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Kevin Van Paassen / The Globe and Mail

This spring, you don't have to be an imposing Joan Crawford type to carry a strong, rounded shoulder: The classic couture shape, popularized in the fifties by Cristobal Balenciaga, gets a modern update this season. Opt for a jacket overtop a blouse for a look that will work in real life as opposed to Hollywood. Here's how.

1. Stick to casual fabrications for day, choosing light wools and cottons over glitzy satins and silks. This way, you won't look so out of place at the office.

2. Keep proportions in check: A statement shoulder involves a lot of volume, so your skirt or trousers should be slim. For inspiration, look to Rick Owens's sleek update of the trend in his spring presentation (above left).

3. Stay away from straight-up 1950s references, choosing more modern iterations such as rich leathers (as in this skirt) or button-up shirts with prints that aren't so precious. A thoroughly modern shoe or bag is an easy update, too.

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