| Ann-Sofie Back + Fred Perry Who said shoulder pads would never make a meaningful comeback and be done so well that you'd want to wear them again? It was probably me one night when I was drunk, but, clearly, I was wrong. Leave it to a Swede to bring back the best of the 80's, albeit with a twist, and make shoulder pads hot once more. Swedish designer Ann-Sofie Back is one of the most subversive and feted fashion designers working in London today. Since launching her own label in October 2001 at Paris Fashion Week her brand has gone from strength to strength and is now positioned as one of the key names of European design. Fred Perry has commissioned Back to develop a capsule range of products for the brands sixth women's Blank Canvas. The collection blends classic Fred Perry product with the signature Back aesthetic and silhouette; merino wool knitwear and fine pique polo shirts and dresses are key styles in three colours - black, mustard and turquoise. Back draws her inspiration from products and issues that make her feel uncomfortable. The reverse shoulder pad, a design feature that runs through all of the collection, is a manifestation of that inspiration and is also found in Back's catwalk collections. The reversed pads in the garments create a sloping shoulder, the opposite of the 80's fashion cliché of power dressing. Don't miss Back's site, images and press from her S/S 09 collection, and a list of stockists where you can find her line worldwide, including Isetan, Opening Ceremony, Surface2Air, B Store, Helsinki 10, Kron Kron, Billet Doux, and Jus. No word yet on where Back's Blank Canvas collection will be carried yet. Stay tuned for more info. In the meantime, check out pics from the collection below. 





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