As Beyonce Knowles stepped out in London this week with her rapper husband Jay Z there was no missing the style statement made by the exaggerated shoulders of her Balmain jacket.
The dramatic 'outsize' look is one which has been adopted by some of the coolest celebs on the international circuit since it emerged on the Paris catwalks during fashion week. Big shoulders were prevalent in the collections of Balenciaga, Marc Jacobs and Lanvin, surfacing on jackets, dresses and t-shirts.
One of earliest to work the trend, which thins the waist and hips by counter-balancing the silhouette, was Victoria Beckham. Posh donned a black version of Beyonce's Balmain jacket on a Milan shopping trip at the start of April.
Musician Lady GaGa is also a fan of the French fashion house's sharply tailored jackets. She wore a lilac version, with slightly more horizontal shoulders, as she jetted off to New Zealand, teaming it with a pair of ripped leggings in a matching shade.
The shoulder drama isn't limited to jackets. Jennifer Connelly has been spotted in a Swarovski crystal-encrusted emerald green dress with incorporated the look, while Kate Moss chose a glittering minidress with peaked sleeves to the launch of a new jewellery collection in London last month.
Umbrella singer Rihanna, who's never afraid to push the sartorial envelope, leaned towards the Eighties with the New Romantic era puffball sleeved Dolce & Gabanna tuxedo she chose to attend the New York Met Costume Ball.
And the trend has already begun filtering down from the catwalk to the high street. Marks & Spencer is soon to unveil a £70 version inspired by the £6,560 Balmain jacket, while Topshop and New Look are also planning to work the look into their new ranges.
Photo: Rex
Photo: Rex
Photo: Rex
