3 Ways To Wear Shoulder Pad Tees

Never in a million years did I ever expect to be sitting here writing a blog post on styling shoulder pads but here we are—sometimes fashion surprises you like that. And it’s true what they say, what goes around comes around! While some people are dying to leave shoulder pads in the 80s, others (myself included) are itching to give them a try.

I have to admit, they are a lot of fun to style! There’s something really cool about making a masculine piece feminine. Not only were styling these tees a fun challenge but they forced me to think outside the box which is something I haven’t done in regards to my closet in ages! Today I’m sharing three ways I’m wearing shoulder pad tees this season—I hope you enjoy.

Dressed Up Leopard

I have a love/hate relationship with shoulder pads. They add so much structure to your outfit which I love but oftentimes they can be too bulky. Choosing a tee with a print like leopard will make the masculine structure of the shirt feel a bit more feminine.

I decided to dress my tee up by tucking it into a pair of black jeans. Want to look dressed up but still wear jeans? Black straight-leg jeans are the answer! This pair runs true to size (I wear a 00 in all Express jeans) and is currently under $20 + fully stocked in all sizes. Go grab them while you can!

By adding lace-up heels and a gold ring belt to the look, you’ve instantly dressed up your denim. I’m wearing the same gold accessories throughout this entire post—gold hoops from SheIn, my everyday necklace from The Silver Heron, and my favorite watch + bracelet combo. This look is so classy yet easy to put together.

Outfit Details— top: SheIn, jeans: Express, heels: SheIn, belt: SheIn, earrings: SheIn, watch: Fossil, bracelets: Mantra Band, necklace: The Silver Heron

Subtle Snakeskin 

The next shoulder pad tee I have is definitely a bit more structured than the last. Not only are the shoulder pads a bit taller but the shirt itself is very oversized. I’m wearing an XS and if they had a smaller size, I would have gone down.

To style this simple white tee, I thew on a pair of blue jeans. This is the oldest combo in the book and yet it never fails! You could totally throw on sneakers or mules and call this outfit a day but I, of course, had to add some animal print into the mix.

This western belt is one of my favorites— I front tucked my top to make sure you could see it. The gold buckle is just the right size and it pairs perfectly with my snakeskin booties. I grabbed these shoes from SheIn last year and they are some of my most worn booties. They are the perfect heel height for everyday wear.

Outfit Details— top: SheIn, jeans: Express, booties: SheIn, belt: SheIn, earrings: SheIn, watch: Fossil, bracelets: Mantra Band, necklace: The Silver Heron

Basics But Better

You know me and my love for basics! There are endless ways to dress this tee up or down. I’m playing with proportions for this outfit and tucking my tee into a pair of super high-rise jeans from Express.

I’ve had this pair for months now and they are definitely my most worn jeans. They’ve got the classic 90s straight-leg fit to them that’s flattering on everyone no matter their shape or size. These too are on sale right now.

Truthfully, I wanted this outfit to be paired with black Superga sneakers or a pair of black slip-on mules but I forgot both on my trip home to Maryland and got stuck styling this outfit with the same lace-up heels from the first look.

I’d prefer to keep this look a bit more laid back but oh well, I still think it’s cute with heels! Add a belt and hoops to elevate your basics. I obviously had to add a black felt hat from Lulus to complete the outfit.

Outfit Details— top: SheIn, jeans: Express, heels: SheIn, hat: Lulus, belt: SheIn, earrings: SheIn, watch: Fossil, bracelets: Mantra Band

Are you participating in the shoulder pad revival? If so, let me know how you’ll be wearing this season’s hottest trend. Thanks so much for stopping by, everyone. I hope you loved seeing a few looks back in my Maryland stomping grounds— my sweet mom helped me shoot a few looks while I was home last weekend. Talk soon!

With love, McKenz

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Related Post: Styling Express Basics
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