Donald Trump is using suits with heavily padded shoulders to hide his weight — but it isn’t working, according to a menswear expert.
Derek Guy, who analyzes men's fashion for national media outlets, wrote in a thread on X that Trump’s “tailoring is done in a way to conceal his weight,” and the padded shoulders are meant to turn his rectangular figure into more of a classical V-shape.
“However, you can only extend the shoulder so much before it starts to collapse,” Guy writes. “Think of what would happen if you extended the shoulder line on a t-shirt or dress shirt—it would just flop on you.”
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Guy shared a photo of Trump’s shoulder pads caving in on themselves when the Republican presidential nominee sits down.
“The downside of a heavily padded, extended shoulder is that artifice is revealed when you sit like this. Not much you can do about this,” Guy writes. “Padded coats look great when you're standing still, but they can look artificial when you move or sit when your shoulders pitched forward.”
Trump would be better suited in a softer sloping shoulder, Guy suggests, comparing the former president’s body type to a bottle of Palmolive.
Lots of people asking me to comment on this photo, so I will explain why Trump wears these shoulder pads. 🧵 https://t.co/Q7lBrPejEx
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) August 13, 2024
I was surprised because Trump's tailoring is done in a way to conceal his weight. His shoulders are relatively narrow compared to his waist, which gives his body a somewhat rectangular shape. pic.twitter.com/GlgjhAeKsi
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) August 13, 2024
However, you can only extend the shoulder so much before it starts to collapse. Think of what would happen if you extended the shoulder line on a t-shirt or dress shirt—it would just flop on you. This is why an extended shoulder needs a bit of structure, as you see here. pic.twitter.com/bygHmmBmJQ
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) August 13, 2024
A heavily padded shoulder also builds *up* the shoulder, making the silhouette look more powerful, authoritative, and formal. Compare the vibes of the padded Huntsman coat (pic 1) to the softer Solito (pic 2). Solito is more causal, natural, and relaxed. pic.twitter.com/VNk89Sk3Op
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) August 13, 2024
To me, Trump would benefit from a softer shoulder, partly because his natural shoulders are narrow but square. The more padding you add to this, the squarer the shoulder line. IMO, heavy padding is best for people with very sloped shoulders, not square ones. pic.twitter.com/RSHRznAYkt
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) August 13, 2024
IMO, most people benefit from some extension because you can more easily achieve that V-shaped silhouette. How much extension—and how much padding—depends on your body type and the vibe you want to give off. pic.twitter.com/X6JdyQgSIM
— derek guy (@dieworkwear) August 13, 2024