A great t-shirt is one of the most important items to get right. Underpinning capsule wardrobes, they work with everything from jeans to midi skirts. A casual wear hero, this building block holds serious weight in outfit rotations – and Trinny Woodall has an easy trick for elevating them, creating a figure-flattering fit every time.
To give t-shirts a flattering, figure-balancing cut, Trinny Woodall recommends trying out the power shoulder t-shirt trend and opting for a shoulder pad tee in place of a classic, slouchy style. Discussing the styles that she wears from Alexis Cruz London, Trinny talks about the silhouette-balancing power the style has for flattering every shape.
“When we think of basics like t-shirts, they can look tired,” she said in an Instagram reel. “They’re not something we ever think we should do smart.” But the addition of shoulder pads changes all of that. It gives the basic tee a sharp and structured silhouette, effortlessly turning a simple and comfy jersey t-shirt into a statement piece that works for smart casual or office wear.
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Like Trinny's top, this tee is sleeveless, but it still offers light upper arm coverage thanks to its structured shoulder pads. Relaxed through the body, the statement shoulder helps to balance out hips, busts and narrow waistlines.
This tee is available in both white and black, and one shopper even called it the 'best shoulder padded t-shirt' for its 'great quality and fit.' With an exaggerated sleeve, you're getting a really structured silhouette that nips in at the waist and frames your shape.
The flattering, fitted crew neckline of this tee emphasises the structured shoulders beautifully, while also balancing out the oversized shape. Wear half-tucked to draw more attention to your curves, or leave it to drape over the waistband of your jeans.
A strong structure at the shoulder completely transforms this simple t-shirt into a smart, directional top, despite the classic, loose fit through the rest of the body. This feels quite a directional take on the design, to highlight your waist tuck it in.
It's not just classic white tees getting the shoulder-pad makeover. This versatile black shirt from M&S gets an elevated makeover thanks to subtle shoulder pads and wide sleeves. It's the soft structure that helps to balance your frame beautifully.
This tee is available in both cream and brown, offering a trending take on the style basic. With a cropped hemline, this design is ideal for teaming with high-waisted silhouettes, drawing attention to a narrowed middle with a power-shoulder design.
Trinny points out that shoulder pads ‘just make clothing hang really well.’ This is because they do more than just sit on the body; they also help to shape it and add a defined, clean and sculpted structure across the shoulder. This is the main reason for them, whether you want to elevate your most comfortable jeans or transform your smart casual outfit ideas.
Shoulder pads benefit different body types in different ways. For example, if you have a slimmer frame like Trinny, it helps to highlight shape that can often be hidden. “For me, it always gives a slightly broader shoulder, narrow hips,” she said, adding that it also helps to straighten out ‘sloping’ shoulders and streamline posture.
Similarly, if you're a pear shape, defined shoulders will balance wider hips and nip in your waist to give hourglass proportions. Straighter body shapes can also benefit, with crisp volume on top helping to provide the illusion of curves by building a more powerful, proportionate structure.
It's a great styling hack for manipulating your shape and getting the look you want, and this is something that can be woven into your wardrobe year-round.
