Conceal and reveal: Ten cold shoulder blouses to survive the humidity

By Niamh ODonoghue
23rd Jul 2018

Conceal and reveal: Ten cold shoulder blouses to survive the humidity

Is the era of the Angelina Jolie thigh-high split over? For me, it just might be. On this season’s catwalks, legs have been overshadowed by feminine, sultry and bare clavicles. The cold shoulder trend shows no sign of disappearing from the international runways or local boutiques as we edge closer to AW18.

This summer, Temperley London demonstrated how to perfectly execute grown-up femininity by pairing soft blush colour-palettes, delicate mesh and embellishments together with exaggerated shoulders and arms. At French label Vivetta, exotic flames rise upward toward gentle collar bones and billowing sleeves dance effortlessly below. An assertive shoulder is elegant and modern in equal measure.

This skin-baring look isn’t just appealing for tropical climates, either. Maximise your cost-per-wear by layering open-shoulders with cool T-shirts and light knits. Off-the-shoulder knitwear (like this gorgeous striped option from Ganni, below) will be the perfect respite as cooler temperatures approach. Exposed shoulders and clavicles are a great excuse to experiment with makeup; just think of it as extending your canvas by an extra few inches (“skintimate apparel” is what esteemed makeup artist Pat McGrath calls it). Use your highlighter along collar bones, the points of shoulders and décolleté.

Temperly SS18 catwalk. Source, Jason Lloyd Evans

Temperly SS18 catwalk. Source, Jason Lloyd Evans

Vivetta SS18 catwalk. Source, Jason Lloyd Evans

Vivetta SS18 catwalk. Source, Jason Lloyd Evans

If you’re as mesmerised by the Temperley and Vivetta girls (above) as I am, take a look at the ten ‘conceal and reveal’ options I’ve found on the internet this morning and add them to your shopping cart/wish list ASAP.