- Joined
- Apr 10, 2011
- Messages
- 27,320
- Reaction score
- 69,987
I was talking with a friend today about extended shoulders. He thinks they're bad, an artifice, and ugly. I think they're not only good, but almost everyone should get an extended shoulder. You should have an extended shoulder. Your mother should have an extended shoulder. Your children should have extended shoulders.
The logic is this: few men have naturally broad shoulders and slim waists. You have to have an athletic build. Most men are chubby, pear-shaped, stick-like, and every other shape except athletic. (I say this without judgment because, my non-athletic friends, I stand with you).
To be honest, even some broad shoulder men look good with extended shoulders. But they are still in the minority in terms of body type.
An extended shoulder gives you the illusion of a V-shaped figure. If it's an artifice, it's a good one, and a compromise between the ugliness of our natural selves and a bit of fakery that, realistically, no one in real life will notice.
The friend of mine said that you can't have a soft shoulder that's extended. I strongly disagree. Here's iammatt in a Rubi jacket that has extended shoulders. Notice how the shoulder seam dips.
Rubi's extended shoulder is probably the most obvious I've seen because they do a very soft shoulder. Here's one that has a more "straight" shoulder line
That's maomao, who asks for an extended shoulder on almost all his jackets. Most of his coats look like this (he's also naturally broad-shouldered, so the effect is a little more aggressive).
Again, this isn't really fair because maomao already has a v-shaped figure. The model below doesn't, but look at this coat:
Ignore the short sleeve, short coat, and high buttoning point. Focus just on the chest and shoulders. Wouldn't he look better with a bit more room in the chest and an extended shoulder line?
And here's Mariano Rubinacci in an extended shoulder. The Anderson & Sheppard vanity book is full of examples similar to this, although my friend contends the shoulders are extended because the wearers have shrunk from old age and they commissioned their clothes decades ago. This may be true, I don't know, but I think the silhouette looks more flattering. I assume Mariano at his age doesn't have such a natural v-shaped figure, and if he does, I will feel very bad about myself.
The only good argument I've heard against extended shoulders came from a bespoke tailor, who told me that, over time, the end of the shoulder can collapse from gravity. This makes sense to me, but it also seems like a small price to pay. And anyway, if it really bothers you, you can purchase new clothes.
Ultimately, I don't understand why anyone would disagree with this obviously better point of view. Most men should wear extended shoulders. So I'm starting this thread to root out the narrow shoulder folk. Who are you? Reveal yourself so we can fight.
The logic is this: few men have naturally broad shoulders and slim waists. You have to have an athletic build. Most men are chubby, pear-shaped, stick-like, and every other shape except athletic. (I say this without judgment because, my non-athletic friends, I stand with you).
To be honest, even some broad shoulder men look good with extended shoulders. But they are still in the minority in terms of body type.
An extended shoulder gives you the illusion of a V-shaped figure. If it's an artifice, it's a good one, and a compromise between the ugliness of our natural selves and a bit of fakery that, realistically, no one in real life will notice.
The friend of mine said that you can't have a soft shoulder that's extended. I strongly disagree. Here's iammatt in a Rubi jacket that has extended shoulders. Notice how the shoulder seam dips.
Rubi's extended shoulder is probably the most obvious I've seen because they do a very soft shoulder. Here's one that has a more "straight" shoulder line
That's maomao, who asks for an extended shoulder on almost all his jackets. Most of his coats look like this (he's also naturally broad-shouldered, so the effect is a little more aggressive).
Again, this isn't really fair because maomao already has a v-shaped figure. The model below doesn't, but look at this coat:
Ignore the short sleeve, short coat, and high buttoning point. Focus just on the chest and shoulders. Wouldn't he look better with a bit more room in the chest and an extended shoulder line?
And here's Mariano Rubinacci in an extended shoulder. The Anderson & Sheppard vanity book is full of examples similar to this, although my friend contends the shoulders are extended because the wearers have shrunk from old age and they commissioned their clothes decades ago. This may be true, I don't know, but I think the silhouette looks more flattering. I assume Mariano at his age doesn't have such a natural v-shaped figure, and if he does, I will feel very bad about myself.
The only good argument I've heard against extended shoulders came from a bespoke tailor, who told me that, over time, the end of the shoulder can collapse from gravity. This makes sense to me, but it also seems like a small price to pay. And anyway, if it really bothers you, you can purchase new clothes.
Ultimately, I don't understand why anyone would disagree with this obviously better point of view. Most men should wear extended shoulders. So I'm starting this thread to root out the narrow shoulder folk. Who are you? Reveal yourself so we can fight.
