The Most Fashionable Quarterback

We've been seeing poofy arms and heavily structured shoulders on the runways for awhile, but there's something markedly different about these latest creations. Instead of a pop of fabric for added volume or bulky shoulder pads to create the illusion of good posture, they add an ethereal heaviness that actually shifts the weight up and away from the shoulder (similar to what you might see in the protective upper body gear worn by football players). The effect can be subtle (see Krizia, Spring 2009) or quite dramatic (see Armand Basi One, Spring 2009). Or, as is the case with the Barbara Bui example below, there are obvious visual similarities that align the piece with the silhouette and exoskeleton-like structure of protective upper body gear. Wouldn't you agree?

VPL, 2008

Barbara Bui, Spring 2009

Krizia, Spring 2009

Trista, Spring 2009 and Dolce & Gabanna, Spring 2009

Jean Paul Gaultier, Fall 2008

Igor Chapurin, Spring 2009

Frankie Morello, Spring 2009

Armand Basi One, Spring 2009 and Louise Goldin, Spring 2009

Diesel, Spring 2009

Alexandre Herchcovitch, Spring 2009

Matthew Williamson, Spring 2009