Fashion: The Bold Shoulder

It started on the catwalks with Balmain, it's now hot on the high street, and it's Autumn/Winter 09's most coveted silhouette – the bold shoulder. Sequin embellishments, studs or stylish shapes, it's all good in fashion's hood as long as there's some serious padding. This week, Whisper Mag bring you an edited selection of the boldest shoulders around to get you in shape for this coming season's androgynous style.

As much as we dream, us lot are never going to be able to justify Balmain's hefty price tag, so true to form, we've sourced a high street alternative: Topshop's premium embroidered jacket, right, for £65. This fitted jacket with moulded shoulders and gorgeous gold embroidered detail is seriously stylish, and will leave you wondering who the hell this Balmain guy is, anyway (okay, maybe not quite - in case you're reading, Mr. Balmain, we love you lots and would welcome any one of your jackets to our wardrobe, if you're offering).

Moving along Topshop's virtual rail, pick up their premium leopard print playsuit, £60. Yes, we're sad summer's over, and whilst we love A/W's trends, we can't quite let it go yet. So, this neon leopard playsuit with padded shoulders and open back detail acts as a perfect interim piece and is just gorgeous. Team with some black victoriana grunge boots for extra style kudos.

We love a jumpsuit as much as the next person who, er, loves jumpsuits. Head to ASOS and add their power shoulder jumpsuit to your shopping cart. This super sexy tapered ankle-crop one piece with cross-over v-neck, low button waist and padded shoulders is a quick and easy way to wear androgynous power dressing. Apparently Rhianna wears one similar; that's cool, we guess?

Proving that padded shoulders aren't just for nights out, Urban Outfitters' Silence + Noise crop shoulder pad tee is a perfect example of when chic meets casual and they hit it off instantly. A quick and easy fashion fix, and a safer option if all this power dressing seems a little scary. Oh, it's in the sale too - £9.99.

Our next item is the most expensive, but it does hit three trends on the head at once: Oasis' tile print rapture shoulder dress, £75. Paying homage to A/W's bold shoulder and romantic ruffles with flashes of the season's favourite plum-purple palette, this dress sure is pretty hot. We love the step away from all black, too.

And so we've reached our pièce de résistance. We were so surprised this dress (right) is from H&M, not because we don't love H&M, but because it looks like it's come straight off the catwalk. We're not sure what we love most: the fierce black, the panelled texture, the high neckline, the seriously sharp tailoring or those daring shoulders. But boy do we love it. £39.99? Dashing out to H&M (why don't they offer online purchase!) to buy that one after we've recovered.

So however daring you're feeling this A/W, channel this power dressing trend with some, er, power. Oh, and some pads.