I love a great shirt. So much so, I have a whole section in my wardrobe dedicated to the wardrobe staple with iterations from the likes of Arket, COS and With Nothing Underneath(also loved by Kate Middleton) being the favourites I wear on heavy rotation. And they all have one thing in common: they're oversized. That was until last year when I updated my collection with an unlikely style fromASOS. Unlike my other super baggy styles, this one was cinched at the waist, had a matching tie and another unexpected detail – shoulder pads. Three elements, that, together, just so happen to create a brand new shirt silhouette. With ties added to shirts being spotted on the spring/summer 2025 runway at Saint Laurent, they quickly became a mini trend, so I knew a lot of people would want to try them out, but I didn't think that 80s power shoulders would be back. How wrong I was. The black and white striped ASOS shirt with tie and exaggerated shoulders quickly sold out at the beginning of the year. But, I have some good news that fans of the style will be keen to hear – *drum roll* it's back in stock.
And not only is this particular striped colourway back online, it now comes in 12 colours and prints – including butter yellow, chocolate brown, pastel pink (as seen below on Xenia @binechik) and even zebra print. And it's only £40.
Shop: ASOS Shirt
asos
This is the black and white striped style that kept selling out, and I would say it comes up oversized. Top tip: to really get that cinched waist look, size down.
This isn't the only viral shirt with shoulder pads doing the rounds, either. I recently popped into H&M to have a look at the new in section and I spotted this green checked shirt I've also seen on mega babe @georgwhite on Instagram. So I did the right thing, and I bought it, too. Now I can't stop seeing it all over TikTok, and of course the style has currently sold out online in all sizes. Want to keep a lookout for it? Here's the code to check stock online or take into stores to see if you can still get your hands on one: 1303251001.
Luckily, though, H&M has other iterations – along with the likes of Zaraand Self-Portrait – so you can still get the vibe.
Already own enough shirts? Then you can also pick up removable shoulder pads for £5 at John Lewis, so you could easily add them to one of the shirts you already have to get that strong silhouette that we're looking for with this one. The bigger the shoulders, the better.
When it comes to styling, I love how the cinched in waist that both the ASOS and H&M styles have really helps to show off the shoulders, so if you're adding pads to your own shirt, then you could always belt at the waist to achieve this.
Shop: Shoulder Pads
John Lewis www.johnlewis.com
Fancy a DIY job? For a fiver, buy your own shoulder pads and use the hook and loop fastening to add them to one of the shirts already in your wardrobe.
Want to take the easy option and try out ready-made supersize shoulders? These are the styles already coming through for AW25, and I predict there will be more dropping into throughout the rest of the year, too.
Shop: More Shirts With Shoulder Pads
H&Mwww2.hm.com
Even the classic white shirt has been given the shoulder pad update, with H&M creating this fitted style for less than £20! I'm also a big fan of the soft blue shade, so I'll be getting both.
zarawww.zara.com
Hello, new work shirt. The navy colour and structured shoulders will give a whole new look to your office wear. I would also style this one with a lace-hem skirt and heels for a night out.
Asos Similar to both the H&M and ASOS viral styles – thanks to the checked print and cinched waist – this £38 shirt is a hero buy. Breathing life into the humble plaid shirt we know and love – I would wear this with a pleated skirt and chunky boots.
self-portraitwww.self-portrait.com
Creating that super sharp silhouette that we're looking for, this style from Self-Portrait with removable shoulder pads is ticking off so many key trends in one. I weirdly like the way it looks with the skinny jeans, too – time to bring back the Topshop Joni, maybe?
The Frankie shop eu.thefrankieshop.com
With The Frankie Shop's padded shoulder vest being a hero item a few years back, I'm not surprised that the cult label now has a shirt options for AW25. Already selling out, you'll have to be extra quick to get this one.