'It is not about exaggerated shoulders but more a reaction against the slouchy-shouldered, sloppy look perpetuated by designers in the not-so-distant past,' observes fashion show producer Daniel Boey.
It all started when French designer Christophe Decarnin for fashion label Balmain sent structured jackets down the runway for his fall/winter 2008 show.
It girls around the world such as pop diva Beyonce and actress Lindsay Lohan, caught on quickly and were photographed in Balmain blazers.
STAY SLEEK
Fast forward to fall/winter 2009 and the look is shouldering its way onto runways everywhere, from Marc Jacobs to Martin Margiela and Balenciaga.
The key to making the new bold shoulder work is to keep the rest of your outfit sleek and streamlined.
Boey suggests lengthening the legs by wearing tight skinny pants or leggings and grounding the look with chunky heels.
Local fashionista Georgia Lee, who was spotted rocking a Balmain structured jacket at the Celton Wish Ball last week, adds: 'The bold shoulders should be styled to look effortless. My hair stylist, Ryan Yap of Passion Hair Salon, advises either a sleek hairdo or an 'out of bed' look.'
Still, it is easy for Dr Lee, who is lanky and skinny and can therefore pad with panache.
