Shoulder Pads


In this film, Barbara Stanwyx and Alex Smith wore the most enormous shoulder pads that I have ever seen, even bigger than the ones worn in 'Dynasty' back in the eighties. Absolutely awesome, they were an even bigger distraction than Bogart's hand movements and facial tic.

Nevertheless, a good film.

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I loved their shoulder pads. I miss them, though they are returning a bit.

I just saw this film the other day, after not having seen it for years. I liked it a lot, and I really like the little girl. She was in "Cat People", and its sequel, I believe (the name of which I forgot). I actually came here to look her up.

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I still wear shoulder pads because I have small shoulders and also overweight....they help to balance my figure out.
I remember when they were all the rage but when they started putting shoulder pads in nightgowns LOL, I figured they would start to lose popularity....it had gone just tooooo far.







I had the chance to work with Michael Jackson who was as brilliant as they come.
Tommy Mottola

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6 years later...
Check out Joan Crawford's shoulder pads in Mildred Pierce. They are also huge. I thought she'd have to walk sideways to get through a door.

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avenger-16, then you never watched any Joan Crawford movies from the 1940's. She must have invented shoulder pads :).

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Every suit I owned in the 1980s had shoulder pads at least that large. Lots larger. I still have a coat that has pads twice that size. Can't wear it but it's fascinating. The look was the big oversized men's jackets and suits with thin pencil skirts with those very sleek long jackets, often without collars and with giant shoulders. I guess your eyes get used to them. They did not seem large then. Remember, in the 80s, everyone wore jackets with padded shoulders--men too. In the movie, the men are not wearing padded shoulders like they did in the 80s, so perhaps women's styles are more a bit more obvious.

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I'm so happy to have lived through and enjoyed 80s style. Pre-Instagram, pre-Facebook - it may turn out to be the last era when you could do what you wanted style-wise, even be outright silly, without fear it would haunt you forever, or expose you to mockery beyond your immediate circle. Self-protective irony might be a permanent reality now.

Watching this right now, and the camera angle on Alexis Smith shows a severe, straight line stretching out about seven inches from either side of her neck - and only a slightly softer line across Stanwyck's neck. Looks like they were playing football between takes. ;)

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Nothing to see here, move along.

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Just a side note, costuming was done by Edith Head for this film.

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I am formerly known as HillieBoliday....Member since May 2006

Edith Head...The quintessential designer...hands down!

Check out the film 'Lucy Gallant' if you can find it. There is a cameo of Edith Head, introducing a fashion show featuring her creations...absolutely spectacular!

"OOhhhooo....I'M GON' TELL MAMA!"

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