frivolous as well as something elusive and mysterious. When it comes to this seasons fashion, I’d like to think this “puff” is a little bit of both. So what is a puff shoulder you ask? The puff shoulder is meant to describe the new or should we say new again exaggerated shoulder interest in fashion. Paging Alexis Carrington. If you are googling her, meet the character who made big shoulders indelible in our fashion minds for a lifetime on the hit show Dynasty. The return of a new and modern Dynasty to tv is perfectly timed. The truth is that while this trend has 80’s reverberations, it also speaks to this Little House on the Prairie moment taking fashion by storm. The last few fashion weeks have highlighted big puffy sleeves and shoulders on dresses and tops that look ripe for butter churning or leaping in tall grass.

While fantastic on the runway, my goal has been to find the way to wear this trend without it looking like a costume. There is a tightrope to walk in this larger scale shoulder universe and one must use caution. Since we spend many of our most important fashion moments seated at a dinner table, I feel a puff blouse update is one of few you need with your jeans to feel current this fall. The good news is, this trend is here to stay come spring ‘19.  I’m hoping to take the guesswork out of this for you. Below are some picks for the most wearable versions of the trend.