Rounded shoulders: Fall 2024’s fashion experiment

A tribute to Cristóbal Balenciaga

23 Oct 2024

By Irina Perova

For many years, designers have placed special emphasis on shoulders, giving them different shapes that dramatically alter the silhouette. For Fall 2024, coats from brands like Bottega Veneta, Khaite, and Carven, along with jackets, dresses, and sweaters with an O-shaped silhouette — featuring sloped shoulder lines, rounded sides, and voluminous sleeves — are gaining popularity.

Cristóbal Balenciaga was the first to showcase rounded shoulders on the runway, creating the iconic cocoon coat. The hallmark of this design was its broad, rounded shoulders that tapered toward the bottom. Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco wore this coat, which only heightened the silhouette’s appeal.

Photo: SPOTLIGHT / Bottega Veneta

Thanks to fashion’s cyclical nature, rounded shoulders made a comeback in 2013. However, sharp shoulders soon replaced them. The trend has returned in the current season, with coats being the most popular interpretation. Bottega Veneta, Khaite, and Carven have presented both straight, cocoon-like models as well as tailored options. Designers suggest emphasizing the waist with thin belts and chains.

Photo: SPOTLIGHT / Carven

Bomber jackets, denim jackets, and cropped coats with rounded shoulders should be paired with simpler, non-voluminous bottoms. Jil Sander also offers floor-length dresses, while Pierpaolo Piccioli, in his final collection for Valentino, presented a short dress with sloped shoulders, a voluminous skirt, and ruffles.

ELLE has created a selection of looks that feature the trending sloped shoulder line.