Your broad shoulders are a style superpower—perfect for rocking the coolest pieces. Mango outfit at mango.com
Before We Start: A Quick Style Quiz
Look at these pictures and try to guess which of these looks would work best on a body with broad shoulders?
Left to right: Oscar de la Renta, Arcina Ori, and Diotima outfits, all of them are from modaoperandi.com
The answer? Every. Single. One. I know, I know—you were hunting for the trick answer. The one that doesn't work. But it doesn't exist. Fitted silhouettes? Yes. Voluminous ones? Absolutely. Volume on top, bottom, or both? All fair game. That's the reality of dressing broad shoulders: the world is your sartorial playground.
If you've seen the recent Victoria's Secret show, you might notice something (if not, just take a look at those models on the runway):
Gorgeous models on Victoria's Secret 2025 Show. George Chinsee/WWD
That strong, defined shoulder line is everywhere. And no, that's not random. The inverted triangle—you know, broader shoulders, narrower hips—that's basically the supermodel blueprint. Naomi Campbell. Gisele Bündchen. Karlie Kloss. Go to any runway show and watch how the clothes move on this shape. It's architectural. Almost like sculpture you can wear.
Why Broad Shoulders Are Your Style Superpower
Instagram/@massimodutti
That wider shoulder line does something magical—it creates balance that lets you wear volume everywhere else. Palazzo pants that would overwhelm a narrower frame? You carry them effortlessly. A full, romantic skirt? The proportions just work. Your shoulders? They're basically a natural coat hanger. Which means tailored pieces—blazers, structured coats, those crisp button-downs—look custom-made on you. The clean lines, the drape, how good tailoring comes alive on a defined shoulder line? It's all working in your favor.
Banana Republic outfit at bananarepublic.gap.com
And here's your golden ticket: broad shoulders give you carte blanche with bottoms. Any cut, pattern, or fabric. Seriously, all of it works. Bold prints? Eye-catching colors? Attention-grabbing textures on your legs? Go wild. Your strong upper foundation means you can draw as much attention to your lower half as you want. The proportions stay balanced. Mini skirts, printed pants, sequined trousers, leather leggings—your shoulders anchor everything. That's the magic.
Metallic pants? Yes, please! Sienna trousers at reiss.com
Here's what I've learned styling different body types: there's almost nothing you can't pull off. Other shapes have to calculate proportions carefully—but you? You get to play with everything. Oversized and slouchy? Your frame handles it. Prefer sleek and fitted? Equally stunning. That structural foundation gives you permission to experiment without overthinking.
Silhouettes That Sing
A-line skirts and all kinds of pleats? Made for broad shoulders. Boden at boden.com
Volume Below works beautifully because your shoulders provide the counterbalance. Wide-leg trousers work. A-line skirts work. Maxi dresses with those generous, sweeping hemlines? They work too. Even pleated pants that move when you walk—the drama flows from a strong foundation.
Want to go full supermodel? Grab something razor-sharp and tailored. Instagram/@cosstores
Tailored Everything is your natural habitat. Blazers, structured coats, fitted button-downs, sharp jackets—they showcase that powerful shoulder line. And don't shy away from strong lapels or defined seams. They're emphasizing your best feature.
Split neckline (or just opened up button placket) acts as a V-neck, so it works great for broad shoulders. Sezane at sezane.com
V-necks and Vertical Lines create an elegant sweep from shoulder to hem. Think wrap dresses, deep V-neck tops, vertical color blocking. They pull the eye in a long, lean line while celebrating that commanding silhouette.
This foldover off-shoulder sweater creates a strong horizontal line, but you know what? It looks amazing on broader shoulders. Abercrombie.com
Off-Shoulder and One-Shoulder styles might seem counterintuitive—I get it. But here's what I've noticed: they actually frame your shoulders beautifully, highlighting them as a deliberate choice rather than something to minimize.
Broad shoulders, meet your match: cinch the middle and the whole silhouette snaps into Hourglass. Reformation outfit at thereformation.com
Defined Waists create that coveted hourglass effect. Belted coats do this. Fit-and-flare dresses do this. High-waisted bottoms do this. When you cinch at the waist, you balance everything out—it creates symmetry that just works, especially if you add some extra volume in your lower half.
When You Want to Play Supermodel in Disguise
Instagram/@jcrew
Some days you might not want to lean into your secret weapon, though. Maybe you're going for something softer. Or maybe you just want a different vibe entirely. If you want to visually minimize those shoulders, here's how:
Raglan sleeves: more arm mobility, less shoulder width. Instagram/@cosstores
Raglan Sleeves are your friend. Those diagonal seams running from underarm to neckline? They create a softer, more rounded shoulder line that gently diffuses width.
V-neck + bow that reads vertically rather than horizontally = powerful combo to create long vertical line. Instagram/@aritzia
Vertical Lines at Center work magic by drawing the eye down rather than across. An open cardigan or blazer creates that elongating central line. Even a long necklace works. A scarf worn vertically, an unbuttoned shirt over a tank—all of these pull focus to the vertical plane of your torso.
Go bold or go soft—your wardrobe's your oyster! Instagram/@khaite_ny
The best part? You get to choose based on how you feel that day. Not some rigid rulebook. Your broad shoulders aren't a limitation—they're what give you so many style possibilities. Own them when you want to command a room. Soften them when you're after different energy. Either way, they're what make you look effortlessly powerful in everything you wear.
