More power to your shoulder

get the look ... and get it right

Everyone remembers Dynasty-style shoulder pads as worn by Linda Evans and Joan Collins during their great cat-fights of the Eighties. The demise of power-dressing meant that shoulder padding has been waiting in the (bat) wings for a while, but thanks to Alexander McQueen at Givenchy and Tom Ford at Gucci, exaggerated shoulders are big news once again. As yet, this look hasn't really filtered down to the high street - we couldn't find anything with extra big shoulders. If you want to wear them before everyone else, then you'll have to buy a pair and insert them yourself. Easy. Personally, I don't think it's a good idea to wear them under see-through polyester blouses. "Shoulders" look best in tailored jackets with nipped in waists. Now that's sexy.

Main pic: jacket and micro-mini from Givenchy Autumn/Winter Collection, Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW1, 0171 235 5000

Centre:

Dynasty's Alexis and Carresse (aka Joan Collins and Kate O'Mara) wouldn't be seen dead without their shoulder pads

Top right: pointed shoulder jacket, pounds 300, to order from Michiko Koshino, 2e Macfarlane Road, London W12, 0181 749 8353

Centre right: burgundy jacket (sizes 8-14), pounds 1,160, Gucci, 33 Old Bond Street, London W1, 0171 629 2716

Bottom right: black fine-knit sweater (sizes 8-14), pounds 350, Byblos, Harrods, Knightsbridge, London SW1, 0171 730 1234. White shoulder pads, pounds 2.25, John Lewis, Oxford Street, London W1, 0171 629 7711