Research: Padding

Padding definition:

• Padding is thin cushioned material sometimes added to clothes. It is often done in an attempt to soften impacts on certain zones of the body or enhance appearance by 'improving' a physical feature. 

Padding uses:

• Some padding is added to emphasize particular physical features that are usually not present. Women, for instance, rarely have prominent shoulders, but for some years shoulder pads have been added to dresses (blouses, etc). The effect was unnatural for women, but gave them a more masculine outline which was sometimes thought to be of benefit in business situations.

Padding used in history:

• During WWII fashion for women adopted the shoulder pad in a big way. The trend in exaggerated shoulders could have been the result of men's suits being re-cut for women to preserve resources. Taking cues from uniforms, they could also be a way of expressing strength, mixing fashion with military.
  
  

  

  Comme des Garcons

  
  

  

  1940s Padding

  
  

  

  Alexandre Vauthier

  
  

  

  Comme des Garcons

  
  

  

  Joan Crawford

  
  

  

  Viktor and Rolf